GENERAL INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPERS

Pinellas County offers several programs that can help builders and developers lower the cost of building affordable housing and increase the market share of persons eligible and able to buy housing.

1. The County offers quick and hassle-free permitting for affordable housing
2. There are no permit application fees or site plan review fees for affordable housing.
3. The County rebates all impact fees on affordable housing that is sold to income eligible residents.
4. The County offers land use and zoning incentives aimed at making it easier and more profitable to develop and build affordable housing.
5. The County funds a variety of nonprofit programs aimed at helping buyers become mortgage ready, thereby expanding the pool of qualified buyers
6. Subsidies are available to make units more affordable to income eligible buyers.

Information for Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
The Pinellas County Community Development Department is committed to providing equal opportunity for minority business enterprises and women's business enterprises (MBE/WBE).

Affordable Rental Housing
Funds can be used to assist projects involving
1. Acquisition of standard units
2. Acquisition and rehabilitation
3. Rehabilitation
4. New construction Forms of Assistance Deferred payment or reduced interest (3.0%) loans may be used to assist with down payments, closing costs, construction, rehabilitation, and soft costs associated with the development. The amount of funds contributed to the project is directly connected to the purpose of providing rental units that are affordable to low income tenants and cannot be greater than the reasonable amount needed to accomplish that purpose. Funds are committed to the project when a legally binding agreement has been executed between the project owner and the participating jurisdiction. No commitment can be made until all financial and occupancy data has been assembled and construction will commence (or loan closing will occur if project is acquisition only) within 6 months from the date of commitment.

Multifamily Housing Application

KickStart Program
Operation KickStart is a purchase/rehab and construction loan product designed to provide incentives for builders and developers to produce affordable new homes and upgrade existing housing in specially designated areas of Pinellas County. It is one of a series of incentives designed to expand the supply of affordable housing, encourage home ownership, and enhance neighborhood stability.

Operation KickStart offers two options: loans may be used 1) to construct new housing or 2) to purchase and rehab existing housing for resale. This program offers loans to builders at very favorable terms and rates. By accepting this loan at such favorable terms, the participating builder warrants that all homes built or remodeled under this program will meet a high standard of quality and will be sold to eligible homebuyers. An eligible homebuyer is one whose gross household income does not exceed 120% of area median and who occupies the home as a principal residence.

Model Homes Program
The Model Homes Program is a new construction loan product to builders and also offers down payment assistance to homebuyers in selected areas. It is one of a series of incentives designed to expand the supply of affordable housing, encourage home ownership and enhance neighborhood stability. When used in conjunction with private market mortgage loans, it allows developers, builders and homebuyers to create affordable housing to help upgrade the targeted neighborhood.

In order to accommodate a variety of revitalization strategies, this program offers two separate loan products:

1) construction loans directly to developers or builders;

2) Down Payment assistance to buyers purchasing newly constructed homes. This program offers loans to builders at very favorable terms and rates. By accepting this loan at such favorable terms, the participating builder warrants that all homes built or remodeled under this program will meet a high standard of quality and will be sold to eligible homebuyers.