Most of the service area is in Hillsborough County, but four of the areas served are in Pinellas County across Tampa Bay: the north-east edge of St. Petersburg, Clearwater's Countryside area, Safety Harbor and Oldsmar. The county decides the permits, the county notices and the county offices a homeowner should call. This guide sets out the two counties plainly, so a caller knows which office to contact. Calls are answered 24/7 on (833) 490-5225.
Key takeaways
- Four areas in the service list are in Pinellas County: north-east St. Petersburg, Clearwater (Countryside), Safety Harbor and Oldsmar
- All other named areas are in Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview and Lutz
- The county decides the permits and the county notices, so the county should be confirmed on each job
- The water work is the same method on either side of the bay; only the paperwork differs
- A homeowner can confirm the county from the property's own records before calling any county office
- The crew names the county on every job so the record is correct from the start
Which areas are in Pinellas County?
The four areas on the Pinellas side of the bay are north-east St. Petersburg, Clearwater's Countryside area, Safety Harbor and Oldsmar. Each is across Tampa Bay from Hillsborough.
North-east St. Petersburg is the northern edge of the city, the part that is within the service distance of Tampa. Clearwater's Countryside area is on the north side of the bay. Safety Harbor is a small city on the north-west shore of Old Tampa Bay, and Oldsmar sits at the head of Tampa Bay. The service reaches only these parts of those places, not the whole of each city.
A homeowner whose address is in one of these places should expect the county contacts to be Pinellas's, and the crew names the county on the job so the record is clear.
| Area | County | Why it is in the list |
|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg (north-east) | Pinellas County | The northern edge of the city lies within the service distance of Tampa |
| Clearwater (Countryside) | Pinellas County | The Countryside area lies across the bay, at the edge of the service distance |
| Safety Harbor | Pinellas County | A small city on the north-west shore of Old Tampa Bay |
| Oldsmar | Pinellas County | A small city at the head of Tampa Bay, across the water from Hillsborough |
Which areas are in Hillsborough County?
The rest of the service area is in Hillsborough County, including the City of Tampa and the unincorporated communities such as Brandon, Riverview, Lutz and Town 'n' Country.
Hillsborough County covers the City of Tampa and most of the other service areas. Some of those areas are unincorporated, which means they have no city government of their own, and the county handles their permits and notices. Temple Terrace is an independent city, and its own government handles the permits and notices for its homes.
A homeowner in one of these places should confirm whether the address is in the city, in an independent city or in the unincorporated county, because the office to call changes with that.
Why does the county matter for a water loss?
The water work is the same wherever the property is, but the permits, the county notices and the offices a homeowner must call after a loss all come from the county the property is in.
A repair that follows a water loss can need a permit, and the permit comes from the office for the county or the city the property is in. The county also issues notices about its own systems and its own drainage. If a homeowner calls the wrong office, the answer may be a referral to the right one, and time is lost.
The record of each loss should name the county, so the insurer, the repair trade and any office the homeowner has to contact all work from the same fact.
How can a homeowner confirm the county?
Check the property's own records, such as the deed, the tax notice or the county's property search, and confirm the city limits if the property is in or near a city.
The county the property is in is shown in the property's own records. A homeowner should check that record before calling any office, because the address alone can be misleading near a county line. The county and city offices publish their property search tools, and the homeowner can use those to confirm the boundary.
The crew will also ask for the county on the first call and will name it on the job. If the answer and the property record differ, the record should be checked before any permit is applied for.
Does the water work change across the bay?
No. The method is the same on both sides: stop the water, read the wet areas, dry them, and keep the record. The paperwork that follows is what differs.
The readings, the drying and the record follow the same method on either side of the bay. The category of the water, the materials and the time it sat are judged the same way. What changes is the office a homeowner contacts for a permit or a county notice, and that is set by the county of the property.
A storm that crosses the bay affects both sides, and the record should be kept for each property separately, named to its county.
What is the homeowner's own check?
A homeowner should confirm the county, keep the record, and name the county to the insurer and to any office contacted. Those three steps keep the paperwork correct.
Confirming the county is a one-time check that saves time later. Keeping the record with the county named on it means that the insurer, the trade and any office work from the same facts. Naming the county to the insurer also helps the claim, since the insurer's own records are organized by county.
The line is answered 24/7 on (833) 490-5225. A caller can ask the line which county the address is in, and the crew will confirm the county on the first visit.
Why does the county line matter for permits?
A permit for a repair is issued by the office of the county or city the property sits in. A permit application sent to the wrong office is returned, and the time is lost.
Permits for structural and electrical repair follow the property, not the service area. A property in Pinellas County applies to the Pinellas offices and a property in Hillsborough County applies to the Hillsborough offices. Temple Terrace, as an independent city, has its own offices for its own properties. The crew names the right office on the job so the homeowner does not have to find it alone.
A homeowner who is unsure of the county should check the property record before applying. The record names the county and any city limit, and it is the simplest way to confirm which office is correct.
What should a multi-unit or commercial caller check?
A caller for a building with several units or a business should confirm the owner or manager, the county of the building, the access arrangements and which units or spaces the work covers.
In a multi-unit building or a commercial property, the county of the building decides the permits, but the owner or manager decides the access and the shared systems. The caller should confirm the county from the building's records, the name of the owner or manager, and the units or spaces that are affected. That information is needed for the access arrangements and for the record.
The crew will ask for those details on the first call and will name the county on the record. Giving them clearly at the start keeps the work moving and the record correct.
How should a homeowner keep the county record over time?
Keep one sheet for each property with the county, the city limit if there is one, the permit office and the contacts for the trades, and update it when the property changes hands.
A short property sheet saves time on every later loss. It records the county and any city or independent city limit, the name of the office that issues permits, the contact for the owner or manager where a building is shared and the trades that have worked on the house before. A homeowner who keeps that sheet with the deed and the policy has the facts ready when the next storm arrives.
The sheet is also useful when a property changes hands. A new owner who inherits the record knows the county, the offices and the history of the loss, and the insurer can see the same facts that the record shows. The record should be kept up to date each time a repair or a permit is completed.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas are in Pinellas County?
North-east St. Petersburg, Clearwater's Countryside area, Safety Harbor and Oldsmar. The rest of the service area is in Hillsborough County.
Does the crew cover both counties?
Yes. The water work is the same method on both sides of the bay, and the crew names the county on each job.
Who issues my permit?
The office for the county or city the property is in. Temple Terrace is an independent city, and the unincorporated areas are handled by the county.
How do I check which county my house is in?
Check the property's own records, such as the deed or the tax notice, and confirm any city limit. The crew will also confirm the county on the first visit.
Are the mosquito and drainage notices from the same county?
The county the property is in issues its own notices. Confirm the county with the property record before calling an office.
Is the service the same in both counties?
The water work is the same method. The service is provided by a local company, and this line does not warrant any work performed. The disclaimer page explains the arrangement in full.
Sources
This guide is general information for Hillsborough County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.