# St. Petersburg Site Plans Require Grade Elevations, Drainage, Landscape, and Two Signed-and-Sealed Sets
Most Florida cities ask for property lines, setbacks, and the proposed structure footprint. St. Petersburg asks for all of that plus seven additional layers of information that most homeowners don't expect to see on a residential site plan. Getting familiar with the full Residential Plan Review Checklist before you draw anything is the right first step.
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The Full St. Petersburg Site Plan Checklist
| Element | What to Show |
|---|---|
| Property lines | Dimensions of all lot boundaries |
| Street and easements | Street in front of property, utility and drainage easements |
| Existing structures | All existing buildings and improvements |
| Proposed project | Location, footprint, and dimensions of new construction |
| Site utilities | Utility connection points, meters, service lines |
| Existing grade elevation | Spot elevations across the lot — including abutting properties and ROW |
| Proposed grade elevation | Proposed finish grades after construction |
| Finish floor elevation | FFE of the structure — including abutting properties and rights-of-way |
| Drainage plan | Proposed drainage plan and cross section per FBC requirements |
| Building footprint | Must match on all floor plan sheets |
| Flood zone | Design flood elevation if in Special Flood Hazard Area |
| Zoning district | Looked up at stpete.org/LDR |
| Residential Compliance Form | Interactive zoning compliance calculator required |
| Setbacks | Dimensions from all property lines to all structures |
| Impervious surface | Area of impervious surfaces in front and street-side yards |
| AC unit | Dimensions from property lines |
| Pool | Dimensions from property lines |
| Deck | Dimensions from property lines |
| Fencing | Dimensions from property lines |
| Landscape plan | Required trees and shrubs |
| Scale and north arrow | Plan must be to scale; north arrow required |
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Why Grade Elevations Matter in St. Pete
St. Petersburg sits along Tampa Bay with significant portions of the city in FEMA flood zones. The grade elevation requirement goes beyond your lot — the plan must show finish floor elevation in context with abutting properties and rights-of-way. This lets the reviewer verify that:
- Your proposed project doesn't divert drainage onto neighboring properties
- Your finish floor elevation is appropriate relative to established grade on adjacent lots
- You're complying with floodplain requirements tied to Base Flood Elevation (BFE)
If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the Design Flood Elevation must also appear on the site plan.
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Submission Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Site plan copies | Minimum 2 copies, minimum 11″ × 17″ |
| Legal survey | Include if available |
| Building plans | 2 sets |
| Structural drawings | 2 sets — signed and sealed by registered FL architect or engineer |
| Construction plans minimum size | 11″ × 17″ |
| Residential Zoning Compliance Form | Required — interactive calculator available at stpete.org/LDR |
| Engineering on openings | Required for all openings 16″ or greater |
| Soil report | Required if construction is on fill or unstable soil |
| Portal | ASP eGov system |
| Plan review time | 2–4 weeks after completeness determination |
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St. Petersburg Setbacks
| Yard | Typical Setback |
|---|---|
| Front yard | Varies by zoning district |
| Rear yard | 20 ft typical |
| Interior side | 7 ft typical |
| Corner lot — street side | 12 ft typical |
Verify your specific district at stpete.org/LDR. The Residential Zoning Compliance Form uses this data.
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The Residential Zoning Compliance Form
St. Petersburg requires a Residential Zoning Compliance Form with every permit application. An interactive online calculator is available through the city's LDR portal. The form captures:
- Lot area and dimensions
- Setbacks from all property lines
- Floor area, height, and lot coverage
- Impervious surface calculations
- Zoning district confirmation
Complete this form and attach it to your permit application — it is not optional.
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Project-by-Project Requirements
| Project | Key St. Pete Consideration | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | Dimensions from all property lines, grade, FFE | Permit required |
| Pool | Dimensions from property lines, drainage plan, flood zone | Permit required |
| Fence | Dimensions from property lines | Verify requirement |
| Shed | Footprint, setbacks, impervious area | Permit required |
| Garage | Footprint, driveway, setbacks, grade, FFE | Permit required |
| Addition | Full checklist — grades, drainage, FFE, compliance form | Permit required |
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Using the Site Plan Creator for a St. Pete Permit
- Enter your St. Petersburg address. Pinellas County parcel data loads — lot boundaries pull from county records.
