99th Percentile
Out of 191,478 Florida contractors - Buildzoom
20+ Years Industry Experience
St. Pete & Pinellas County
No Work Begins Without a Signed Contract
Fixed-price. No surprises.
Why St. Pete Homeowners Hire Central Builders Group
Central Builders Group is a residential construction company based in St. Petersburg. Owner David Gayhart and his team build and rebuild homes across Pinellas County, from waterfront custom homes on Snell Isle to second-story additions on older bungalows. Every project runs through one company, one contract, and one point of contact.
01
One Contract From Design to Certificate of Occupancy
Most homeowners hire an architect, an engineer, and a builder separately — then spend months passing plans and questions back and forth. As a design-build contractor in St. Petersburg, we manage design, structural engineering, permitting, and construction under a single agreement. When something needs
02
A Fixed Price Before Work Begins
Some contractors bill time and materials and report what you’ve spent each week. We price the job before it starts. You sign a fixed-price contract, and no work begins until you do. If you decide to change the scope along the way, you approve a written change order first.
03
Built for Coastal Florida Code
Building in St. Pete means flood zones, FEMA’s 50% rule, wind-load engineering, and plan review with the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County. Out-of-town builders learn this the hard way. We plan every project around it from the first site visit, so your permit doesn’t stall in review.
Residential Construction Services in Pinellas County
From ground-up custom homes to foundation repair, every service below is handled by the same licensed team. If the job needs permits, structural work, or flood-zone engineering, it’s the kind of project we build every day.
Custom Home Builder
Design-build custom homes on your lot, including waterfront and flood-zone properties.
Learn MoreHome Additions
Room additions, primary suites, and in-law suites that tie into your existing home.
Learn MoreADU Builder
Detached, attached, and garage-conversion ADUs for family or rental income, fully permitted.
Learn MoreSecond Story Additions
Add a full second floor without moving. Structural evaluation included.
Learn MoreRoofing Contractor
Shingle, tile, metal, and flat roofing - licensed and permitted on every project.
Learn MoreFoundation & Crawlspace
Foundation repair, crawlspace encapsulation, and structural repair.
Learn MoreWhere We Build
St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, and the Neighborhoods That Require Real Coastal Experience
We're based in St. Pete and build throughout Pinellas County. Every neighborhood below comes with its own flood zone rules, permitting quirks, and engineering requirements — and we plan for all of it from the first site visit.
Snell Isle
Waterfront lots where seawalls, flood elevation, and wind-load design shape every plan.
Old Northeast
Older homes and tree-lined streets, with historic review on some blocks.
Shore Acres
Low-lying waterfront homes, many facing FEMA 50% rule decisions after Helene.
Venetian Isles
Canal-front properties that need careful foundation and flood-zone planning.
Pinellas Point
Waterfront and near-water homes on St. Pete’s southern tip.
Carlouel
Barrier-island waterfront construction with strict coastal requirements.
We Also Serve
- Clearwater
- Largo
- Dunedin
- Safety Harbor
- St. Pete Beach
- Seminole
- Pinellas Park
- Tarpon Springs
- Belleair
Not sure if we cover your area? Reach out — if we can’t help, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Start Your Project →How Our Design-Build Process Works
01
Site Visit and Consultation
We walk your property, listen to what you want, and look at what the lot and the house will allow. You leave the first meeting knowing whether your project makes sense.
02
Design and Engineering
We develop plans and structural engineering together, with flood elevation, wind loads, and setbacks built in from the start. This is where most cost surprises get prevented.
03
Fixed-Price Contract
You get a clear scope and a fixed price. Nothing starts until the contract is signed.
04
Permitting
We submit to the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County, handle plan review comments, and get the permit issued. You never deal with the building department.
05
Construction
Our crew builds, and we schedule every inspection. You hear from us weekly about what's done and what's next.
06
Final Inspection and Certificate of Occupancy
We close out every inspection and hand you a finished, fully permitted home.
Credentials
Licensed General Contractor in Pinellas County
Before you hire anyone, check their license. Ours is public, and we encourage you to verify it on the Florida DBPR website.
Verify Our License →-
Building Contractor License — CBC1266673
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Roofing Contractor License — CCC1337484
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Fully insured on every project
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Ranked in the 99th percentile of 191,478 Florida contractors by BuildZoom
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Every project permitted through the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County
Recent Projects in St. Petersburg
View Full Portfolio →Beachfront Custom Home
ADU Build
Restaurant Renovation
What St. Pete Homeowners Say
Read All 23 Reviews on Google →“We had extensive damage from Hurricane Helene - 24 inches of flooding. Mr. Gayhart came the day after the storm and removed four dumpsters of debris. Their work was outstanding. Our home is completely restored and looks beautiful.”
“David has renovated my home twice following two separate hurricanes. His communication was clear, timelines were realistic, and the quality of work was excellent. If you need a contractor you can trust, this is the one.”
“Dave had great communication - he returns all calls and texts and addresses any questions in a timely manner. We talked weekly on what was going to be worked on. Our job is finally done and looks great.”
Common Questions
General Contractor FAQs
Questions about hiring a general contractor in St. Petersburg? We’ve answered the most common ones below.
Ask Us Directly →-
What does a general contractor do?
A general contractor runs your whole project. That means scheduling and managing the trades, ordering materials, pulling permits, scheduling inspections, and making sure the work meets code. As a design-build contractor, we also handle the design and structural engineering, so one company is responsible from the first drawing to the final inspection.
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How do I choose a general contractor in St. Petersburg?
Start by verifying the contractor’s license on the Florida DBPR website and asking for proof of insurance. Look for experience with flood zones and coastal code, since those rules drive cost and timeline in Pinellas County. Read recent reviews, and get a written contract with a clear scope before any work starts. When comparing bids, make sure each one covers the same scope.
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Do I need a general contractor for my project?
Most structural work in Florida requires a licensed contractor and a permit. That includes additions, new homes, ADUs, roof replacements, and foundation repair. Florida does allow an owner-builder exemption for your own home, but you take on legal responsibility for the work, the permits, and the inspections. Cosmetic jobs like painting or flooring usually don’t need a contractor.
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Is Central Builders Group licensed and insured?
Yes. We hold Florida Building Contractor license CBC1266673 and Roofing Contractor license CCC1337484, and we’re fully insured on every project. You can verify both licenses on the Florida DBPR website.
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Do you handle permits and inspections?
Yes. Every project is fully permitted through the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County. We submit the application, manage plan review, schedule every inspection, and close out the project with a Certificate of Occupancy.
Free Consultation
Get a Free Project Estimate
No obligation.
Or call us directly: (813) 421-3640