--- title: "Building a Home in Palma Ceia, Tampa: Rules and Facts" description: "Palma Ceia is a South Tampa neighborhood founded in 1903, with a Bay to Bay Boulevard business district planned by the City in 2021." url: https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/palma-ceia publisher: Halo Homes phone: +1-813-956-1972 quote: https://build813.multisites.ai/contact --- ![Aerial view of a two-story white home with a pool on a canal](https://build813.multisites.ai/_astro/aerial-canal.DUcdGsF4_Z2mBUqP.avif) # 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. NeighborhoodDavis IslandsHyde ParkPalma CeiaBeach ParkBayshore BeautifulSunset Park 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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2024/final-vulnerability-analysis-report.pdf) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/about-us) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Davis Islands](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/davis-islands) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/info/architectural-review-commission/hyde-park-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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Hyde Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/hyde-park) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/about-us) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Palma Ceia](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/palma-ceia) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/about-us) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Beach Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/beach-park) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/about-us) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Bayshore Beautiful](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/bayshore-beautiful) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/tss-stormwater/info/flood) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/historic-preservation/about-us) 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](https://www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-permitting/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)](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2025/tampa-ldc-assessment-public-draft-feb-2025.pdf) [Building in Sunset Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/sunset-park) ## Palma Ceia, _by the facts._ Distances from Palma Ceia 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. 1. History The City says Thomas Palmer founded the neighborhood in 1903. [City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 2. History The original name of the neighborhood was Madrid. [City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 3. Roads Bay to Bay Boulevard was first called Covadonga Street. [City of Tampa: Palma Ceia Neighborhood Commercial District Plan](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 4. 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](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 5. 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](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 6. 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](https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021/Palma%20Ceia%20Neighborhood%20Commercial%20District%20Plan%20-%20v5%20-%20Final%20Draft.pdf) 7. Parks and water Palma Ceia Park at 2200 Marti St is on the City dog park list. [City of Tampa: Dog Parks](https://www.tampa.gov/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-facilities/dog-parks) 8. 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](https://tampamagazines.com/the-history-of-tampas-bayshore-boulevard/) 9. City projects The City lists an Empedrado St water project on its Palma Ceia page. [City of Tampa: Palma Ceia](https://www.tampa.gov/neighborhoods/palma-ceia) ## In the journal - [Palma Ceia's oaks and the Tampa tree permit rules](https://build813.multisites.ai/journal/palma-ceia-oaks-and-tree-permits) ## Other neighborhoods - [Davis Islands](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/davis-islands) - [Hyde Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/hyde-park) - [Beach Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/beach-park) - [Bayshore Beautiful](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/bayshore-beautiful) - [Sunset Park](https://build813.multisites.ai/neighborhoods/sunset-park) ![Front of a two-story white modern home with wide stone steps and palms](https://build813.multisites.ai/_astro/front-entry-stair.uOUDI-Bb_ZQcaix.avif) ## Start your home. Tell Halo about your lot, your plans and your timing. A call or a short note is enough to begin. [Start your home](https://build813.multisites.ai/contact) Or call [(813) 956-1972](tel:+1-813-956-1972)