- Place your project. Setback lines generate from lot boundaries. Verify the 20/7/12-ft typical setbacks for your district using the LDR lookup.
- Add grade and elevation annotations. Note existing grade elevations at key points on the lot, your proposed finish floor elevation, and note the abutting property and ROW grade context.
- Add drainage notes. Show drainage direction and drainage cross section reference.
- Calculate impervious surface. Add existing + proposed impervious areas in the front and street-side yards.
- Add AC unit, pool, deck, fence dimensions. Each must show distance to nearest property line.
- Complete the Residential Zoning Compliance Form through stpete.org/LDR and attach to the package.
- Submit through ASP eGov. Upload the site plan, building plans, and compliance form.
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What This Doesn't Replace
The site plan creator generates preliminary, conceptual drawings. The two sets of signed and sealed structural drawings required by St. Petersburg must be prepared by a registered Florida architect or engineer — the tool does not produce sealed engineering drawings. Grade elevation data should be based on survey-derived elevations where available; parcel data provides lot boundaries but not topographic spot elevations. Final permit approval is at the sole discretion of the City of St. Petersburg Construction Services and Permitting Division.
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Local Resources
- St. Petersburg Construction Services & Permitting — (727) 893-7231; One 4th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
- St. Petersburg LDR Zoning Lookup — Residential Zoning Compliance Form
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser GIS
- FEMA Flood Map Service
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Nearby Florida Cities
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I really need to show abutting property grade elevations on my site plan?
Yes — St. Petersburg specifically requires grade elevations shown for abutting properties and rights-of-way, not just your own lot. This is a floodplain and drainage compliance measure. Use your purchase survey's spot elevations and the elevation of the adjacent curb/street as reference.
2. What is the Residential Zoning Compliance Form?
A required form that documents your lot's zoning parameters — setbacks, floor area, height, lot coverage, impervious surface, and zoning district — in a standardized format. An interactive online calculator is available at stpete.org/LDR. Attach the completed form to every permit application.
3. Who can sign and seal the structural drawings?
A registered Florida architect or professional engineer licensed in the State of Florida. Two sets of signed and sealed structural drawings are required. This requirement applies to the structural engineering drawings — not the site plan itself.
4. What does "engineering required on all openings 16 inches or greater" mean?
Any structural opening — window, door, or framed opening — 16 inches or larger in width or height requires engineering calculations to verify adequate structural support. This is part of the broader wind and hurricane resistance requirements under the Florida Building Code.
5. How do I look up my zoning district in St. Petersburg?
Go to stpete.org/LDR and search your address. The zoning district lookup is integrated into the Residential Zoning Compliance Form calculator.
6. How long does plan review take in St. Petersburg?
The city targets 2–4 weeks after a completeness determination. Submit a complete application — missing required items (especially the zoning compliance form or grade elevations) will result in an incompleteness notice that restarts the clock.
7. Can homeowners pull their own permits in St. Petersburg?
Homeowners can visit the Municipal Services Center for owner-builder permit assistance. The signed and sealed structural drawing requirement means licensed professional involvement is needed for the structural engineering portion. Contact Construction Services to clarify what specifically applies to your project scope.
8. What is the impervious surface requirement in the front yard?
St. Petersburg's site plan must show the area of impervious surfaces in the front and street-side yards. This is used to calculate lot coverage compliance — check your zoning district's maximum impervious surface percentage at stpete.org/LDR.
9. What if my property is in a flood zone?
Show the FEMA flood zone designation and Design Flood Elevation (DFE) on the site plan. Properties in SFHA zones may require elevation certificates. Contact the Building Division for floodplain-specific requirements.
10. Does the site plan creator export in the correct format for St. Pete's ASP eGov portal?
The tool exports a PDF at 11″×17″ or larger — which meets the minimum plan size requirement. Confirm the file size and resolution are acceptable for the ASP eGov upload before submitting.
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Start Your St. Petersburg Site Plan
Grades. FFE. Drainage. Impervious area. Compliance form. Two sealed sets. Enter your address, pull Pinellas County parcel data, build the plan with all required elements, and submit through ASP eGov. First plan is free.
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