ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in St. Petersburg, FL
Yes — you need a permit for adu (accessory dwelling unit) work in St. Petersburg.
Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory dwelling unit is new residential construction and needs a building permit. Section 16.50.010 governs where ADUs are allowed and sets the building and site requirements the new unit must meet.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Fee | Permit fee is based on the total construction value of all permits applied for under the Sec. 12-6 fee schedule; the dollar amount is not in the provided text. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 16.50.010.5.2 |
| Based on | St. Petersburg City Code, Ch. 16 (Land Development Regulations); Florida Building Code 2023 |
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.
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 | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Largo | 13 mi | Yes | Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, ca… |
| Clearwater | 17 mi | Yes | ADU разрешён как accessory use в жилых зонах (LDR/LMDR/MD… |
| Tampa | 17 mi | Yes | You need permits to build an accessory dwelling unit. An … |
| Lakeland | 47 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| North Port | 56 mi | Yes | Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, ca… |
See every Florida city on adu (accessory dwelling unit) work
Other work in St. Petersburg
Questions people ask
How much does a adu (accessory dwelling unit) permit cost in St. Petersburg?
Permit fee is based on the total construction value of all permits applied for 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.