106 local rules on file · Pop. 2,966 · Pinellas County
Showing ordinances that apply to Ridgecrest, FL
Ridgecrest is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 2,966 in Pinellas County, Florida. Because Ridgecrest is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Pinellas County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Pinellas County may have different rules.
Pinellas County treats a dog that barks for 15 or more sustained minutes within an eight-hour window on two separate dates in a three-day period as a public nuisance animal under Chapter 14.
Pinellas County does not restrict gas-powered leaf blowers specifically; their use is governed by the general residential noise limits in Chapter 58, Article XII, capped at 72 dBA during daytime hours.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Pinellas County ordinances.
Aircraft operations at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and other airfields are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration; the county cannot impose curfews or fines on flight operations.
Pinellas County allows residential rainwater harvesting and rain barrels for non-potable use without a permit for small barrels, while larger cisterns may need building permits and follow Florida non-potable reuse rules.
Pinellas County allows residential backyard composting under general nuisance and housing-code rules in Chapter 22 and Chapter 58, provided bins are managed to prevent odor, vectors, and runoff.
Florida HB 683 (2025) preempts Pinellas County and its cities from prohibiting artificial turf on residential lots up to one acre, shifting authority to FDEP under new Florida Statute 125.572.
Pinellas County requires unincorporated property owners to keep grass and weeds under 12 inches over the majority of any improved lot, with abatement liens for non-compliant properties.
Pinellas County treats unchecked weeds, undergrowth, and rank vegetation on improved lots as a public nuisance under Chapter 58, Article XIII, with enforcement through notices, abatement, and property liens.
Pinellas County encourages native and Florida-friendly landscaping under Chapter 138 community design standards and Florida Statute 373.185, which preempts HOAs from prohibiting Florida-friendly landscaping.
Pinellas County enforces twice-weekly to once-weekly irrigation rules tied to Southwest Florida Water Management District phases, with $193 first-violation citations doubling per repeat offense.
Pinellas County requires habitat permits before removing protected trees under Chapter 166, with mitigation through replacement plantings or Tree Bank Fund contributions, plus civil penalties for unpermitted removal.
Pinellas County regulates pruning of protected trees and mangroves under Chapter 166 of the Land Development Code, with permits required for substantial trimming and special rules for coastal mangroves.
Pinellas County has no standalone defensible-space ordinance; brush abatement runs through Chapter 58 nuisance and open burning rules, the Florida Forest Service, and Florida Statutes Chapter 590.
Pinellas County does not designate formal wildfire overlay zones; wildfire response and risk management run through the Florida Forest Service, Florida Statutes Chapter 590, and county fire department mutual aid.
Pinellas County Chapter 62 adopts the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which incorporates NFPA 1 and NFPA 58, governing propane container siting, permits, and barrier protection countywide.
Pinellas County Code Section 62-85 in Chapter 62, Article IV prohibits the sale, exposure, and use of fireworks countywide except as expressly allowed under Florida Statutes Chapter 791 or county-issued display permits.
Pinellas County Code Section 58-217 allows recreational fires in approved containers or fire rings with strict size, fuel, and setback limits enforced by the fire marshal countywide.
Pinellas County Code Chapter 58, Article V regulates open burning for land clearing, agricultural, and recreational purposes alongside Florida Forest Service authorizations and DEP air quality rules.
Pinellas County enforces the Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act under Chapter 515 of the Florida Statutes, requiring four-foot barriers, self-closing self-latching gates, and other safety features for residential pools.
Pinellas County requires a building permit for most fences and walls under Chapter 138 Article X Division 4, with Building and Development Review Services confirming zoning compliance before installation begins.
Pinellas County treats retaining walls under the Florida Building Code adopted in Chapter 22 and Sec. 138-3702, requiring permits for most walls and counting them toward fence height unless separated by three feet.
Pinellas County Section 138-3702 lists wrought iron, brick, concrete block, plastic, vinyl, chain link, and prefabricated wood as standard fencing materials and requires fences to remain in good repair.
Pinellas County governs neighbor fence-line rules through Sec. 138-3505 setback measurements and Sec. 138-3706 visibility provisions, with no dedicated spite-fence ordinance in the county code.
Pinellas County's Land Development Code Section 138-3702 caps residential fence heights at six feet in side and rear yards and three feet inside the front building setback, with limited five-foot decorative toppers allowed.
