Central Builders Group

Building Resources for St. Petersburg Homeowners

Flood elevation, lot feasibility, permit sequencing, what actually drives cost — the questions that come up before a project starts, answered for Pinellas County specifically. Written by the people who pull the permits.

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Custom Homes

Building a Custom Home in St. Petersburg

Whether a lot will work. How high the house has to sit. What the permit sequence really looks like. Where the money and the months go. Everything we get asked before a build starts, in the order it actually happens.

10 sections ~40 min read Updated August 2026
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What's inside

What the guide covers

Six parts, in the order the decisions come up. Scroll for more.

Part 01

Is this lot buildable?

Flood zone, setbacks, lot coverage, soil, utilities, and seawall condition — the six things that decide whether a lot works, and what the site work will cost before framing starts.

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Part 02

Flood zone and elevation

Where base flood elevation comes from, what the extra foot Pinellas requires adds on top, and how AE versus VE changes your foundation, your budget, and your insurance.

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Part 03

Teardown vs. building new

When rebuilding beats renovating on a lot you already own, what the 50% rule triggers, and what a damage letter actually obligates you to do.

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Part 04

Permits and plan review

What happens between finished drawings and a permit in hand: submittal, which departments review what, why corrections compound, and realistic timelines.

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Part 05

Wind zone and product approvals

Why windows, doors, and roofing carry approval numbers in coastal Pinellas, what the wind zone requires, and which of it is baseline rather than upgrade.

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Part 06

Choosing a builder

How to compare bids that aren't structured the same way, what allowances hide, how draw schedules work, and which license to verify before you sign.

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Still have questions

Some answers depend on your lot

How high your house would have to sit. Whether the lot fits what you have in mind. What the site work is going to cost you before framing even starts. A guide can't answer those — they're specific to your address. We'll look at it and tell you straight, even if the answer is that it won't work.

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