Building Development Department

Building Development Department

The Building Development Department oversees permitting, inspections, local business taxes, arborist and flood plain management.

Contact Information:
Permitting and Local Business Tax: (727) 942-5617
Inspectors: (727) 942-5608
Schedule an Inspection by telephone: (727) 938-6500
Click Here to Schedule an Inspection online
Office Hours: M-F 8:00-4:30 for Permitting
Closed all federal holidays and Epiphany (open Columbus day)
Email:  dsinfo@ctsfl.us

For Building Development Forms, FEMA Information bulletins, memos and policies, please visit our DOCUMENT LIBRARY.

The Florida Building Code, 8th Edition, goes into effect.

Effective December 31, 2023, the City of Tarpon Springs will operate under the 8th Edition (2023) Florida Building Code and the associated references. All will be updated to reflect the building and technical codes as implemented by the Florida Building Commission. A list of substantial changes may be found on the website of the Florida Building Commission, as well as digital copies of all Florida Building Codes at Florida Building Code Online.

 

Digital Online Permit Submission

The Building Department is continuing to expand our digital and online building permit application process. Effective December 31, 2023, submissions provided via electronic mail (email) will no longer be accepted.

Electronic submission through our GoPost portal is highly encouraged for electronic plan review. See links below:

GoPost portal:  https://gp-tarponsprings.eplansoftreview.com/#/login?portal=tarponsprings

GoPost Tutorial video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeDPsGL2tUQ

Paper submissions consisting of 8 ½” X 11” or 8 ½” X 14” will still be accepted in person.  However, upon acceptance, the building department staff will convert the paper to a digital file immediately and upload to GoPost for plan review. This service to digitize permit applications will be completed after the administrative fee is collected for the service. Any submissions larger than the previously noted sizes must be provided in a digital format and uploaded to GoPost. After processing has been completed, the approved plans and building permit will be provided to the applicant via an electronic means. The applicant will be responsible for printing a paper copy and providing the paper copy of all plans and specifications on-site for the city inspector to use.

Floodplain Permits

A Floodplain Permit may be required for certain projects. A determination will be made during plan review, and if applicable, the fee will be applied at that time. The intent of the Floodplain Development Permit is to conform to the standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Florida Building Code (FBC), and the Community Rating System (CRS). Doing so requires additional time to review for compliance at the time of permitting for all development in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Additionally, Elevation Certificate or Flood Zone Determination inquiries can be made to Megan Araya @ maraya@tsfr.us

Electronic Plan Review

The City has implemented a new electronic plan review process that allows applications to be submitted digitally through an online portal. This new application submission process is more efficient for routing plan review to departments simultaneously allowing for shorter review time periods.

Step 1:  Please visit the document library to download the correct permit application.

Step 2: Visit https://gp-tarponsprings.eplansoftreview.com/#/login?portal=tarponsprings and submit the application with plans and other necessary documents.

You will receive regular email updates from Eplansoft as your project moves through the process.

Please watch a tutorial for the uploading process in electronic plan review at this link:

**At this time, Owner/Builder permits must be pulled in person only.**

Building Development Department Staff
Building Development Director:
David Gilson, CBO, CFM, (727) 942-5604 or email: dgilson@ctsfl.us

Deputy Building Official:
Keith Meade, CFM  (727) 942-5604 or email: kmeade@ctsfl.us

Plans Examiner:
Lisa Godwin, CFM, (727) 942-5608 or email: lgodwin@ctsfl.us

Municipal Arborist:
Shannon Brewer CFM, (727) 942-5617, Cell (727) 916-2285 or email: sbrewer@ctsfl.us

Building Development Permit Technicians:
Tracey Norris, (727) 942-5617 or email: tnorris@ctsfl.us
Jessica Hamrick (727) 942-5617 or email jhamrick@ctsfl.us
Andrew Nikiforakis, (727) 942-5617 or email anikiforakis@ctsfl.us
Christopher Brown, (727) 942-5617 or email cbrown@ctsfl.us

Building Development Inspectors:
Allen Riggs, (727) 942-5608, Cell (727) 916-1404 or email: ariggs@ctsfl.us
Samuel Lackey, (727) 942-5608, Cell (727)494-6689 or email: slackey@ctsfl.us
Fayez Eissa, (727) 942-5608, Cell (727) 916-1688 or email feissa@ctsfl.us

Site Construction Inspector:
Samuel Frantz, (727) 942-5608, Cell (727) 486-6064 or email sfrantz@ctsfl.us

Building Development Personnel Licensure_Updated 9.19.23

Building Department Bulletins:
Drone Policy
Electrical Temporary Underground Power
Elevation Certificate Requirements
Energy
Fats Oils Grease Policy – FOG
Re-Roof Policy
Residential Truss Engineering
Third Party Permit Services Bulletin

The new Florida Building Code (FBC) 8th Ed., (2023) was effective December 31, 2023. All plans submitted after December 30, 2023 MUST depict this code, no exceptions.