Chapter 138 of the Pinellas County Land Development Code restricts signage in residential zoning districts, generally barring commercial business signs at home occupations in unincorporated areas.
In unincorporated Pinellas County, Chapter 138 of the Land Development Code allows home occupations as accessory uses in residential districts, subject to specific use standards in Article IX that preserve neighborhood character.
Florida Statute 500.80 broadly preempts local regulation of cottage food operations, allowing Pinellas County residents to produce certain non-hazardous foods at home with annual gross sales up to $250,000.
Family day care homes in Pinellas County are regulated under Florida Statutes Chapter 402, which establishes registration, capacity, and supervision rules that local zoning cannot override for properly licensed providers.
Pinellas County's Chapter 138 specific use standards require that home occupations in unincorporated areas avoid generating traffic, parking demand, or activity that exceeds normal residential patterns.
Residential swimming pool construction in unincorporated Pinellas County requires a building permit issued under the Florida Building Code, with plan review through the county Building Services division before any work begins.
Residential pools in Pinellas County must be enclosed by a barrier at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates that meet Florida Statute 515.29, or comply with an approved alternative pool safety feature.
Pinellas County regulates residential hot tubs and spas as pools under the Florida Building Code and F.S. Chapter 515, requiring permits, compliant electrical bonding, and an approved safety feature such as a locking cover.
Pinellas County enforces the Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, which requires every new residential pool to have at least one approved safety feature to reduce the risk of child drownings.
Pinellas County treats above-ground pools the same as in-ground pools when they hold more than 24 inches of water, requiring a building permit and a compliant barrier under the Florida pool safety act.
Florida Statute 316.1945 prohibits parking in front of any public or private driveway across Pinellas County, while Sec. 138-3220 requires residential vehicles to be stored on prepared driveway surfaces without blocking emergency access.
Pinellas County has no countywide overnight parking ban, but Sec. 122-37 limits overnight residential storage of prohibited vehicles and Sec. 138-3220 governs overnight outdoor residential vehicle storage.
Florida Statute 366.94 preempts local regulation of electric vehicle charging stations to the state; Pinellas County issues permits based solely on standards adopted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Statute 316.1945 controls street parking countywide in Pinellas County, while Sec. 122-35 prohibits parking in specified places and Sec. 122-32 sets fines for improper curb parking.
Florida Statute 705.103 sets the procedure for removing abandoned vehicles from public property, while Pinellas County Code Sec. 138-3220 prohibits storing inoperable vehicles on residential property in unincorporated areas.
Pinellas County Code Sec. 122-37 prohibits storing or parking commercial trucks and oversized prohibited vehicles in residential zoning districts to prevent traffic hazards and protect neighborhood character.
In unincorporated Pinellas County, recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers may be stored on residential property under Code Sec. 138-3220 if registered, operable, and maintained without creating nuisance or blocking emergency access.
Pinellas County does not have a blanket wildlife-feeding ban, but state law and FWC rules prohibit feeding alligators, bears, sandhill cranes, and other protected species, while Chapter 14 nuisance rules address feral animal feeding that creates problems.
Exotic pet ownership in Pinellas County is governed primarily by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Florida Statute 379.3761, which licenses Class I, II, and III captive wildlife and bans most large carnivores and primates as personal pets.
Pinellas County does not set a household pet cap, but animal hoarding cases are prosecuted under Florida cruelty statute 828.12 and supported by Section 14-30 public nuisance animal and Section 14-38 irresponsible pet owner provisions of Chapter 14.
Pinellas County Chapter 14 prohibits dogs and cats from running at large, requires immediate physical control off-premises, and caps leash length at eight feet, with stricter handling rules for dangerous dogs under Section 14-64.
Beekeeping in Pinellas County is preempted to the state under Florida Statute 586.10, which gives FDACS exclusive authority over registration, placement, and inspection of managed honey bee colonies, overriding any conflicting county rule.
Pinellas County does not impose breed-specific restrictions; Florida Statute 767.14 preempts local breed, weight, and size bans, while Section 14-64 of the county code regulates individually classified dangerous dogs.
Pinellas County allows up to four hens at single-family homes in most residential zones under Section 138-3351, while Section 138-3350 generally bars farm animals outside agricultural and rural zoning districts.
Pinellas County imposes a 6% Tourist Development Tax on short-term rentals under 6 months, in addition to 7% state sales tax administered through the Tax Collector.
