Residential Building Permit (St. Petersburg)

City of St. Petersburg

The City of St. Petersburg's Construction Services & Permitting Division issues permits for residential repairs, improvements, and new construction. Applications and electronic plan review (ePlan) are handled through the city's online Click2Gov Building Permit portal, with in-person service at the Municipal Services Center. Plans are reviewed by city staff, the permit is issued after fees are paid, and work is verified through inspections ending in a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.

Who needs this

Homeowners and contractors must get required permits before starting repair, improvement, or construction work on a home. Per Florida HB 803 (effective July 1, 2026), work on a single-family dwelling totaling less than $7,500 can qualify for a Permit Exemption, but only if the property is not in a flood hazard area and the work does not include structural components (including window and door replacement, roofing, soffit and fascia, or siding), mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or gas work. The city also publishes a List of Exempted Permits for work that never required a permit.

Steps

  1. 1

    Prepare plans using the Residential Plan Review Checklist

    Use the city's Residential Plan Review Checklist to assemble the required drawings and documents before submitting.

    stpete.org/Business/Building%20Forms%20&%20Applications/Resi
  2. 2

    Complete the building permit application form

    Fill out the building permit application form plus any other applicable forms to submit with your plans.

    stpete.org/Business/Building%20Forms%20&%20Applications/St%2
  3. 3

    Submit electronically via ePlan through the online portal

    Since Nov. 1, 2023, all electronic plan review requests go through the online portal (no email prescreen required); you get an application number immediately. Applicants have 10 business days to complete their upload and address any initial-submittal comments, or the application is denied and must be reactivated through ePlan review staff. Over-the-counter and in-person submittal is available at the Municipal Services Center, One 4th St. N.

    stpe-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovBP/index.html
  4. 4

    Plan review and status tracking

    City staff review the plans. Track status in the online portal: click 'select permit', enter the application number, then 'plan tracking status' to see individual trade review status.

    stpe-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovBP/index.html
  5. 5

    Pay fees and receive the permit

    Pay plan review and permit fees (the portal and city guides cover paying plan review fees online). The permit is issued after approval and payment.

  6. 6

    Record and submit the Notice of Commencement

    The contractor submits a recorded Notice of Commencement (NOC) prior to the first inspection.

    stpete.org/Business/Building%20Forms%20&%20Applications/Noti
  7. 7

    Schedule inspections

    Schedule inspections through the online Click2Gov portal.

    stpe-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovBP/permitinfo.html
  8. 8

    Final: Certificate of Occupancy or Completion

    A Certificate of Occupancy is needed for new construction and certain changes; apply once all final inspections are approved. A Certificate of Completion covers other completed projects that do not require a CO.

    stpete.org/business/building_permitting/building_permits.php

Requirements

  • Permit must be obtained before you or your contractor start repair, improvement, or construction work
  • City recommends hiring a licensed contractor; verify licensing through the Pinellas County licensing board
  • Electronic plan review submittals go through the online portal (ePlan); applicants have 10 business days to complete uploads/corrections
  • Recorded Notice of Commencement must be submitted prior to the first inspection
  • Flood-zone properties: FEMA substantial-improvement rules can affect what repairs require permits; storm damage photos/videos go to [email protected]

Documents

  • Completed building permit application form
  • Complete construction drawings and specifications (per the Residential Plan Review Checklist)
  • Photo ID (for in-person homeowner visits), floor layout, and for storm repairs a summary and photos/videos of storm damage
  • Recorded Notice of Commencement (prior to first inspection)
  • Owner/Contractor Disclosure Statement, if applicable
  • ePlan Submittal Checklist for New Single-Family Residence projects, if applicable

Fees

ItemAmountNotes
Building permit and plan review feessee fee scheduleThe city's fees page links the fee ordinance in the Municipal Code (Ch. 12, Sec. 12-6) and the forms page links a Permitting Fee Schedule PDF (Nov. 2017). The city collects Multimodal Impact Fees for transportation only, calculated by land use type and size.
Permitting Fee Schedule documentsee fee schedulePDF fee schedule linked from the Applications & Forms page.

Fee amounts change, the linked official schedule always controls.

Good to know

The online portal is Click2Gov (Online Permits & Status), with electronic plan submission via the ePlan review system; the city posted that a new Tyler Software system is being implemented (lobby-hours notice effective Nov. 3, 2025), so the portal may change. No general residential review turnaround is published; officially stated timelines are only the 10-business-day window to complete ePlan uploads/corrections and, for certified Affordable Housing projects, 10 days initial review and 5 days resubmittal review. City search results also describe over-the-counter drop-off service with a three-day estimated review and same-day review by appointment for permits reviewable in 30 minutes. If the application is not corrected within 10 business days in ePlan, it is denied and must be reactivated. Lobby hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Contact: 727-893-7231, [email protected]; ePlan helpline 727-893-7230, [email protected]; Municipal Services Center, One 4th St. N.