Demolition Permit (Unincorporated Pinellas County)
Demolishing a structure in unincorporated Pinellas County requires a demolition permit from BDRS - Demolition is one of the record categories in the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela) - because the county requires a permit for any demolition work in excess of $500 or requiring an inspection. Separately and in addition, ALL demolitions require an asbestos survey by a state-licensed asbestos consultant and a NESHAP demolition notification to the Pinellas County Air Quality Division at least 10 working days (two calendar weeks) before work begins, even if no asbestos is found. The building permit does NOT satisfy the Air Quality notification requirement.
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Who needs this
Property owners and licensed contractors demolishing (fully or partially) residential or commercial structures in unincorporated Pinellas County. The owner/operator is responsible for the asbestos survey and Air Quality notification regardless of who pulls the building permit.
Steps
- 1
Get an asbestos survey
Before any demolition (or renovation), obtain a written asbestos survey report from a state-licensed asbestos consultant; the report must accompany the demolition notification and be kept on site during work.
pinellas.gov/programs/asbestos-program/asbestos-notification - 2
File the NESHAP demolition notification with Air Quality
Submit the demolition notification (preferably via the Access Portal) with the survey and fees at least 10 working days before demolition - required for ALL demolitions even with no asbestos present. The 10-working-day clock starts only when all information, fees, and survey documents are submitted. Emergency demolitions of structures declared structurally unsound by a government official: 1-day notice.
pinellas.gov/create-an-air-quality-asbestos-notification/ - 3
Apply for the demolition permit in the Access Portal
Sign in to the Pinellas County Access Portal, select the Demolition record type, complete the application, and upload required documents (survey/site plan showing the structure to be demolished, per general BDRS submittal requirements).
aca-prod.accela.com/pinellas/Default.aspx - 4
Pay fees
Pay building permit fees through the Access Portal; asbestos notifications carry separate fees payable to the Air Quality Division.
- 5
Record Notice of Commencement if required
If the direct contract is greater than $5,000, record a Notice of Commencement with the Clerk and attach a copy to the permit before the first inspection.
pinellas.gov/notice-of-commencement-form/ - 6
Schedule inspections
Schedule required inspections through the Access Portal after the permit is issued.
pinellas.gov/building-inspections/
Requirements
- Demolition permit required for demolition work in excess of $500 or requiring an inspection
- Asbestos survey by a state-licensed asbestos consultant before demolition; written report kept on site
- NESHAP demolition notification to Pinellas County Air Quality Division at least 10 working days before work, for ALL demolitions (asbestos or not); a building permit does not satisfy this
- Separate notifications and fees for renovations vs. demolitions at the same facility
- Licensed contractor or qualifying owner-builder (FS 489.103(7))
- Recorded Notice of Commencement before first inspection for direct contracts over $5,000 (FS 713.135(1)(e))
- Site plan/survey per BDRS general submittal requirements
Documents
- Written asbestos survey report from a state-licensed consultant
- NESHAP demolition notification form (or portal submission) with fees
- Boundary/topographic survey and plot/site plan showing the structure
- Recorded Notice of Commencement (if direct contract over $5,000)
Fees
Previous fiscal-year fee amounts are shown below for a rough cost reference. They are not current quotes or guaranteed estimates, and actual fees may have changed. Confirm today's charge with the issuing building department or official payment portal.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition building permit fee | $225 residential; $325 commercial (includes all trades and plan review)Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule, effective Oct 1 2025 (accessed 2026-09-01). FY27 is proposed, not yet effective. NOTE: the county's public Building/Transportation/Zoning Fees page still links the superseded FY25 schedule. This amount is unchanged from FY25.Historical source |
| Asbestos/demolition notification processing fee | $360 (building 2,000 sq ft or less) up to $1,440 (100,000+ sq ft); asbestos removal $0 under 160 sq ft/260 lin ft, then $360 to $1,600 tieredHistorical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule, effective Oct 1 2025 (accessed 2026-09-01). FY27 is proposed, not yet effective. NOTE: the county's public Building/Transportation/Zoning Fees page still links the superseded FY25 schedule. This amount is unchanged from FY25.Historical source |
Good to know
Gotchas: (1) The Air Quality NESHAP notification is a separate, mandatory track - obtaining the BDRS demolition permit does NOT satisfy it, and it applies to every demolition even with a clean asbestos survey. (2) The 10-working-day clock starts only when ALL documents and fees are in. (3) Renovation notifications are triggered separately at 160 sq ft / 260 linear ft / 35 cu ft of regulated material disturbance. (4) Contact Air Quality at (727) 464-4422 or [email protected]. (5) NOC required over $5,000. (6) Owner-builders must meet FS 489.103(7). No county page fetched stated utility-disconnect requirements; confirm with BDRS at (727) 464-3888.