Short-term rentals in unincorporated Pinellas County must provide one off-street parking space per bedroom, with no on-street or grass parking under Sec. 138-3232.
Pinellas County caps short-term rental occupancy at two persons per bedroom plus two in a common area, not exceeding ten people, under Sec. 138-3232.
Short-term rental operators in unincorporated Pinellas County must carry liability insurance and disclose coverage as part of the Certificate of Use process under Sec. 138-3232.
Unincorporated Pinellas County requires a Certificate of Use, inspection, and annual renewal before operating any short-term rental under Sec. 138-3232 of the Land Development Code.
Short-term rental guests in unincorporated Pinellas County must observe 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. quiet hours and the countywide decibel limits in Chapter 58, Article XII.
Pinellas County requires sheds in unincorporated residential lots to meet setback, height, and yard-location rules under Land Development Code Sec. 138-3505, with permits required above 100 square feet.
Pinellas County treats carports as accessory structures under Land Development Code Sec. 138-3505 with setback, height, and design standards, plus Florida Building Code wind-load permitting.
Pinellas County requires tiny homes on permanent foundations to follow Florida Building Code Appendix Q, Land Development Code zoning, and minimum habitable floor area in Chapter 22 Housing Code.
Pinellas County allows accessory dwelling units in unincorporated residential zoning under Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210, with size, height, and design rules tied to the primary dwelling.
Pinellas County requires building permits and zoning review for converting a garage to living space under Chapter 22 Housing Code and Land Development Code parking and density standards.
Pinellas County's outdoor lighting framework follows Florida Statute 161.163 and the state model lighting ordinance, with twelve of thirteen barrier-island municipalities enforcing shielded amber lighting from May through October to protect nesting sea turtles.
Pinellas County controls light trespass through Chapter 138 zoning performance standards requiring shielding of nonresidential fixtures from adjacent residential lots, supplemented by sea turtle lighting rules and general nuisance provisions in Chapter 58.
High-value specimen trees and contiguous specimen tree stands receive enhanced protection under Section 138-3654 and Chapter 166, with stricter mitigation when removal is approved.
Removal of a protected tree in unincorporated Pinellas County triggers mandatory replacement or fee-in-lieu mitigation tied to the lost tree's rating under Section 138-3654 and Chapter 166.
A Habitat Management Permit is required to remove any healthy tree four inches or larger DBH on private property in unincorporated Pinellas County under Chapter 166, Article II and Section 138-3654.
Florida Statute 509.102 bars Pinellas County from prohibiting food trucks countywide, but the Land Development Code zoning districts and Concession Vendor Authorization still control where mobile vendors may operate.
Florida Statute 509.102 preempts food truck licensing to the state, so Pinellas County requires only a state Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle license and a Concession Vendor Authorization for county property.
Pinellas County treats medical marijuana dispensing facilities as pharmacies under Florida Statute 381.986, applying the state 500-foot school setback while otherwise allowing them in any zoning district that permits a licensed pharmacy.
Home cannabis cultivation is illegal throughout Pinellas County under Florida Statute 381.986, which channels all medical marijuana production through licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and bars individual patients from growing cannabis.
Pinellas County limits each garage sale event to a short consecutive-day window under Chapter 138 zoning, with daytime hours expected and signage governed by the county sign code in Article XII.
Households in unincorporated Pinellas County may hold no more than two garage sales per calendar year; additional sales constitute an unlawful business under Chapter 138 residential zoning.
Unincorporated Pinellas County does not require a permit for residential garage sales but treats more than two sales per household per year as an unlawful business under the Chapter 138 zoning code.
Recreational drones over Pinellas County are governed primarily by FAA rules and Florida Statute 330.41, with county authority limited to take-off, landing, and nuisance enforcement.
Commercial drone operations in Pinellas County require an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate, with Florida Statute 330.41 preempting most local in-air regulation.
Pinellas County does not impose rent control; Florida Statute 83.425 preempts all local regulation of residential rent, leaving Florida Statutes Chapter 83 Part II as the controlling framework.
Pinellas County has no just cause eviction ordinance; Florida Statute 83.425 preempts local termination rules, and Florida Statutes 83.56 and 83.57 set the applicable notice periods statewide.
