Above-Ground Pool permit in St. Petersburg, FL
Yes — you need a permit for above-ground pool work in St. Petersburg.
over 24 inches deep (FBC exempts only prefabricated pools less than 24 in. deep; above-ground residential pools are typically deeper and also fall under the Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, which requires a permit plus a 48-in. barrier with self-closing/self-latching gates).
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Over 24 in deep |
| Fee | Permit fee is set by the total construction value under the Sec. 12-6 fee schedule; the dollar amount is not in the provided text. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | FBC 105.2 |
| Based on | Florida Building Code, Building, 2023 (8th ed.) + Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (F.S. Ch. 515) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the St. Petersburg building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.
If you skip it
St. Petersburg's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | — | Yes | Over 24 in deep |
| Largo | 13 mi | Depends | Over 24 in deep |
| Clearwater | 17 mi | Yes | Up to 24 |
| Tampa | 17 mi | Yes | Over 24 in deep |
| Lakeland | 47 mi | Yes | Under 24 in deep |
| North Port | 56 mi | Yes | Over 24 in deep |
Other work in St. Petersburg
Questions people ask
How much does a above-ground pool permit cost in St. Petersburg?
Permit fee is set by the total construction value under the Sec. 12-6 fee schedule; the dollar amount is not in the provided text.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
St. Petersburg can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.