Hillsborough County Building Permit Search Guide
Hillsborough County building permit search can mean several different tasks: checking a current HillsGovHub permit, finding older building records, searching by parcel, reviewing inspection results, confirming certificate of occupancy, or deciding whether the property belongs to Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace or unincorporated Hillsborough County.
Use this workstation before buying property, hiring a contractor, checking storm repair permits, applying online, scheduling inspections, resolving old records or verifying whether a permit is issued, inspected and finaled.
Start here before using Hillsborough County permit search
The main rule is simple: do not search only one database. Hillsborough County uses HillsGovHub for building and subtrade permits, but older records have separate search paths, and incorporated cities may maintain their own permit portals.
First confirm jurisdiction. Then search HillsGovHub by address, parcel, record or contractor. If the record is older, use the county Building Permitting Records Search page by date range. If the property is in Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace, search that city portal too.
Hillsborough permit route finder
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Current permit, older record, parcel lookup, inspection status, city jurisdiction or open-permit risk.
Use the Accela building records module. Search by site address, parcel number, record information, contractor license information or contact information.
Use the county records page and select the correct date process: 1976–2004, 2005–Jan. 19, 2021, or Jan. 20, 2021–present.
Use the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser to verify folio/parcel and site address, then search HillsGovHub using parcel number or address.
Open the permit record, review inspection results, and compare status with the county Building Permit Reports or Construction Activity Viewer when useful.
If the property is inside Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace, search that city system. A Hillsborough County search alone may not show the full municipal permit history.
For closing or buyer due diligence, search HillsGovHub, older records, property appraiser records and city portals, then verify final inspection or certificate of occupancy.
Hillsborough building permit search plan tool
Use this task desk before opening portals. It helps avoid wrong-jurisdiction, wrong-date and incomplete-record mistakes.
Search HillsGovHub by site address. If the result is weak, confirm parcel details with the Property Appraiser.
Search the building module by record information. Enter the number exactly as printed.
Use the Building Permitting Records Search page and choose the correct date range.
Use HillsGovHub. County building and subtrade permits are done through the online system.
Check county, city, older records, inspection status, CO and open permit signals.
Search Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace portals separately from county records.
Search current Hillsborough County permits in HillsGovHub
Hillsborough County says building and subtrade permits are done on the HillsGovHub online system. The Accela search screen supports site address, contractor license information, parcel number, record information and contact information searches.
Open the building records search
Start with the official Accela Citizen Access building module. You can search without guessing a third-party portal.
Choose the strongest search field
Use record number if you have it. Use parcel number when address formatting is unreliable. Use site address when researching property history.
Read status and details
Check application type, permit description, contractor, fees, inspections, documents, conditions and final status. Issued is not the same as finaled.
Hillsborough County warns that any payments due to Development Services are billed through HillsGovHub and show in your HillsGovHub account. Ignore requests to pay outside the portal.
Search older Hillsborough County building permit records
Hillsborough County separates building permit records by filing date. Older records may require a different process than current HillsGovHub records.
1976–2004
Use the official records-search process for this date range.
2005–Jan. 19, 2021
Use the correct county records route for this period.
Jan. 20, 2021–present
Use the current record process and HillsGovHub where applicable.
CO / EC / inspections
Search for permit applications, plans, placards, inspections, CO and elevation certificates.
Open the county records page
Select the date period that matches the record filing date. If you do not know the date, start with current HillsGovHub and then move backward.
The county notes some building records may be removed or not easily located because of public-records exemptions and public-importance thresholds. If a record is missing, contact the county through official channels.
Check inspections, CO and final status
A permit record is not complete just because it was applied for or issued. For buyer due diligence, contractor verification or project closeout, check inspection results and any certificate of occupancy or final approval record.
Review the permit record
Open the HillsGovHub record and check inspections, conditions, fees, contractor information and final status.
Use reports for approved permits
Hillsborough’s Building Permit Reports database says it includes current information for approved building permits.
Use activity viewer for issued/CO activity
The Building Construction Activity Viewer can help view permits issued and Certificate of Occupancy activity with filters.
For sale, refinance or insurance, look for final inspection, CO or clear closeout evidence. Ask Development Services or the correct city building department when status is unclear.
Hillsborough County or city permit portal?
Hillsborough County contains incorporated cities with separate permitting systems. A county permit search may not show all city-issued records.