Virtual Inspections are no longer available.  All inspections will be done in person.

Local Business Taxes Renewals are Due September 30th

If you have a business in Tarpon Springs, be on the lookout for your local business tax renewal in the mail or in your email. Be sure if you have signed up for email renewal, and you do not receive the notice, check your spam or junk mail folders. If you do not receive your local business tax renewal either in the mail or via email, please contact the Building Development office by email: dsinfo@ctsfl.us or by calling (727) 942-5617. If you have not registered your business with the City of Tarpon Springs, you can find the links for the ordinance and application below.

a.§ 11-2. – DEFINITIONS. LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT or RECEIPT. The method by which the city grants the privilege of engaging in or managing any business, profession or occupation within its jurisdiction. No one shall conduct any business unless such person shall first procure a local business tax receipt to conduct the same from the city. It does not mean any fees or local business tax paid to any board, commission or officer for permits, registration, examination or inspection.

  1. § 11-3. – LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT REQUIRED. No person shall engage in or manage any business, occupation, or profession for which there is a local business tax required by this article unless that person first procures a local business tax receipt from the city to conduct the business, occupation or profession. (Ord. 2013-06, passed 3-19-13)
  2. State Law reference— Authority to levy occupational license tax, see F.S. § 205.042; limitations on issuance, see F.S. § 205.043

Local Business Tax Ordinance

Local Business Tax Application

Local Business Tax Renewal Instructions 2024-2025

Local Business Tax Step By Step

Local Business Tax Renewals On-Line

The Building Development Department is pleased to announce the addition of seven new permits applications to the City of Tarpon Springs on-line permitting services.

  1. Fence
  2. Garage Door
  3. Gas
  4. Residential & Commercial Demolitions
  5. Roofing
  6. Tree only residential, not new construction or commercial
  7. Windows & Doors

Already existing on-line permit applications are (mechanical A/C change outs less than $7,500 and electric service panel change out less than $2,500). Please keep in mind that all applicable permit application documentation is required to be submitted through our upload option that is available at the time the application is submitted on-line. If you have any questions, you may contact dsinfo@ctsfl.us

These permit applications are easily accessible by going this link: https://tarp-egov.aspgov.com/Click2GovBP/index.html

Residential Master File – Instructions for Master File Application and Form

Refer to our DOCUMENT LIBRARY for other information and permitting forms.

Statute 553.80(7)

Permit Utilization Report
Per Florida Statute 553.80 (7)
FY 22
Personnel services costs, including salary and related employee benefit costs incurred by the local government to enforce the Florida Building Code 940,531
Operating Expenditures/Expenses 179,789
Number of building permit applications submitted 3157
Number of building permits issued or approved 3333
Number of building inspections and re-inspections requested 9311
Number of building inspections and re-inspections conducted 9311
Inspections by Private Provider 368
Audits of Private Provider Bldg. Inspections 0
Number of Employees 12
Revenue from Permit fees 468407
Revenue from Fines (re-inspection fees) 2760
Balance Carried Forward 0
Refunds 0
Revenue from Other Sources 0

 

 

Private Provider Policy

Private Provider Notice

Private Provider Plan Compliance Affidavit

Private Provider in Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)
FEMA Memo on Affidavits

The DEM State Floodplain Management Office has received inquiries regarding use and acceptance of private providers for building in special flood hazard areas. The FBC, Building Chapter 1 specifically does not extend that authority to the flood load and flood resistant construction requirements in Sec. 105.14 exception, and Sec. 107.6.1. The above memorandum, co-signed by Jason Hunter, FEMA Region IV, explains the origin of those FBC provisions and FEMA’s expectations based on the NFIP regulations.

Despite the submission of an affidavit authorized by B107.6, the building official must review plans for compliance with the flood provisions and issue permits and perform inspections to ensure compliance with the flood provisions. Under the NFIP, the community is responsible for ensuring compliance. *The original proposal (SP5255) included both Section 107.6.1 and Section 117; the exception to Section 105.14 was added to proposal CA5082) by amendments for consistency. Please contact (850) 815-4556 or floods@em.myflorida.com if you have questions about the flood provisions in the FBC or FBC-coordinated floodplain management regulations.