St. Petersburg encourages residential rainwater harvesting through rain barrels and cisterns, with no city ban and Florida statute protecting basic collection on private property.
St. Petersburg permits residential rainwater harvesting and operates a long-running rain barrel rebate and education program through the Sustainability Office and Water Resources. Rain barrels under 100 gallons attached to downspouts on a residential lot generally do not require a permit. Larger cisterns and any system connected to indoor plumbing must be permitted under City Code Chapter 8 (Building) and the Florida Building Code, with backflow prevention required if connected to potable supply. Stored rainwater for outdoor irrigation is exempt from SWFWMD watering schedules. Setback and screening rules under Chapter 16 apply for above-ground tanks visible from the right-of-way.
Unpermitted plumbed cisterns may trigger building code citations and required inspection. Cross-connections to potable supply without backflow prevention are public-health violations.
St. Petersburg, FL
Industrial and commercial operations in St. Petersburg must meet the Chapter 11 plainly-audible standards at zoning boundaries, with stricter limits where in...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg restricts leaf blower use to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays and holidays, and prohibits blowing yard debris in...
St. Petersburg, FL
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St. Petersburg, FL
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St. Petersburg, FL
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St. Petersburg, FL
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Pinellas County.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle rainwater harvesting.
See how St. Petersburg's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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