Pinellas County, FL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcer
- County housing official
- Notice window
- 7–60 days to comply
- Demolition
- Requires special magistrate order
- Applies
- County housing code areas only
Summary
In unincorporated Pinellas County (and cities without their own housing code), the county's housing official can order a hazardous or blighted structure secured, repaired, or demolished, with costs charged to the owner as a lien.
All unsafe structures and nuisances are hereby declared to be in violation of this article and may be secured, repaired, and/or rehabilitated in accordance with the following procedures: (1) Notice. Whenever the housing official determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this article... the housing official must give notice of an alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 22-278 lets the housing official notify an owner of an unsafe-structure violation and require compliance within 7 to 60 days, or take immediate corrective action for imminent hazards. If the owner fails to comply, the county can secure, repair, or remodel the structure through a licensed contractor and bill the owner. If hazards remain unresolved 30 days after a special magistrate ruling, the county can seek a demolition order; unpaid costs become a lien that can be foreclosed after three months.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant owners face county-performed repairs or demolition billed to them as a property lien (Sec. 22-278(a)(5), (b)(9)); an unpaid lien can be foreclosed after three months (Sec. 22-278(b)(10)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who enforces unsafe or blighted structure rules in Pinellas County?
Can the county demolish my building for being unsafe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinellas County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pinellas County to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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