Enforcement Codes

Service Area / Map: Unincorporated Pinellas County

For current Land Development Code specifics, contact Development Review Services at (727) 464-3888 or review the complete code.

The following summaries will help you identify and understand different sections of the Pinellas County Code. This is not the full or exact code language, so you should rely on the actual code entries for the most accurate guidance for these enforcement concerns:

Commercial Vehicles in Residential Areas

Sec. 122-37

industrial equipment in a side yard

You are not permitted to park commercial vehicles within residential areas. The type of vehicle, not how it’s used, determines whether or not it’s commercial. Cars, motorcycles, RVs, passenger vans, work vans and pick-up trucks are exempt.

Vehicles that have been equipped with attachments such as racks or utility beds are limited to one per dwelling. Including racks, cargo and equipment, the vehicle cannot exceed 8 feet in height, 8 feet in width, and 21 feet in length and should be parked on a prepared, inorganic surface.

You may park commercial vehicles in a garage or other enclosed structures to avoid a violation.

Inoperative Vehicles

Sec. 58-270

boat stored in front yard

Vehicles, including cars, boats, motor homes, motorcycles and trailers, must be in condition to be legally operated on the roads or waterways of Florida.

Vehicles with cosmetic imperfections are not a violation if they are in working order with a current tag.

Vehicles kept inside an enclosed garage are not a violation.

High grass/weeds, Trash, and Debris

Sec. 58-304

tall grass in front of a house

All developed properties, whether vacant or occupied, must be maintained.

It is unlawful to accumulate trash, debris, garbage, food waste, inoperable vehicles, refuse, or other noxious items on any property in unincorporated Pinellas County. You cannot collect these materials in your yard or allow others to dump them on your own property.

If your grass and weeds reach a height of 12 inches over the majority of the property, it is a violation of Sec. 58-331. We may send a notice of violation to the property owner or other responsible party at the address of record and also post a placard on the property and at the Pinellas County Courthouse. If the property is not mowed and debris is not removed, we may hire a contractor to do it and place an interest-accruing lien on the property for the costs incurred.

Minimum Housing Standards

Sec. 22-299

junk surrounding a house

The Housing Code applies to all structures and sets minimum standards for dwellings and accessory structures, such as sheds and pools.

It addresses the structural and basic maintenance of a residence, as well as things that might negatively impact neighborhood property values, such as badly peeling paint or general disrepair.

Noise Control

Sec. 58-541

Pinellas County uses a decibel control program that limits the noise allowed on a property.

In residential areas, you are allowed a noise level of 72dBA (decibels) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Normal maintenance and use of equipment such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and flushing boat motors are exempted when used reasonably during these hours.

After 11 p.m., the allowable level is reduced to 55dBA, which is about the level of a normal conversation between two people standing five feet apart.

Excessive noise from parties, people, or vehicles is handled by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at (727) 582-6200.

Zoning

Sec. 138-1

camper parked in driveway and car parked in front yard

Zoning regulates the legal uses of a property.

Residential zones are generally for homes and their accessory uses. Commercial and manufacturing zones are typically for business and industrial enterprises.

A zoning clearance may be required for uses and structures on a property, even if a permit is not. A clearance ensures that a proposed use or structure is allowed in that zone and that it meets all of the Code requirements.

  • Sheds and Accessory Structures — All structures must be placed on a lot so they are set back at a specific distance from a property line. The parcel’s zoning, along with the structure’s size and proposed location, governs the placement. For code specifics, see Sec. 138-3505(c).
  • Fences — The maximum height for a fence or wall on a residential property line is 6 feet. Any portion of the fence placed inside the front building setback cannot exceed 3 feet in height. Fencing is only allowed on private property. Fences are not permitted to enclose alleys or encroach on the right of way. For code specifics, see Sec. 138-3700 to 138-3709.
  • Signs — This section of the zoning code addresses the size, height, location, and the number of signs on property in unincorporated Pinellas County. Allowable signage is based upon factors that include how a property is zoned, the length of road frontage, the length of building frontage, and the type of sign. For code specifics, see Sec. 138-3750.