Pinellas County
County guide to permitting offices, homestead rules, flood and evacuation lookups, and condo inspections
Pinellas County · Incorporated town
Redington Shores, Florida
A Gulf Boulevard town with its own Building Department and a townwide flood hazard area
Redington Shores is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, incorporated in 1955 according to the town. The town lists a mayor, four district commissioners and a town manager, and its own Building Department issues permits. The town says everyone in it is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, in an AE or VE zone, and in evacuation zone A.
In short: Redington Shores is a Pinellas County town with its own Building Department, where the town says everyone is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area.
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Overview
Redington Shores at a glance
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Pinellas County, Florida. Town Hall is at 17425 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores, FL 33708 | Note 1 |
| Incorporated | The town’s homepage says “Incorporated in 1955.” Wikipedia also gives 1955 | Notes 1, 5 |
| Town size | The town says it covers 220 acres, with 1.19 miles along Gulf Blvd. and 6.33 road miles. Wikipedia gives two different total-area figures in square miles, so treat any size figure as approximate and confirm with the town | Notes 1, 5 |
| Population | 2,176 at the 2020 Census, according to Wikipedia. Census QuickFacts covers only places of 5,000 or more, so no Census page for the town was available | Notes 5, 6 |
| Position on the coast | The town says it is midway between Clearwater to the north and St. Pete Beach to the south | Note 1 |
| Flood designation | The town says everyone in it is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, in either an AE or VE zone | Note 1 |
| Evacuation zone | The town says it is in evacuation zone A | Note 1 |
| Local government | Four districts, each represented by a Commissioner elected by district voters. The town’s officials page lists a Mayor, four district Commissioners, a Town Manager, a Town Clerk and a Building Official. The pages read do not name a form of government | Note 1 |
| Permitting | The Town of Redington Shores Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects work. The county’s directory also lists it as administering all building services for Redington Beach | Notes 1, 7 |
| Property records | Pinellas County Property Appraiser | Note 10 |
Redington Shores, Redington Beach and North Redington Beach are separate towns. The county’s building-department directory lists each as its own entry: Redington Beach’s building services are administered by the Redington Shores Building Department, and North Redington Beach lists its own office at 190 173rd Avenue E. (Note 7).
Setting
How is Redington Shores laid out?
A small Gulf Boulevard town with a townwide flood hazard area, according to the town (Note 1).
- The town says it covers 220 acres, with 1.19 miles along Gulf Blvd. and 6.33 road miles (Note 1).
- The town describes itself as midway between Clearwater and St. Pete Beach (Note 1).
- The town’s flood-risk page says everyone in Redington Shores is in the Special Flood Hazard Area, in either an AE or VE zone, and that the entire town is susceptible to storm surge (Note 1).
- The town’s beach rules page describes the dunes as barriers that protect properties from high tides and storm surges and asks visitors to stay off them (Note 1).
- The town’s building page links a Seawall Elevation Worksheet form. Confirm the condition and permit history of any seawall on a property you are considering (Note 1).
- The building page says fire inspections go through the Seminole Fire Department, and it links Pinellas County for water restrictions and rates (Note 1).
Local rules
Who sets the rules in Redington Shores?
The town runs its own Building Department and publishes flood, rental and condominium milestone inspection pages.
- The town is divided into four districts, each represented by a Commissioner elected by district voters (Note 1). The officials page also lists a Mayor, a Town Manager, a Town Clerk and a Building Official (Note 1).
- The Building Department enforces the current Florida Building Code and requires permits for work including new construction, additions, roofing, pools and spas, fences, driveways, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work. The town’s homepage links an online portal for applications (Note 1).
- The building page says a copy of the recorded Notice of Commencement is needed for work that exceeds $5,000, and that a certificate of occupancy requires, among other items, a final survey and a final elevation certificate (Note 1).
- The town’s zoning map is posted as a PDF dated 04-09-19 (revised), and the building page links variance, rezoning and site-plan forms. The town’s code of ordinances is hosted on Municode, which this guide could not read, so zoning district rules are not quoted here (Note 1).
- Under the town’s Build Smart page, a substantial improvement is any repair, reconstruction or improvement whose cost equals or exceeds 50% of the structure’s market value, excluding land. The page says the threshold is cumulative over one year under Town Code, and that phasing a project to avoid it is prohibited (Note 1). The town’s Flood Info sheet describes work over a 5-year period instead (Note 2), and the condominium milestone page uses a 49% figure for FEMA substantial damage (Note 3). The sources differ, so ask the town which period and percentage it applies.