Pinellas County does not register long-term rentals, but Ordinance 25-15 requires every short-term rental under 30 days to obtain an annual Certificate of Use, pass inspection, and follow operational rules.
Pinellas County requires building, electrical, and sometimes zoning permits for residential solar PV installations, with sealed engineering drawings and utility interconnection through Duke Energy or city utilities.
Florida Statute 163.04 preempts HOAs in Pinellas County from prohibiting solar collectors, allowing only narrow placement controls within 45 degrees of due south that do not impair system performance.
Political signs in unincorporated Pinellas County are content-neutral exempt signs under Sec. 138-3753 of the Land Development Code, subject to size, placement, and right-of-way limits.
Garage and yard sale signs in unincorporated Pinellas County are temporary signs allowed only on the seller's property and must come down within 24 hours of the sale under Sec. 138-3753.
Seasonal holiday decorations and noncommercial displays on private property in unincorporated Pinellas County are exempt signs under Sec. 138-3753 if they meet basic safety and setback rules.
Pinellas County's Sec. 138-3505 sets how front, side, and rear setbacks are measured for every zoning district, with district-specific minimum yard depths in Article IV of Chapter 138.
Pinellas County's Chapter 138 zoning code sets maximum structure heights by district, with single-family residential districts capped near 35 feet and additional setback step-backs for taller buildings.
Pinellas County's Chapter 138 zoning code limits lot coverage and impervious surface ratios through underlying zoning districts and Future Land Use Map categories adopted in the Comprehensive Plan.
Pinellas County regulates door-to-door solicitation through Chapter 42 Article V permitting but maintains no formal do-not-knock registry, relying on posted signage and Florida trespass law for enforcement.
Pinellas County requires peddlers and solicitors to obtain a permit from the Board of County Commissioners under Chapter 42, Article V, with criminal background and good character standards before issuance.
Pinellas County's stormwater and surface water management provisions in Chapter 58 require erosion and sediment controls during land disturbance to prevent soil loss into waterways and the storm sewer system.
Chapter 58, Article VI of the Pinellas County Code prohibits illicit discharges to the county's separate storm sewer system and authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense for violations.
Construction seaward of Florida's Coastal Construction Control Line in Pinellas County is regulated under Chapter 161 of the Florida Statutes and administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Pinellas County requires grading and drainage on private property to follow the county Stormwater Manual and Chapter 58 surface water management rules so that runoff does not damage neighboring properties or county infrastructure.
Chapter 158 of the Pinellas County Land Development Code regulates construction in special flood hazard areas, requiring elevation, flood-resistant design, and a floodplain administrator's review for development.
Solid waste collection in Pinellas County is governed by Chapter 106 of the county code, with most residents served by franchised haulers who provide approved carts and set placement and pickup schedules.
Property owners in unincorporated Pinellas County must keep yards free of accumulated trash, debris, and overgrown vegetation, with code enforcement empowered to abate blight and place liens for the cost of cleanup.
Owners of vacant or unoccupied lots in unincorporated Pinellas County must keep grass and weeds below 12 inches and clear debris, or face county lot clearing and a special assessment lien under Chapter 58.
Pinellas County does not have a snow-clearing ordinance because measurable snow does not occur, but property owners must keep abutting sidewalks clear of vegetation, debris, and obstructions under county code.
Households in unincorporated Pinellas County are limited to two garage or yard sales per year under the county zoning ordinance, with escalating fines for violations and separate rules in each incorporated city.
Pinellas County sets bin placement at the curb in unincorporated areas under Chapter 106 and licensed-hauler rules, with set-out timing and clearance standards detailed by each municipality.
Pinellas County governs solid waste collection under Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances, with municipalities and licensed private haulers handling residential pickup in incorporated and unincorporated areas.
Pinellas County addresses bulk waste under Chapter 106, with each city or licensed hauler scheduling residential bulk pickup and the county handling self-haul disposal at solid waste facilities.
Pinellas County coordinates recycling under Chapter 106 with municipalities and licensed haulers running curbside programs and the county operating drop-off centers and education for unincorporated residents.
Pinellas County parks operate under Chapter 90 of the Code of Ordinances, generally open 7 a.m. to sunset with closure on the day after Thanksgiving and December 25 each year.
Pinellas County minors are subject to Florida Statute Sec. 877.22, restricting under-18 presence in public places overnight and during school suspension hours, with warnings then civil fines.