Use HillsGovHub, Hillsborough County Development Services and county records pages.
Use Tampa Accela Citizen Access for city building, planning, right-of-way and utility permit records.
Use Plant City Building Department and the Plant City online permitting portal.
Use Temple Terrace permitting services and permit search system.
Use the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser to confirm jurisdiction clues and parcel data.
Search both county and city before relying on seller or contractor statements.
If the property is within Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace city limits, verify municipal permits directly with that city. County records alone may be incomplete for city property.
Open permit and buyer risk checker
Use this before closing, remodeling, refinancing, insurance review or buying a home with prior roof, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, pool, addition, storm repair or structural work.
Wrong jurisdiction
County search only, but the property is inside Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace.
Issued but not finaled
Issued permits can still need inspections, closeout or correction.
Older record
Older permit files may need county records search by date range.
Major work
Roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, pool, addition and structural work deserve deeper review.
For legal, closing, insurance or code decisions, request official confirmation from Hillsborough County or the correct city building department.
Hillsborough County permit office contact and map
Use the county permit office for Development Services assistance, online submittal help and county building-permit questions.
Permit office
813-272-5600
Tech Center
Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
Permitting
Permitting@HCFL.gov
County Center
601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602
The county notes the Development Services Tech Center has temporarily moved within County Center. Check the official Permit Office Location page before visiting.
Official Hillsborough County building permit search links
Use these official resources for permit search, older records, applications, inspections, property lookup and city jurisdiction checks.
Important permit-search notice
CountyPermitSearch.org is an independent guide, not the official Hillsborough County, Florida website.
Only Hillsborough County Development Services, HillsGovHub staff, inspectors, plan reviewers, code officials, or the relevant city building department can confirm whether a permit is required, issued, valid, inspected, finaled, expired, open or closed.
Do not submit permit applications, payments, owner documents, contractor documents, plans, IDs or legal documents to an independent guide page. Use official government portals only. Hillsborough County warns that Development Services payments are billed through HillsGovHub and appear in your HillsGovHub account.
Hillsborough County building permit search FAQs
How do I search Hillsborough County building permits online?
Use HillsGovHub / Accela Citizen Access. The building search supports site address, parcel number, record information, contractor license information and contact information search fields.
What is HillsGovHub?
HillsGovHub is Hillsborough County’s online permit, licensing and inspection system. The county says it allows users to submit and track applications 24/7.
Are building and subtrade permits done in HillsGovHub?
Yes. Hillsborough County says building and subtrade permits are done on the HillsGovHub online system.
Where do I find older Hillsborough County permit records?
Use the official Building Permitting Records Search page. Hillsborough County separates searches by records from 1976–2004, 2005–January 19, 2021, and January 20, 2021 to present.
What types of building records can I search?
The county lists permit applications, building/site plans, permit placards/issuance, inspection results, elevation certificates and certificates of occupancy as building permit record types.
What is the Hillsborough County permit office phone number?
The Development Services Tech Center phone number listed by Hillsborough County is 813-272-5600.
Where is Hillsborough County Development Services?
The county footer lists County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33602. The Permit Office Location page notes the Tech Center has moved within County Center, so check the official page before visiting.
What is the Hillsborough County permitting email?
The Building Permitting Records Search page lists Permitting@HCFL.gov for building permitting questions.
Does Hillsborough County permit search include Tampa permits?
Not always. City of Tampa uses its own Accela Citizen Access portal. If the property is inside Tampa, search the City of Tampa portal too.
Does Hillsborough County permit search include Plant City permits?
Not always. Plant City has its own Building Department and online permitting portal for building permits, electronic plan review and inspection scheduling.
Does Hillsborough County permit search include Temple Terrace permits?
Not always. Temple Terrace has its own permitting services and permit search tool. Search Temple Terrace directly for properties inside that city.
How do I check inspection or CO activity?
Open the permit record in HillsGovHub first. You can also use Hillsborough’s Building Permit Reports and Building Construction Activity Viewer for approved permits, permits issued and Certificate of Occupancy activity.
What if HillsGovHub shows no result?
Try parcel number, folio information, exact record number, different address formatting, older records by date range, Property Appraiser data and city permit portals.
Is CountyPermitSearch.org official?
No. CountyPermitSearch.org is an independent guide. Official permit searches, applications, payments, records requests, inspections and status decisions must be handled through Hillsborough County or the relevant city building department.