Sign regulation in Pinellas County is jurisdiction-specific: unincorporated areas follow the county Land Development Code, while each of the 24 municipalities enforces its own sign code, and they differ meaningfully (St. Petersburg and the beach communities are notably strict about size and illumination). Always start by confirming which jurisdiction your address is in.
Permanent signs need permits. In unincorporated Pinellas, permanent business signage, including monument signs, pylon and pole signs, and illuminated signs, goes through sign permitting with Building and Development Review Services via the Pinellas County Access Portal (aca-prod.accela.com/pinellas). The county publishes separate inspection procedures for monument, pylon, and pole signs with and without electrical connections, which is a practical confirmation that both a building-type permit and, for lighted signs, an electrical component are involved. Wall signs and sign face changes may qualify for simpler review; ask BDRS at 727-464-3888 before fabricating anything.
Size, height, and location rules come from zoning. Allowed sign area typically scales with road frontage and zoning district, with height caps and setback/sight-triangle requirements near intersections and driveways. Because the county's detailed sign standards live in the Land Development Code rather than on a summary web page, get the district-specific numbers from BDRS or the code itself before designing a sign package.
Right-of-way signs are prohibited. Snipe signs (yard-sale style signs, banners tacked to poles, directional advertising) placed in public rights-of-way are removable and can draw code enforcement action. On roads that are part of the State Highway System, state law (FS 479.11) flatly prohibits signs located upon the right-of-way, and FDOT crews remove them. Along US 19, Gulf-to-Bay/SR 60, and other state roads, off-premises advertising (billboards) also requires state outdoor advertising permits. unverified
Temporary signs. Election signs, event banners, and construction signs are typically allowed for limited durations with placement rules that vary by jurisdiction; check the county or your city's current temporary sign standards rather than assuming.
Practical sequence for a new business sign: confirm jurisdiction, get the zoning district's sign allowances in writing, have your sign contractor (who should be appropriately licensed) pull the permit, and schedule final inspection, electrical included if illuminated.