Building, zoning, environmental, and right-of-way permitting across unincorporated Pinellas County and its 24 municipalities. Jurisdiction matters, the same project needs a different permit path in different cities.
Docks, seawalls, riprap, tie poles, boat lifts, marinas, and all dredging or filling in Pinellas County waters require a Water and Navigation permit from Pinellas County. The county's Water and Navigation section reviews projects for environmental impacts, navigational impacts, and construction requirements, and it permits projects in both unincorporated areas and within municipal limits. Most projects also need a state authorization from FDEP (an Environmental Resource Permit, general permit, or exemption, plus state-owned submerged lands authorization) and a federal Army Corps authorization, which for minor work in Pinellas County waters is often covered by a general permit such as PGP SAJ-96.
Tree removal permitting in Pinellas County depends on where the property sits. Unincorporated Pinellas County requires a Tree Removal/Habitat Permit under Chapter 58 of the county code, with new simplified regulations effective Jan. 23, 2026. The City of St. Petersburg and the City of Clearwater each run their own tree removal permits. Statewide, Florida Statute 163.045 lets owners of single-family detached residential property remove a dangerous tree without a local permit when a certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect documents the risk.