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Pinellas Park adopts sidewalk setback, adds reimbursement for some residential waivers
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 2025-14 to amend the land development code to adopt a preferred 5‑foot sidewalk setback, allow adjustments for utilities/trees, and create a process to reimburse certain secondary fees when homeowners obtain residential sidewalk waivers under specified conditions.
On May 8 the Pinellas Park City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2025-14, amending Chapter 18 of the Land Development Code to add a preferred five‑foot setback for sidewalks and a limited reimbursement process for secondary fees tied to certain residential sidewalk waivers.
Todd Byron, the city's planning coordinator, told the council the ordinance adds a 5‑foot preferred sidewalk setback that the public works administrator may adjust where right of way is inadequate or where utility or tree conflicts exist. The ordinance also establishes criteria for reimbursing secondary sidewalk fees for residential sidewalk waivers when: the base administrative fee has been paid, the property's primary use is single‑family detached or duplex, the property is the owner's homestead, and both the public works administrator and the community development administrator (or their designees) approve the reimbursement. Byron said the reimbursement calculation will use the sidewalk length times width times the current FDOT average cost for 6‑inch reinforced concrete in the Pinellas market area.
Vice Mayor Seville asked about sidewalk thickness; staff deferred to Public Works and noted the 6‑inch requirement tracks FDOT specifications. A council member asked whether the change applies to existing homes; staff said the amendment applies to future development or substantial rebuilds where sidewalk requirements are triggered and that waivers and reimbursements would be handled under the new rules.
Planning and Zoning recommended approval of the amendment in March. Council member Butler moved to pass ordinance 2025-14 on its second and final reading; the motion carried unanimously.
The ordinance will be codified into the Pinellas Park Code of Ordinances and implement new processing steps for residential sidewalk waivers and reimbursements.
