Administrative overview · FIPS 12103
Pinellas County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services (unincorporated Pinellas County and county-served municipalities)
For a project in or near Pinellas County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(727) 464-3888, Option 2 for permits; Option 1 for inspections and certificates of occupancy
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
440 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Review expectation
Express permits 0-2 business days; residential permits about 14 days; commercial permits about 21 days; current review dashboard should be checked for live conditions.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Pinellas County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (727) 464-3888, Option 2 for permits; Option 1 for inspections and certificates of occupancy.
How long might review take?
Express permits 0-2 business days; residential permits about 14 days; commercial permits about 21 days; current review dashboard should be checked for live conditions.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule inspections in the Access Portal. Requests made before 3:30 PM can generally receive the next-business-day inspection; the primary contact receives automated text updates. Inspection and certificate-of-occupancy questions use (727) 464-3888, Option 1.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2023 Florida Building Code, Building, Eighth Edition, and applicable Florida coastal, fire, floodplain, drainage, and Pinellas County policies and ordinances Generally exempt projects include cosmetic painting, wallpapering, or trim; minor repairs under $500 that do not alter structure or involve electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work; and chain-link, vinyl, or wood fences 6 feet or less, although zoning clearance may still be required. Residential sheds under 100 square feet and no taller than 10 feet generally do not require a permit unless connected to utilities.