Mobile home work in Hillsborough County starts with one question: does your address sit inside a city, or in unincorporated county? That decides which office handles permits. This page explains the split, the wind, flood and evacuation picture for mobile and manufactured homes, and points you to the page for your area.
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Who issues permits in Hillsborough County
Three incorporated cities in the county, Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City, run their own permitting. Everything else falls to the county. Hillsborough County Development Services says it covers “all of unincorporated Hillsborough County.” Communities such as Brandon, Riverview, Ruskin, Wimauma, Valrico, Seffner and Sun City Center are generally unincorporated, so they use the county office, but confirm your address matches your actual jurisdiction before you file anything.
| Where your home is | Office | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Hillsborough County | Hillsborough County Development Services | Permits are filed online through HillsGovHub. Questions: Permitting@HCFL.gov. |
| City of Tampa | Construction Services Division | Building permits and inspections; the city’s permit portal is linked from tampa.gov/permit. Help: (813) 274-3100, option 1. |
| Temple Terrace | Building and Zoning, within Community Development | City Hall, 11250 N 56th Street, Temple Terrace, FL 33617. Main line 813-506-6400. Permit search is on the city’s Community Development page. |
| Plant City | City of Plant City Building Division | 302 W Reynolds St, Plant City, FL 33563. Phone 813-659-4254. |
The county has a “Residential & Mobile Home Checklists” page, but it does not spell out tie-down, set-up or roof permit specifics. None of these offices’ web pages gave a definite answer for every mobile home job, so ask the office before work begins. For the state side, see Florida tie-down requirements.
Wind ratings for manufactured homes
Federal rules sort manufactured homes into HUD wind zones. Under 24 CFR 3280.305, Zone II homes are designed for 100 mph winds and Zone III homes for 110 mph. The rule names the Florida counties in Zone III, and Hillsborough is not among them, so it is Wind Zone II. Your own home’s rating is on its HUD data plate, which 24 CFR 3280.5 places near the main electrical panel or in another readily accessible and visible spot. Older homes built before these wind zones deserve extra attention to tie-downs.
Flood zones are not evacuation zones
Hillsborough County treats these as two separate things. Evacuation zones, labeled A to E, are based on storm surge, and some areas are in no zone at all. Flood zones are federal designations of flood risk year round, including from heavy rain. A home can be outside every evacuation zone and still sit in a high-risk flood zone.
Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, or use the “Find my flood zone” page on the county’s flooding pages at hcfl.gov. A vapor barrier helps with ground moisture but does not stop floodwater.
Hurricane evacuation orders for mobile homes
The county has ordered mobile and manufactured homes out ahead of storms even when they were outside the surge zones. In August 2023 it ordered evacuation of all homes in Zone A plus manufactured and mobile homes. Before Hurricane Milton in October 2024, it ordered Zones A and B and all mobile and manufactured homes to leave.
- Sign up for HCFL Alert, the county’s official notification system, at hcfl.gov/StaySafe.
- Learn your zone before the season. Zones run A to E.
- The county calls shelters a last resort and offers pet-friendly shelters during evacuations.
- For other questions, the county’s At Your Service help page is at hcfl.gov/atyourservice.
Prep steps are in our Florida mobile home hurricane checklist. Good tie-downs help, but an evacuation order for your home type still applies.
Common jobs across the county
- Leveling for sloping floors and sticking doors.
- Tie-downs and anchors.
- Skirting that is cracked or missing.
- Roof-over work on aging roofs.
- The 4-point inspection and mobile home insurance in Florida, which often go together on older homes.
City pages
Polk County neighbors
Frequently asked questions
Which office do I call for a mobile home permit in Hillsborough County?
It depends on your address. Homes in Tampa, Temple Terrace or Plant City use that city’s building office. Homes in unincorporated areas use Hillsborough County Development Services, reachable at Permitting@HCFL.gov.
Is Hillsborough County in Wind Zone II or III?
Wind Zone II, designed for 100 mph, because federal rule 24 CFR 3280.305 does not list Hillsborough among the Florida counties in Zone III. Your home’s data plate shows its own rating.
Do mobile homes have to evacuate in Hillsborough County?
Only when the county orders it, but it has done so. It included mobile and manufactured homes in orders in August 2023 and before Hurricane Milton in 2024. Sign up for HCFL Alert and check hcfl.gov/StaySafe.
What is the difference between a flood zone and an evacuation zone?
Evacuation zones are based on storm surge and run A to E. Flood zones are federal designations of year-round flood risk, including heavy rain. Check yours on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
How do I get a quote for mobile home work?
Fill out the free quote form below and describe the problem. A local pro will follow up, and cost depends on home size, access and the scope of the job.
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