Hillsborough works a little differently from Pinellas across the bay. Here, a big share of the work is new enclosures and major frame work, on top of the steady rescreening every older cage eventually needs.
New cages and old ones, side by side
Hillsborough is a mix: fast growing communities in the South Shore adding a lot of first enclosures, and established neighborhoods where the question is whether an existing cage still has life in it. Whichever one describes your situation, the contractor evaluates your specific enclosure, or your specific backyard, rather than assuming based on the neighborhood.
Tampa
The county's largest city, with its own permit office and homes that run from before 1940 to brand new.
Brandon
An established suburb where the median home dates to 1993.
Riverview
A fast growing community where most homes have been built since 2000.
Valrico
East of Brandon, with homes mostly from the 1980s through the 2000s.
Wimauma
The county's permit leader, where about eight in ten homes were built since 2010.
Sun City Center
An age restricted community where lanais and cages are part of nearly every home.
Apollo Beach
A canal community on Tampa Bay, where salt air is part of every evaluation.
Live somewhere else in Hillsborough? The same contractor serves the whole county, including Temple Terrace, Plant City, Ruskin, Gibsonton, Lithia, and Seffner.
Old homes, new homes, and everything between
Countywide, the median home was built in 1991, and more than a third of all homes have gone up since 2000. It varies a lot from one community to the next. The median home in Wimauma dates to 2016, in Riverview to 2006, and in Apollo Beach to 2010, while Brandon's is 1993 and Tampa's is 1985. If your home is newer, you may be ready for your first enclosure. If it's older, the cage you already have may need its frame checked before any new screen goes on.
Your permit depends on where you live
Outside its three cities, the county is unincorporated, and those permits go through Hillsborough County's building department, which lists a flat $380 residential permit for pool enclosures and screen rooms. Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City run their own building departments, and Tampa lists a flat $316 for an aluminum screen room, pool cage, or porch. Rescreening an existing enclosure is exempt from permits in most cases, and if your job does need one, your contractor takes care of it.
Salt air along the bay
If you live along Tampa Bay, like in Apollo Beach with its roughly 55 miles of canals, you deal with salt air, and over time it's hard on fasteners and hardware. That's why your contractor looks closely at connections and corrosion, not just the screen.
One contractor for the whole county
Every Hillsborough request goes to the same trusted local contractor. We review your request first, and then that contractor handles the evaluation, the written proposal, any permits, and the work. You won't get a list of companies or a hundred sales calls.
Frequently asked questions
Do you serve my part of Hillsborough County?
Yes. The whole county is one service area, from Tampa and Temple Terrace to Plant City and the South Shore.
Who handles the permit, and from which office?
Your contractor does. Unincorporated areas use Hillsborough County's building department, while Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City have their own.
Do I need a permit to rescreen in Hillsborough?
In most cases, no. Rescreening an existing enclosure is typically exempt. A new enclosure, a replacement, or a major frame repair usually does need a permit.
Our home is new and doesn't have a cage yet. Where do we start?
Send us a request describing what you have in mind. The contractor will talk you through design, engineering, permits, and any HOA approval your community requires.