Permits

On January 6, 2025, The City of Tampa will implement a new, more streamlined permitting process, affecting commercial and residential permits.

The changes follow the implementation of HB 267 (2024), which requires local governments to approve, approve with conditions, or deny a complete and sufficient permit application within 30 days. If it does not meet that deadline, a portion of the permit fees will be refunded for every business day that permit is not complete.

Also with this new permitting process, when you apply for a site application, it will now precede the building permit application. From there, it will undergo site reviews, including zoning, stormwater, natural resources and more.

The new permitting process reduces the risk of delays and ensures all regulatory checks are completed at the right stage of the development process.

The changes will not be retroactive, as projects submitted prior to January 2025 will be under current timelines.

All installation(s), construction, and/or maintenance activities, which take place within the City of Tampa rights-of-way are subject to oversight by the City. This is accomplished via a permit application and review process. The most commonly requested permits fall into the following categories:

• Sidewalk and driveway construction/repair, which takes place within City rights-of-way, is regulated by a permit process in order to ensure optimal user safety.
• Utility construction and maintenance activities are also regulated by permit.