- For rentals, the town’s Rental Regulations page quotes code that prohibits transient rentals in the RS-7, RS-10, RD-15 and RM-15 districts and names other districts where hotels or transient accommodation uses are permitted, with a special use permit option in other residential districts. It lists a fine of $500, with each day a separate violation (Note 1).
Town Hall is at 17425 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores, FL 33708, (727) 397-5538. The town site lists Building Department hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while the county directory lists Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed to the public Fridays (Notes 1, 7). Confirm hours and fees with the town.
Due diligence
What should you check before buying in Redington Shores?
| Check | Why it matters here | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Flood zone, base flood elevation and elevation certificate | The town says everyone in it is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, in an AE or VE zone, so each parcel still needs its own zone and elevation. Its flood-risk page says map base flood elevations are accurate to about plus or minus a half foot and points to the Flood Insurance Study or the Building Department at (727) 397-5538. The town’s flood insurance page says a copy of an elevation certificate submitted to the town can be requested through its Elevation Certificates page or by phone. It also cites a Community Rating System rating of 6 and a 20% premium reduction (Note 2); the discount that applies depends on the policy, so ask an insurance agent. FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center is the federal lookup | Notes 1, 2, 9 |
| Substantial improvement and substantial damage (50% rule) | Work at or above 50% of the structure’s market value, land excluded, triggers floodplain compliance. The town’s pages describe the look-back period differently (one year on Build Smart, 5 years on the Flood Info sheet), and its milestone page uses a 49% figure for FEMA substantial damage, so confirm the controlling rule with the town. The Build Smart page says applicants must supply the structure’s market value and the full cost of the work, including labor and materials. Ask for any determination history | Notes 1, 2, 3 |
| Freeboard and rebuilding height | The town’s Flood Info sheet says living floor areas must be built to the base flood elevation plus a 4-foot freeboard, while its storm recovery permitting guide lists base flood elevation plus 3 feet for residential and 2 feet for non-residential buildings that are substantially damaged or improved. Ask which applies to the project | Notes 1, 2 |
| Open and past permits | The town issues its own permits, so ask the Building Department for permit history on the parcel. The building page requires a recorded Notice of Commencement for work over $5,000. The Flood Info sheet says unpermitted enclosures or changes below flood level will not be covered by insurance | Notes 1, 2 |
| Coastal construction control line (CCCL) | Under Florida law the state establishes control lines county by county, and no structure may be built seaward of a filed line subject to the statute’s exceptions. This guide found no statement in the town’s pages on whether any parcel is seaward of the line. Pinellas County publishes an interactive map of the line. Confirm the parcel with the Department of Environmental Protection and the town | Notes 1, 11, 12 |
| Sea-turtle and beach rules | The county’s control line page says the program also protects sea turtles and dune plants. The town’s beach rules page asks beachgoers to keep nesting beaches “clean and dark” and to stay off the dunes. This guide could not confirm a town lighting ordinance, so ask the town whether any lighting rule applies to a Gulf-side property | Notes 1, 12 |
| Seawalls and docks | The town’s building page links a Seawall Elevation Worksheet form and does not mention docks. This guide could not read the town’s code, so ask the Building Department which approvals apply to a seawall or dock, and confirm permits and condition for any structure already built. State, county or federal approvals may also apply | Note 1 |
| Short-term rental rules | The town publishes rental regulations and Vacation Rental Standards (the file name carries the date 06/30/2021). Check the parcel’s zoning district against the transient-rental prohibitions, and ask about the Certificate of Use, the responsible-party duties and the occupancy limits the standards list | Notes 1, 4 |
| Condominium milestone inspection | Florida law calls for a first inspection by December 31 of the year a condominium or cooperative building of three or more habitable stories reaches 30 years of age, then every 10 years, and lets a local enforcement agency require it at 25 years. The town’s own page states the 30-year interval and does not mention a 25-year option. Pinellas County says it accepts milestone reports only for unincorporated areas and seven named cities, and Redington Shores is not among them. Ask the association for inspection status and any Phase Two report | Notes 3, 8, 13 |
| Evacuation zone and storm surge | The town says it is in evacuation zone A and that the entire town is susceptible to storm surge. Zones run from A through E, and the town’s homepage links the county’s evacuation zone lookup | Note 1 |
| Property tax and parcel records | The Pinellas County Property Appraiser holds the parcel record. The town’s Build Smart page says the structure’s market value for the 50% calculation can come from the Pinellas County Tax Assessor or a certified appraiser, and the appraiser’s storm damage section links a Building Value Reconsideration request | Notes 1, 10 |
This is a checklist, not advice. Confirm each item with the town, the county and your attorney.
