Quick answer: Hillsborough County permit records are split by date. Use HillsGovHub for records from January 20, 2021 forward. Use the county’s converted reports or PGM Store for much of 2005 through January 19, 2021. Records from 1976 through 2004 generally require a records request rather than a normal online permit search.
This is a date-routing problem more than an address-search problem. Before opening a portal, write down the property address, folio or parcel number, approximate work year, and record type. Those four fields determine which system is likely to answer the question.
Choose the system by record date
| Record period | Start here | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1976–2004 | County records-search instructions and a records request | Not generally available in the current online permit portal |
| 2005–Jan. 19, 2021 | Building Permit Reports; use PGM Store for detailed files | Converted data and scanned files may not be identical |
| Jan. 20, 2021–present | HillsGovHub | Default date filters can hide older results |
How to search current HillsGovHub records
Open Building and Site record search and enter the smallest reliable set of criteria. Start with the street number and name or a known record number. If the result list is empty, widen the date range. The county’s search guide warns that a record search may default to a recent two-year window; use January 19, 2021 as the start date when you want the full HillsGovHub period.
- Search the exact record or permit number when available.
- For an address, try the base street name without unit or directional punctuation.
- Check whether you selected Building and Site rather than another record group.
- Open the record and save its status, application date, permit type, linked inspections, and documents.
How to search 2005–2021 records
The county points users to Building Permit Reports for the 2005–January 19, 2021 period and to the PGM Store for detailed permit files from roughly 2004 through January 10, 2021. PGM Store uses a public login described on the county page. HillsGovHub-created records will not appear in PGM search results, so do not use PGM as the only check for newer work.
What to include in a 1976–2004 request
For the older period, send enough identifiers to let staff distinguish the property and year. The county requests the year built, current and previous addresses, folio number, and—especially for 1976–1989—the approximate application year. If the address changed, provide both versions. A vague request for “all permits” is more likely to be delayed or return an incomplete set.
| Requested item | Coverage warning | Better evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Permit list | A converted row may omit the scanned file | Permit number plus PGM or requested file |
| Certificate of Occupancy | County says records before 2012 are unavailable | Later CO record or other completion evidence |
| Elevation Certificate | Pre-2000 records are typically unavailable | Post-2004 PGM lead or a new survey |
| No search result | May reflect date, address, exemption, or system split | Documented multi-system search and agency reply |
Certificate of Occupancy and elevation certificate exceptions
These records have their own date rules. Hillsborough County says Certificates of Occupancy before 2012 are unavailable. For 2012 through January 19, 2021, first obtain the permit or project number and then check PGM Store; later records belong in HillsGovHub. Elevation certificates are typically unavailable before 2000, may require a request for 2000–2004, and can use a PGM lead after 2004.
Why a record can be missing even when work occurred
- The record belongs to a different date-based system.
- The street address changed or the file is indexed by folio number.
- Only a converted summary is online while the document is in PGM Store.
- The building type or owner qualifies for a Florida public-records exemption and the result is suppressed.
- The work was handled by a city within Hillsborough County rather than unincorporated county government.
What the result does not prove
A permit row does not prove that the work passed final inspection, matches the present structure, or covers work under another jurisdiction. An empty result does not prove the property has no permit history. Follow the permit-record verification sequence, and use the jurisdiction guide when the address may fall inside Tampa, Temple Terrace, or Plant City.
Hillsborough permit search questions
Can I search without an account?
HillsGovHub allows general public record searches without signing in, although some license records and account-specific services require registration. Begin with General Search or Building and Site Record Search. Do not use My Records unless you are trying to see applications tied to your own account.
Why did the portal show only two years?
A default start date can narrow the result set even when older HillsGovHub records exist. Reset the range to January 19, 2021 for a full current-system search, or route earlier records to the converted reports and PGM Store.
Does a closed permit mean the present building matches the file?
No. It supports completion of the agency workflow for the recorded scope. Compare the approved scope, inspection history, plans, and present conditions before relying on it for a property transaction or renovation.
Official sources
- Hillsborough County building permitting records searches — authoritative date routing and special record limits.
- HillsGovHub record search — current permit and application records.
- PGM Store instructions — converted-era plans, applications, and permit files.
Last checked: August 23, 2026. