How To Search for St. Petersburg Property Records

For people who love beaches, warm weather, and year-round outdoor living, Florida is the state to buy a home or invest in real estate. However, before buying any property or investing in real estate, do your homework by checking public property records. Property records contain detailed information about real estate parcels, including assessed value, ownership, transaction history, land use, property description, and tax information. St. Petersburg property records are considered public information, implying that anyone may view them or request copies from relevant agencies. The primary step to finding the information you need is knowing where to look. You can use the following helpful resources to search for St. Petersburg property records.

Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office

The Pinellas County Property Appraiser (PCPA) is responsible for appraising St. Petersburg's properties and providing the taxing authority with accurate property valuations for tax purposes. It maintains property ownership records and other property-related information. You can use the PCPA's Property Search resource to find information like property legal descriptions, assessed values, recent sales, tax district, and exemptions, using address, parcel ID, or owner's name as the search criterion. If you wish to access this information in person, you can visit the Pinellas County Property Appraiser at 2500 34th Street North, 2nd Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33713.

Pinellas County Circuit Court

The Clerk of the Pinellas County Circuit Court and Comptroller keeps official property-related records like liens, mortgages, deeds, and recorded instruments. It maintains a Records Search portal on its website, allowing you to search for St. Petersburg property records by name, date range, case number, document type, legal description, or instrument number. While online access may require a paid subscription, you can access property records for free on public terminals located at the clerk's office at545 1st Avenue North, Room 153, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office

Although the Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office does not keep complete deed or ownership records, you may view property tax accounts, delinquency status, payment history, and several other details on the Tax Collector's website. Also, you can request property tax records for any property in St. Petersburg by contacting the Pinellas County Tax Collector's office by mail or in person at315 Court Street, 3rd Floor, P.O. Box 8552, Clearwater, FL 33758. Alternatively, you can call the office at (727) 464-3364.

St. Petersburg property taxes are based on the value of property and serve as a primary source of local government funding. They fund core city public services, infrastructure, as well as programs such as education, libraries, roads, parks, bridges, street maintenance, police services, sanitation, and fire services. The Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office determines the assessed value of properties every year and provides the Tax Collector's Office with accurate and uniform property valuations for tax purposes. The Tax Collector's Office mails out annual tax bills or notices to property owners in St. Petersburg by November 1 every year. You have between November 1 and March 31 of the following year to pay your property tax.

You can enjoy discounts on your property taxes if you pay them early, depending on the speed of your payment. These discounts are available from November through February as follows: 4% if paid in November, 3% if paid in December, 2% if paid in January, and 1% if paid in February. The deadline for paying property taxes in St. Petersburg is March 31 of the following year. If you fail to pay your tax on or before this date, it becomes delinquent by April 1st, and penalties and interest will kick in. If you are unable to pay your property taxes after a long period, the county will put a lien on the property, foreclose it, and sell it at auction to pay back taxes.

You may pay your St. Petersburg property taxes online using credit/debit cards or free eChecks (eChecks not accepted for delinquent property taxes). You can also drop payment securely in the drop boxes placed outside select tax collector offices. Alternatively, you can pay through wire transfer (the Tax Collector's Office provides Wire Instructions). If you wish to pay by mail, send a check to the Pinellas County Tax Collector's office at P.O. Box 31149, Tampa, FL 33631-3149.You can also pay in person at 2500 34th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713.

Assessments

The Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office (PCPA) handles annual property assessments in St. Petersburg. It has the legal responsibility of determining property values and preparing the annual property tax roll. It conducts several types of assessments, depending on property ownership and use. The PCPA determines property values through one of three appraisal methods, namely the cost method, the sale comparison method, and the income method.

Properties are reassessed each year as of January 1, and notices of proposed property taxes are mailed to property owners in August every year. If you disagree with the assessed value of your property, you can challenge it by informally discussing your concerns with the PCPA. If this fails, file a petition (costs a nominal fee) with the Pinellas County Value Adjustment Board(VAB) within 25 days of receiving the notice of proposed property taxes.

Appraisals

Property appraisals help determine the current fair market value of properties. The Pinellas County Property Appraiser's Office uses comps, market trends, and sales records to appraise St. Petersburg properties for tax purposes. Others, like mortgage lenders, developers, investors, courts, and home buyers, employ the services of licensed appraisers for real property valuation in the city.

Tax Rates

St. Petersburg's median effective property tax rate is about 1.11% of a property's assessed value, which is slightly lower than Florida's median of 1.14% but higher than the national median of 1.02%. The average annual property tax payment in the city is approximately $2,477. This is higher than Florida's median property tax bill of $2,386 and the national median property tax bill of $2,400.