Comparison
How does Redington Shores compare with nearby places?
| Community | Setting | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Madeira Beach | Pinellas County city | The county’s directory lists its own building office at 300 Municipal Drive, as it does for Redington Shores. Neither is on the county’s list of cities whose milestone reports it accepts (Notes 7, 8) |
| Indian Shores | Pinellas County town | The county’s directory lists its own building office at 19305 Gulf Blvd., and it is not on the county’s milestone list (Notes 7, 8) |
| Treasure Island | Pinellas County city | It is not on the county’s list of municipalities whose milestone reports the county accepts, as is the case for Redington Shores (Note 8) |
| Indian Rocks Beach | Pinellas County city | It is one of the seven municipalities for which Pinellas County accepts milestone reports; Redington Shores is not (Note 8) |
| Belleair Beach | Pinellas County city | Also one of the seven municipalities on the county’s milestone list, which Redington Shores is not on (Note 8) |
| Redington Beach and North Redington Beach | Separate Pinellas County towns | Redington Beach’s building services are administered by the Redington Shores Building Department. North Redington Beach lists its own office at 190 173rd Avenue E. Confirm which town’s rules apply to an address (Note 7) |
Working with ABODE
How does ABODE help in Redington Shores?
ABODE’s Florida office is on West Bay Drive in Largo. We compare each Redington Shores property with similar sales nearby, review flood, control-line, rental and condominium documents with you, and keep conversations private. We represent both buyers and sellers.
Keep reading
Which related guides should you read next?
Madeira Beach
A Gulf Coast barrier-island city with a historic John’s Pass Village and its own building department
Indian Shores
Barrier-island town: own building department, flood checks, and a town-stated 25-year milestone interval
Treasure Island
A Pinellas County city between Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
Indian Rocks Beach
A Gulf-side city with a beachfront business district
Sand Key
Barrier island shared by several governments: who permits and which rules apply where
Pinellas condominium due diligence
Florida milestone inspections, structural reserve studies and five documents to request
Gulf-front vs. Intracoastal in Pinellas County
Beach lines versus seawall, dock and dredging approvals: what differs on each Pinellas shore.
Questions
Redington Shores real estate: frequently asked questions
What is Redington Shores, Florida?
Redington Shores is a town in Pinellas County, Florida. The town says it was incorporated in 1955 and covers 220 acres, with 1.19 miles along Gulf Blvd., midway between Clearwater and St. Pete Beach (Note 1). It has a Mayor, four district Commissioners and its own Building Department (Note 1).
Is all of Redington Shores in a flood zone?
The town says everyone in it is in a Special Flood Hazard Area, in either an AE or VE zone, and that the entire town is susceptible to storm surge (Note 1). The specific zone, elevation and insurance cost still vary by address, so look the property up on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and ask the town for any elevation certificate on file (Notes 1 and 9).
What is the 50% rule in Redington Shores?
The town’s Build Smart page says a substantial improvement is any repair, reconstruction or improvement whose cost equals or exceeds 50% of the structure’s market value, excluding land (Note 1). The town’s pages differ on the look-back period (one year on that page, 5 years on its Flood Info sheet), so confirm the controlling rule with the Building Department (Notes 1 and 2).
Who issues building permits in Redington Shores?
The Town of Redington Shores Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects work, and its homepage links an online portal (Note 1). The county’s directory also lists this department as administering all building services for Redington Beach (Note 7).
Can I rent a home in Redington Shores short term?
It depends on the zoning district. The town’s Rental Regulations page quotes code that prohibits transient rentals in the RS-7, RS-10, RD-15 and RM-15 districts, with a fine of $500 per violation and each day a separate violation, and the town publishes Vacation Rental Standards with a Certificate of Use process (Notes 1 and 4). Check the parcel’s district and the current code before relying on any rental plan.
Does Pinellas County handle condominium milestone inspections in Redington Shores?
The county says it accepts milestone reports only for unincorporated areas and seven named municipalities, and Redington Shores is not among them (Note 8). The town has its own milestone inspection page, which states a 30-year first inspection and 10-year repeat (Note 3). State law lets a local agency require it at 25 years (Note 13), so ask the town and the association what applies to a building.
