Every guided workflow in the knowledge base, permits, licenses, land use, records, and life events, with the responsible agency, requirements, fees, and official application links.
BDRS issues commercial building permits covering work on non-residential buildings and multi-family structures in unincorporated Pinellas County: new buildings and additions, interior build-outs and remodels, change of use/occupancy, fire protection systems, signs, and MEP/gas systems. Applications are submitted entirely online through the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela) with digital plan sets; commercial reviews generally take around 21 days. Some projects need a pre-application meeting or development review before the building permit application.
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.
In unincorporated Pinellas County, the county's Building FAQs state a building permit is not required for a fence, but you must still comply with zoning regulations in the Land Development Code (Article X, Division 4, Secs. 138-3700 to 138-3706), and the county's Permitting Guide lists fencing among work that may need a Development Review zoning clearance. The Access Portal also has residential record types for Fence, Masonry Fence/Wall, Retaining Wall and Seawall. Height limits are 6 feet in side/rear setbacks and 3 to 4 feet in front setbacks (up to 5 feet total with semi-opaque decorative toppers), with an absolute prohibition on fences within 15 feet of intersecting right-of-way lines at corners.
Replacing or repairing a roof in unincorporated Pinellas County requires a building permit from Building & Development Review Services (BDRS), applied for online through the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela). Permits are required for work in excess of $500 or work that requires an inspection. Every re-roof gets a mandatory in-progress inspection, and hurricane-mitigation work (roof deck nailing, secondary water barrier) that gets covered up must be documented with a Re-Roofing Mitigation Affidavit under the Hurricane Mitigation Manual (FS 553.844). BDRS serves unincorporated areas plus Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar and Safety Harbor; other cities issue their own permits.
Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services (BDRS) issues building permits for one- and two-family homes and related structures in unincorporated Pinellas County (BDRS also serves Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Kenneth City, Oldsmar, and Safety Harbor). The county requires a permit for any new building, addition, remodeling, demolition, or other work in excess of $500 or that requires an inspection. Applications, plan uploads, fee payment, and inspection scheduling are all handled online through the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela); simple like-for-like projects may qualify for an Express Permit instead.
Solar photovoltaic systems on homes in unincorporated Pinellas County are permitted through BDRS as a Residential permit - 'Solar' is one of the 17 major residential record categories in the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela). Applications, plan uploads, fee payment, and inspection scheduling are all online through the portal. Solar is not on the county's Express Permit eligible-work list, so it follows the standard residential permit review path.
New residential pools, spas, and hot tubs in unincorporated Pinellas County require a building permit ('Pools & Spas - Above Ground / Inground' record types) applied for through the Pinellas County Access Portal (Accela). Every application must include a Residential Swimming Pool/Spa/Hot Tub Safety Act acknowledgement selecting one of four drowning-prevention measures (barrier per FS 515.29, ASTM F1346-91 safety cover, 85 dB exit alarms, or self-closing/self-latching doors at 54 inches), plus a no-objection letter from the electric company. BDRS serves unincorporated areas and six partner communities; other cities issue their own pool permits.