New Pinellas County Government Center

Pinellas County will build a new government center near U.S. 19 and Ulmerton Road and move its headquarters from downtown Clearwater.

The project will take several years to complete. Once finished, the new government center will provide an efficient hub for public services, centrally located in the heart of the county.

We will post updates here throughout the project.

Why the County is moving

The main reason is that it’s a smart investment in the long run. Our existing buildings in downtown Clearwater are aging and getting more expensive to maintain. We would spend more to repair and renovate them than it will cost to build a new complex and move.  Studies by a third-party consultant estimate that the County will save more than $150 million over the next 50 years.

Another reason to move is to be more convenient. Based on our population and roadway system, the new location will be a shorter drive for most of our residents and employees.

What County offices are moving?

The move will include most of the County departments under the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) as well as some Constitutional Offices, Appointing Authorities, Courts and other agencies that share space among multiple buildings in downtown Clearwater.

What’s happened so far

• We commissioned a space study to determine the amount of space needed, and an analysis of the cost of staying in Clearwater vs. moving.
• We analyzed where people live in the county to determine the most central area to consider for a new government complex.
• The Board of County Commissioners purchased a 21-acre property at 13600 Icot Blvd. on Nov. 14, 2023, for $33 million. This property is almost exactly at the population-weighted center of the county, which means it’s most convenient for the most people.
• After a competitive bidding process, the County hired HOK to design the new buildings and Ajax Construction to build them. HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm with offices in Tampa. Ajax is a Florida-based construction company with a local office in Oldsmar.
• HOK has been refining the space plan and is working on initial floor plans for the new buildings. 
• The Board of County Commissioners declared the Clearwater properties as “surplus” on April 7, 2026, a technical step required to begin planning for their redevelopment.

Next steps during spring 2026

1. We will hold a town hall meeting to gather community input about the future of the Clearwater properties on Wednesday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at 333 Chestnut Street in Clearwater.  
2. We will issue a request for negotiations with developers who are interested in redeveloping the Clearwater properties in line with vision of the County Commission and the City of Clearwater’s Comprehensive Plan, “Clearwater 2045.”
3. We will submit site plans for the new County complex to begin the permitting process with the City of Largo, followed by a community meeting.
4. HOK will continue working on the floor plans and building designs for the new campus throughout 2026.

We expect to complete construction in 2029.

This will be a long and complex process, but the Board of County Commissioners and County staff look forward to bringing a new, more convenient, more efficient county government center to life to better serve our residents.