Is Redington Shores the same as Redington Beach?
No. The county’s directory lists Redington Shores, Redington Beach and North Redington Beach as separate entries. It says the Redington Shores Building Department administers all building services for Redington Beach, while North Redington Beach lists its own office (Note 7). Confirm which town an address is in before researching its rules.
Does ABODE International Realty work in Redington Shores?
Yes. ABODE International Realty is a Florida-licensed brokerage with its office at 801 West Bay Drive, Suite 324, in Largo. ABODE represents buyers and sellers in Redington Shores and compares each property with similar sales nearby.
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Sources and notes
- Town of Redington Shores (official site: homepage, town officials, Building Department, Build Smart, flood risk and flood insurance pages, rental regulations, beach rules, town ordinances, Storm Recovery Permitting Guide). Source for incorporation, size, districts, location statement, flood and evacuation statements (flood-risk page), permitting, the 50% rule on Build Smart, the 3-foot and 2-foot freeboard figures in the Storm Recovery Permitting Guide, rental code excerpts and beach rules. Most pages were read through a page summary rather than verbatim, and some were undated; town pages change, so confirm current text. The town’s code is on Municode at https://library.municode.com/fl/redington_shores/codes/code_of_ordinances, which could not be read. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Town of Redington Shores: Flood Info (PDF). Undated town document. Source for the 5-year substantial improvement period, the 4-foot freeboard statement, the unpermitted-enclosure statement and the town’s Community Rating System rating of 6 with a 20% discount. The town’s flood insurance page (Note 1) also gives a 20% reduction at a rating of 6 but notes a lower cap for some standard-rated policies, so confirm with an insurance agent. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Town of Redington Shores: Condo Milestone Inspections. Describes a 30-year first inspection and 10-year repeat, with a deadline table through 2025, and does not mention a 25-year option. It also uses a 49% figure for FEMA substantial damage and refers readers to Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services for questions about it, which differs from the town’s other pages. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Town of Redington Shores: Vacation Rental Standards (file name dated 06/30/2021). Source for the responsible-party, occupancy, parking, noise and Certificate of Use posting standards. The text read showed no date; the date comes from the file name. Registration and inspection requirements were not found in the text read. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Redington Shores, Florida (Wikipedia). Secondary source, used only for the 2020 Census population (2,176) and as a second statement of 1955 incorporation. It gives two different area figures (1.08 and 1.2 square miles total), which this guide does not use. Checked October 9, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Florida. States that QuickFacts also covers cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more, so it has no page for Redington Shores. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Pinellas County: building departments in Pinellas County. Lists the Redington Shores Building Department at 17425 Gulf Blvd. as administering all building services for Redington Beach, a separate North Redington Beach office, and the Indian Shores and Madeira Beach offices. Hours for Redington Shores (Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed to the public Fridays) differ from the town’s own site. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Pinellas County: condo milestone inspections. Says the county accepts milestone reports only for unincorporated areas and seven municipalities (Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor and Kenneth City). Redington Shores is not listed. Checked October 9, 2026.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Look up the flood zone for any address. Flood zone is parcel specific
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Property, comparable sales and map searches, plus a storm damage section that links damage reporting, a Building Value Reconsideration request and FEMA 50% rule FAQs. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes, section 161.053 (Coastal construction control lines). Says the legislature intends the Department of Environmental Protection to establish coastal construction control lines on a county basis along the state’s sand beaches, and that once a line is filed no structure may be built seaward of it, subject to exceptions stated later in the section. The statute does not tell you whether a given parcel is seaward of a line; confirm with the Department of Environmental Protection. 2026 edition of the statute. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Pinellas County coastal construction control line map. County page with an interactive map of the line in Pinellas County. It says CCCL permits also protect sea turtles and dune plants and refers to a separate Coastal Code with minimum construction standards. It names no municipalities. Checked October 9, 2026.
- Florida Statutes, section 553.899 (milestone inspections). Applies to a building three habitable stories or more in height that is subject, in whole or in part, to condominium or cooperative ownership: the first inspection is due by December 31 of the year the building reaches 30 years of age, then every 10 years, and a local enforcement agency may require it at 25 years because of local circumstances such as proximity to salt water. The law has been amended recently; confirm the current text with the association and your attorney. 2026 edition of the statute. Checked October 9, 2026.
- ABODE local knowledge. Comparisons and plain-language descriptions reflect ABODE’s experience and are not statistics