Building in Palma Ceia
Palma Ceia is a South Tampa neighborhood founded in 1903, with a Bay to Bay Boulevard business district planned by the City in 2021. Building here starts with the parcel zoning, flood zone and tree rules. Standard commercial lots are 50 by 100 feet, which shapes redevelopment on the main streets.
What applies to a lot in South Tampa?
Pick a neighborhood. You get the flood, historic, tree and zoning rules that usually apply, each with its official source. Confirm your own parcel with the City.
Davis Islands
- Flood zone
- A June 2020 City of Tampa flood study says the entire Davis Islands study basin sits inside FEMA's preliminary special flood hazard area. In that area the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Analysis and Resiliency Strategy Report (June 2020)
- Historic review
- The City Architectural Review Commission reviews development inside local historic districts and on local landmarks. Ask City staff whether a specific parcel is covered.City of Tampa: About Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Hyde Park
- Flood zone
- Check the parcel on the FEMA flood map before design. Inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Flood Information
- Historic review
- Inside the Hyde Park Local Historic District, the Architectural Review Commission reviews development against the Hyde Park Design Guidelines. Ask City staff whether a parcel sits inside the district.City of Tampa: Hyde Park Historic District Expansion
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Palma Ceia
- Flood zone
- Check the parcel on the FEMA flood map before design. Inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Flood Information
- Historic review
- The City Architectural Review Commission reviews development inside local historic districts and on local landmarks. Ask City staff whether a specific parcel is covered.City of Tampa: About Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Beach Park
- Flood zone
- Check the parcel on the FEMA flood map before design. Inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Flood Information
- Historic review
- The City Architectural Review Commission reviews development inside local historic districts and on local landmarks. Ask City staff whether a specific parcel is covered.City of Tampa: About Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Bayshore Beautiful
- Flood zone
- Check the parcel on the FEMA flood map before design. Inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Flood Information
- Historic review
- The City Architectural Review Commission reviews development inside local historic districts and on local landmarks. Ask City staff whether a specific parcel is covered.City of Tampa: About Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Sunset Park
- Flood zone
- Check the parcel on the FEMA flood map before design. Inside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, the City asks for an Elevation Certificate with the building permit application.City of Tampa: Flood Information
- Historic review
- The City Architectural Review Commission reviews development inside local historic districts and on local landmarks. Ask City staff whether a specific parcel is covered.City of Tampa: About Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
- Tree permit
- Tree removals of 5 inches or more across the trunk need a City permit, and every removal is subject to mitigation. For a new home, tree removals are marked on the site plan and reviewed with the building permit.City of Tampa: Tree Resources
- Height and setbacks
- Single-family lots sit in RS zoning districts. The City code assessment lists RS-60 at 6,000 sq ft minimum lot area, 25 ft front yard, 7 ft side yard and 35 ft maximum height. RS-50 and RS-75 differ, and the City is rewriting its code. Confirm the parcel zoning first.City of Tampa: Land Development Code Assessment (Feb 2025 draft)
Palma Ceia, by the facts.
| Downtown Tampa | 3.1 mi |
|---|---|
| Tampa International Airport | 4.7 mi |
Straight-line miles from the neighborhood centroid (coordinates on its Wikipedia page, rounded) to the Downtown Tampa and Tampa International Airport coordinates on their Wikipedia pages. Estimates, not driving distance.
- History
The City says Thomas Palmer founded the neighborhood in 1903.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - History
The original name of the neighborhood was Madrid.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - Roads
Bay to Bay Boulevard was first called Covadonga Street.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - Location
The Bay to Bay business district is about a half-mile walk from Bayshore Boulevard.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - Location
The City plan area runs along Bay to Bay from Himes to the Selmon Expressway.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - Zoning
Commercial sites on Bay to Bay must be at least two lots wide by right.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan - Parks and water
Palma Ceia Park at 2200 Marti St is on the City dog park list.
City of Tampa: Dog Parks - Parks and water
Palma Ceia Spring once held a spring-fed pool in what is now Fred Ball Park.
Tampa Magazines: The History of Tampa Bayshore Boulevard - City projects
The City lists an Empedrado St water project on its Palma Ceia page.
City of Tampa: Palma Ceia
In the journal
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