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Planning board approves ordinances updating 'building official' references after Pinellas County becomes building official
Summary
The board approved two city-initiated ordinances to replace references to 'building official' with 'city manager or designee' or 'community development director' in the city code and land‑development code after staff explained Pinellas County now serves as the city's building official.
Planning staff told the Safety Harbor Planning and Zoning Board on March 13 that the City is updating code language in two nearly identical, city‑initiated ordinances to reflect that Pinellas County is now the city's building official.
"Pinellas County is now the city's building official," the planner said while describing Ordinance 2024‑08, adding that code references to the building official are being updated to read 'community development director' or 'city manager or designee' where appropriate to ensure city staff can carry out necessary duties.
Board members asked whether changing the decision language from a technical 'building official' to 'city manager or designee' could allow non‑technical judgments. One member raised concern that an "opinion" by a city manager would need professional support. Staff responded that the term 'designee' provides guardrails: the manager would delegate to a qualified official (for example, a structural engineer or an outside building official) when technical expertise is required.
A board member moved to approve Ordinance 2024‑08, and the motion passed. The board then approved the companion amendment to the land‑development code (Ordinance 2024‑09), which makes similar staff‑reference changes.
Both ordinances were recommended to the City Commission for final adoption; staff said the changes are administrative in nature and aim to ensure city processes continue to function given the County's new role as building official.