See how the median effective property tax in St. Petersburg stacks up against some Florida counties:

• Pasco County 0.76%
• Sarasota County 075%
• Glades County 1.01%
• Sumter County 0.82%
• Putnam County 0.81%
• Alachua County 0.98%
• Broward County 0.94%
• Manatee County 0.79%
• Indiana River County 0.72%
• Hardee County 1.04%
• Holmes County 0.51%
• Liberty County 0.87%
• Hillsboro County 0.83%

Exemptions

A property tax exemption is a legal reduction of the taxable value of a property. St. Petersburg property taxes are relatively high compared with some other states in the U.S. Luckily, you can enjoy some property tax exemptions in Pinellas County, depending on your status. The common tax exemptions in St. Petersburg include the following:

• Veterans Exemption: For disabled veterans, depending on the circumstances and disability rating.
• Widower/Widow Exemption: Reduces the assessed value by up to $5,000 for surviving spouses of homeowners.
• Homestead Exemption: Reduces the assessed value by up to $50,000 if your home is your permanent residence.
• Disability Exemption: Reduces the assessed value by $5,000 for those who are legally blind or permanently disabled.
• Lower-Income Senior Exemption: For seniors (65+). The reduction they get depends on their income limits.

You can apply for any of these tax exemptions by contacting the Pinellas County Property Appraiser.

Some real estate activities, including new construction, renovation/remodelling, addition, and demolition, require a building permit in St. Petersburg. However, minor changes like flooring or painting do not require any permit or inspection. All building permits, from small to large projects, are issued by the City of St. Petersburg Construction Services and Permitting Division.

You may apply for a building permit in St. Petersburg through the city's Building Permits online application tool. If you want to apply in person, submit a completed Permit Application Form and other appropriate/applicable forms to the main permitting office at Municipal Services Center, One 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

The following permits are available in St. Petersburg, Florida:

General Building Permits

• Building Permits: These permits are required for new constructions (commercial and residential), remodels, additions, porches, siding, decks, sheds, roofing, doors, garages, and windows.
• Electrical Permits: Required for new wiring, rewiring, lighting, solar panel installations, electrical panel upgrades, and generators.
• Mechanical Permits: Required for ductwork, furnace work, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) components installations or replacements.
• Gas Permits: Required to install propane or natural gas lines and gas appliances such as fireplaces, stoves, and pool heaters.
• Plumbing Permits: Required for any plumbing work, including water heater installation, water line connections, kitchen remodel plumbing, and bathroom plumbing.

Specialty Permits

• Sign Permits: Required for altering or installing commercial signage.
• Demolition Permits: Required for pulling down structures.
• Fence Permits: Needed for replacing or installing fences.
• Sidewalk/Driveway Permits: Required for concrete work on private or public property.
• Spa and Swimming Pool Permits: Required for new spa or pool constructions or alterations.

When applying for any of these permits, you must submit the proper documentation (building plans, blueprints, contractor licenses, materials lists, etc.). You must also pay the appropriate fee.

Building inspections are part of the permit process, and they ensure that the work complies with local building and safety codes. You can schedule an inspection through the online portal or in person at the office during regular business hours.

Home to the Salvador Dalí Museum, which has the largest collection of Dalí's work outside Spain, St. Petersburg, Florida, also boasts rich architecture, vibrant scenes, and inviting neighborhoods with a blend of modern living and history. It has over 100 districts and neighborhoods, many of which are historic, featuring Mediterranean Revival homes, art deco buildings, and Craftsman bungalows.

St. Petersburg, Florida, is situated between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. It has a population of approximately 266,400 residents, making the city the second most populous in the Tampa Bay metro area. The city has about 141,030 housing units, with 116,770 occupied. While about 37% of these units are renter-occupied, the remaining units (approximately 63%) are owner-occupied. The city offers varying residential structures, including condos, townhomes, mobile homes, single-family detached homes, and multi-unit structures. The central and downtown areas of the city also have lots of luxury high-rise condos.

While home prices in St. Petersburg, FL, vary across neighborhoods (depending on where you live), the average home price in the city is about $395,000. This represents a 5.5% decline compared to the previous year. The average price per square foot is around $310.

See the median home prices for some areas within the city:

• Downtown $818,050
• River Bay $471,540
• North Kenwood $429,650
• Edgemoor $359,290
• Snell Isle $1.7 million
• Bayview $317,520

St. Petersburg's real estate market trends currently favor buyers. There are more active listings (increased inventory), and homes are staying longer on the market (approximately 57 days). Also, home prices have cooled slightly. Despite real estate's steady appreciation over the last decade, the city remains more affordable than major markets. It appeals to a mix of lifestyles, including beach enthusiasts, history lovers, investors, and luxury seekers.