Subject:
Title
Historic Preservation Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for a property in the City of St. Petersburg.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the resolution authorizing a historic preservation tax exemption of County ad valorem taxes for improvements made to the recently rehabilitated historic property in the City of St. Petersburg identified as:
• The single-family dwelling located at 201 21st Avenue North, a contributing historic resource in the North Shore National Register Historic District; (PID# 18-31-17-60390-000-0370).
• The tax exemption applies only to the increase in the value of improvements after rehabilitation, as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, and is for a period of ten years.
• The amount of the exemption will impact ad valorem collections including the City of St. Petersburg, the Countywide General Fund, the Emergency Medical Services fund, and the Health Department.
• The anticipated fiscal impact for FY26 to the County is approximately $613 in tax savings for the property owner. The anticipated fiscal impact for Fiscal Year 2026 to the City of St. Petersburg is approximately $847 in tax savings to the property owner.
Authorize the Chairman to be the signatory party for the County on the historic preservation covenant for this property and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest the resolutions and associated covenant.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation
Prosperity and Opportunity
3.4 Enhance educational and cultural opportunities
Summary:
Summary
The City of St. Petersburg has recommended that Pinellas County approve the historic preservation ad valorem tax exemption for a property owner who has recently completed a rehabilitation project on a designated historic property in the City of St. Petersburg. The address for the designated historic property is 201 21st Avenue North.
The historic preservation tax exemption applies only to the increase in the value of improvements after rehabilitation, as determined by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. The exemption of County ad valorem taxes is for a period of ten (10) years. Work for each project has been reviewed and certified by staff with the St. Petersburg Urban Planning & Historic Preservation Division. The St. Petersburg City Council has already granted a historic preservation exemption of the increase in City ad valorem taxes for a period of (10) ten years for this property as evidenced by the attached resolution.
Copies of the City of St Petersburg resolution, associated staff report, and historic preservation covenant is provided as an informational attachment to this agenda item. These documents have been reviewed by staff in the Pinellas County Housing & Community Development Department who have concluded that the information, project work, and city approval for the request is consistent with the intent of the historic preservation tax exemption program authorized under Chapter 118, Article V, Pinellas County Code. Therefore, County staff recommends APPROVAL of the requested historic preservation tax exemption for the designated historic property referenced above including execution of the associated resolution and covenant.
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Background Information:
In 1992, the citizens of Florida passed an amendment to the state constitution enabling counties and municipalities to adopt ordinances that allow owners of designated historic properties to apply for historic preservation ad valorem tax exemptions when making substantial renovations and improvements. The Florida Legislature adopted Chapters 196.1997 and Chapter 196.1998, Florida Statutes that establish parameters and requirements for these historic preservation tax exemptions. Specifically, up to a ten-year exemption is allowed on up to 100% of the assessed value of improvements made to designated historic properties.
In January 1996, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners adopted an ordinance (Chapter 118, Article V, Pinellas County Code) providing for historic preservation ad valorem tax exemptions to be ten (10) years in duration on 100% of the assessed value of improvements made in rehabilitating a designated historic property.
Properties eligible for the tax exemption include buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places; listed as a contributing resource in a National Register Historic District; designated by local ordinance as a historic property, such as a Local Historic Landmark; or designated by local ordinance as a contributing resource in a local historic district. The County’s tax exemption is available to owners of eligible historic properties in the unincorporated area and in municipalities that have adopted the historic preservation tax exemption ordinance.
Since 1996, the County has approved ad valorem tax exemptions as a historic preservation incentive for 93 applicants.
Fiscal Impact:
The anticipated fiscal impact for FY26 to the County with a millage rate of 4.6660 is approximately $613 in tax savings for the property owner. The anticipated fiscal impact for FY26 to the City with a millage rate of 6.4525 is approximately $847 in tax savings to the property owner. Assuming an inflationary increase of 2.5% annually during the 10-year period and the millage rate unchanged, the estimated fiscal impact to the County over the 10-year period is approximately $6,869 in tax savings to the property owner. The estimated fiscal impact to the City over the 10-year period is approximately $9,499 in tax savings to the property owner.
Staff Member Responsible:
Glenn Bailey, Interim Director, Housing & Community Development
Tom Scofield, Principal Planner, Housing & Community Development
Partners:
City of St. Petersburg
Attachments:
BCC Resolution, 201 21st Avenue North - PROPOSED
City of St Petersburg AVT Agenda Package (informational)
Chap 118, Article V, Pinellas County Code