GENERAL INFORMATION

Pinellas County offers several programs that can help builders and developers lower the cost of building affordable housing.

1. The County offers expedited permitting for affordable housing.
2. There are no site plan review fees for affordable housing.
3. The County offers impact fee rebates for affordable housing.
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 homebuyers become mortgage ready, thereby expanding the pool of qualified homebuyers.
6. Subsidies are available to make units more affordable to income eligible tenants and homebuyers.

Additional information about development code incentives is available in the Pinellas County Affordable Housing Incentives Guide.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Pinellas County affordable housing development funds can be used to assist projects involving
1. Acquisition of existing 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 acquisition 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 units that are affordable to income qualified tenants or homebuyers 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 County.

Affordable Rental Housing Development
Affordable Housing Development for Homebuyers
Application for Affordable Housing Development Funding

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.