Pinellas County’s older permitting guide lists AC and furnace changeouts as express permits. Its current residential page uses a different record list and says residential applications go through the Access Portal. Before selecting a category, establish both that the County governs the property and which current record fits the replacement.
What changed between the two instructions?
| Official source | Useful information | Limit on relying on it today |
|---|---|---|
| Permitting guide, March 2021, page 6 | Names mechanical AC/furnace changeouts and AC duct replacement in its express list; describes contractor account ownership and delegated access | Also directs many other applications to paper intake. It is not proof that the present portal still uses every old category or restriction |
| Current residential permit page | Directs applicants to the Access Portal; names Mechanical “New A/C System,” “New Minisplit with Electric,” and “Other Mechanical Standalone” | Does not explicitly map every furnace/changeout scope to one of those choices |
The County’s current page announces fee and permit-rule changes effective July 1, 2026. Do not infer a present fee or guaranteed express turnaround from the older guide. Its March 2021 cover date is also distinct from the 2022 folder in the PDF URL.
Identify the scope before choosing a portal record
Send the County a short description that answers:
- Is the work an AC replacement, furnace replacement, new system, minisplit, duct replacement, or a combination?
- Does it include electrical changes, new fuel work or equipment relocation?
- Who will hold the permit: the licensed contractor or an eligible owner-builder?
- Is the address under County building authority, and does it require separate municipal review?
Use 727-464-3888, option 2, or buildingpermits@pinellas.gov to confirm the record type when the current menu does not clearly match the work. The County expressly warns that an incorrect selection can delay processing. Our permit-office routing guide addresses County versus municipal authority; a Clearwater mailing address alone is not the answer.
Contractor access is different from permission to build
The older express instructions require the contractor to own the account and obtain permissions before adding delegates. The current page instructs residential applicants to sign in, select the record, provide the required documents, pay applicable fees and monitor comments. Registration, an uploaded application and payment each leave the permit decision unfinished until the County issues the permit.
Owner-builder eligibility is a separate question; do not use a contractor’s express-account instructions as an owner exemption. Floodplain construction requirements may also affect the documentation for an individual property.
Make inspection responsibility part of the proposal
The current residential page places inspection scheduling after issuance. Have the proposal identify who schedules each required inspection, corrects deficiencies and supplies the final permit result. Neither an old express listing nor a functioning AC unit proves that the permit is closed.
For equipment selection and startup measurements, use the separate HVAC proposal comparison. This page addresses the County intake ambiguity, not system sizing or workmanship.
LSL reviewed the current residential page and the older guide’s cover and express-permit section on September 21, 2026. We did not test a logged-in portal, price a permit or obtain an official category determination for a property. The old-to-current comparison is a preparation aid, not a claim that the two sources have been reconciled by the County.