County extends after-the-fact permit penalties waiver 6 months

County also announces temporary housing option within certain mobile home parks

Pinellas County property owners with homes not deemed substantially damaged who have started or completed unpermitted repairs will now have until June 30, 2026, to obtain after-the-fact permits without paying a penalty.

The Pinellas County Commission adopted a resolution Tuesday extending the grace period for penalty fee waivers by six months. Normally, after-the-fact permitting fees are double the usual fee. With the waiver, applicants only pay the standard fee.

This penalty waiver applies to applications submitted by June 30, 2026, for properties in unincorporated Pinellas County and the communities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar, Kenneth City and Safety Harbor that were damaged in Hurricane Helene or Milton.

After-the-fact permits for new construction unrelated to storm damage, such as pools, patios and driveways, are ineligible for the waiver.

The County also announced it is activating a provision in its Land Development Code allowing residents of mobile home communities located in flood zones within the unincorporated County to temporarily reside in their recreation vehicle (RVs) on their lot for up to 180 days.

Residents must obtain a zoning clearance to verify placement and minimum safety standards.

Recovery funding available: Residents may be eligible for the People First Recovery Program, which offers funding for repairs, reconstruction and reimbursement of costs not covered by insurance or FEMA. Residents can apply at recover.pinellas.gov. 

For more permitting, zoning clearances and recovery resources, visit pinellas.gov/bdrs or contact the Building and Development Review Services department at (727) 464-3888 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.