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- $60B County GDP
- $62,699 GDP per Capita
Pinellas County
Pinellas County
Pinellas County sits on the Gulf-Tampa Bay peninsula, anchored by St. Petersburg, Clearwater (county seat), and Largo. It is Florida's most densely populated county. The economy spans healthcare (BayCare, Johns Hopkins All Children's), tourism (Gulf beaches), Raymond James, MacDill commuters, and a strong life-sciences cluster. The Clerk & Comptroller (Ken Burke) runs Odyssey records and a clerk-operated tax deed system.
Property in Pinellas
What every owner, heir, and investor should know.
Owning a home in Pinellas.
Pinellas is a high-demand coastal market with major hurricane exposure (Helene 2024, Milton 2024) and very tight buildable land.
- Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes apply.
- Tax bills Nov 1; discounts through February; delinquent April 1.
- Wind, flood, roof age, and 50%-rule rebuild costs dominate insurance and rebuild calculations.
- Tax deed redemption to day of sale (Ch. 197, F.S.).
- Foreclosure surplus rights under § 45.032, F.S. (60 days).
- Significant condominium milestone-inspection costs and special assessments are reshaping the older condo stock.
Investing in Pinellas.
Pinellas delivers active short-term rental, condo, and single-family rental investment plus a large foreclosure/tax-deed pipeline.
- Foreclosure auctions on pinellas.realforeclose.com.
- Tax deed sales on pinellas.realtaxdeed.com.
- Property Appraiser at pcpao.gov.
- Court case search at ccmspa.pinellascounty.org.
- Watch for unrepaired Helene/Milton damage, condominium milestone-inspection costs, FEMA 50% substantial-improvement rules, and short-term rental ordinances by city.
After a Pinellas foreclosure or tax deed sale.
Pinellas runs one of Florida's largest foreclosure and tax deed dockets. All foreclosures are judicial (Ch. 45, F.S.); tax deeds run under Ch. 197, F.S.
- Foreclosure auctions held online via pinellas.realforeclose.com; the 6th Judicial Circuit handles cases.
- Surplus funds: claim under § 45.032, F.S. within 60 days of certificate of disbursement.
- Tax certificates sold yearly by the Tax Collector; tax deed application after 2 years.
- Tax deed sales on pinellas.realtaxdeed.com; surplus paid to lienholders, then former owner.
- Notices published in the Tampa Bay Times.
Courts and records in Pinellas.
- Pinellas County Courthouse — 315 Court St, Clearwater, FL 33756 — 6th Judicial Circuit
- St. Petersburg Judicial Bldg — 545 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg
- North County Branch — 29582 US-19 N, Clearwater
- 6th Judicial Circuit (Pasco, Pinellas)
- Second District Court of Appeal
- Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Ken Burke, CPA — (727) 464-7000 — mypinellasclerk.gov
- Property Appraiser — Mike Twitty — 315 Court St — pcpao.gov
- Tax Collector — Charles W. Thomas — 315 Court St — pinellastaxcollector.gov
- Sheriff — Bob Gualtieri — 10750 Ulmerton Rd, Largo