Planning & Zoning

Planning

The Planning Division is responsible for administering the City's Comprehensive Plan, assisting citizens with various planning issues, ensuring compliance with Florida Growth Management Act and special planning studies as required.

The Planning Division also provides staff support for the City's Planning Board, Historic Preservation Board, and Board of Adjustment.

Zoning

The Zoning Division is responsible for the administration of the City of St. Pete Beaches Land Development Code. The Land Development Code is the regulation which governs development of land within the City. The provisions of the Land Development Code shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, morals, prosperity and general welfare.

These regulations have been made with reasonable consideration, among many things, as to the character of the zoning districts provided for, and their peculiar suitability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land, air and water throughout the city, consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

Administering Requests to the Board of Adjustment

The Zoning Division is responsible for administering requests submitted to the City's Board of Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial public board appointed by the City Commission, which reviews and makes final determinations on applications for variances.

A variance is a grant of relief by the Board of Adjustment from the requirements of the Land Development Code which allows development in a manner otherwise prohibited by the Land Development Code, such as reductions of setbacks, parking or other similar requirements. Most variance requests are heard by the Board of Adjustment, however, in certain circumstances, the City Commission may be the reviewing body.

Administering Requests to the City Commission for Conditional Use Permits

The Zoning Division is responsible for administering requests submitted to the City Commission for Conditional Use Permits. A conditional use means a use that has operational, physical and other characteristics that may be different from those of the predominant permitted uses in a zoning district, but which is a use that complements or may otherwise be compatible with the intended overall development within a district. 

In some instances, a conditional use may also involve a variance request, and these would be heard by the City Commission at the time.

Reviewing Requests for Development & Use of Land

The Zoning Division is also responsible for reviewing requests submitted for development and use of land, including single and two-family residences. Commercial uses and multifamily uses require a site plan review. Site plans are reviewed by an in-house review staff to determine acceptability and conformance to all City Regulations.

More detailed information on these issues may be found in the regulations for conditional uses, variances, site plans and subdivisions which can be viewed in the Land Development Code. General information regarding the variance and conditional use process can be found on the links to the right.