Hillsborough County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Hillsborough County Development Services is the county customer-service center for planning, zoning, development review, building permits, and inspections in unincorporated Hillsborough County. The county’s official development page says the department serves unincorporated county development and construction practices; property inside the City of Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, or another municipality may be governed by that city’s building office instead.

Hillsborough County permit process

Hillsborough County describes development as a sequence that can begin with zoning, continue through site or subdivision review, and end with building permitting and inspections. Zoning review checks proposed uses and development standards such as height, setbacks, and bulk. Once applicable site review is complete, the building permit application and required documentation are submitted through HillsGovHub, the county’s Accela-based online system.

The county says building plans are reviewed for compliance with the Florida Building Code, and the HillsGovHub record is used for applications, uploads, payments, status, and corrections. Project requirements vary, but a permit may be tied to land-alteration or landscaping review, mobility or impact fees, contractor licensing, environmental review, and other approvals. Hillsborough specifically says impact fees must be paid before a Certificate of Occupancy or release of permanent power, although some additions may trigger payment earlier.

Inspections and certificate of occupancy

After issuance, required safety inspections are scheduled through the permit record in HillsGovHub. The county says applicants must be logged in to schedule, reschedule, or cancel an inspection, and a next-business-day request must be placed by 11:59 p.m. Failed work may require a reinspection fee. Inspectors and inspection details are also shown in the portal, while the county provides a separate inspection page for instructions and contact help.

Once all required inspections are approved and assessed fees are paid, Hillsborough County can issue a Certificate of Occupancy confirming that the structure is suitable for occupancy. The county’s Land Development Code controls zoning designations and land uses, so applicants should resolve zoning and site questions before submitting the final building permit package. Development Services lists (813) 272-5600 and the County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida for assistance navigating online services.