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512 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-4761
Fax: (727) 464-3174

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What makes my car an Inoperative Vehicle? If your vehicle cannot be legally operated on the road because of a cracked or missing windshield, broken lights, etc. it is considered inoperative. If the tag is expired and/or the tires are flat the vehicle is presumed to be inoperative. Inoperative vehicles must be stored inside a fully enclosed and permitted garage or removed from the property.

Can I park my truck on my property, what do you mean by prohibited vehicle? Most family-use pick-up trucks, vans and cars may be parked on your driveway. However, if the vehicle has been equipped with attachments such as racks or utility beds the Code allows only one such pick-up truck, van or trailer per dwelling. The vehicle including its racks, cargo and equipment cannot be more than 8 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide and 21 ft. long and must not be parked on the lawn. If you have a fully enclosed and permitted garage a prohibited vehicle may be parked within it and not be a violation.

Do I need a permit to install a fence or a shed? Permits are no longer required but there are restrictions. Fences cannot be higher than six ft. in height. Within the front yard setback fences cannot exceed three ft. in height. Sheds less than 100 sq. ft. and no taller than 10 ft. do not require a permit. However the shed must be placed a minimum of 2 ft. from the property lines, unless the property is surrounded by a 6 ft. tall opaque fence. Sheds larger than 100 sq. ft. require permits and must meet additional setback rules.

We don't live in city limits we live in the County, so we can "do what we want", right?
Wrong! That is an old misperception. The unincorporated areas of the County have been regulated by local ordinances and codes since 1963. Most of the city and County regulations are fairly similar and address many of the same types of issues.

"This" has been here for years, how come you're enforcing it now? The fact that a violation may be in existence for many years simply means that it has not been "caught". Often a citizen complaint brings us to a property where we can document the violation once brought to our attention.

How do I know what is allowed where I live? A lot depends on your zoning category as well as on what you're proposing to do. If you call us at (727) 464-4761 with your questions, we'll try and guide you. If we cannot answer your question we will know where to get the answer for you.

Can I run my business from my house? Some home occupations are allowed but in order to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods, home businesses are fairly restricted. In general no retail traffic or customers can come to the house and the business activity should be invisible to the neighborhood.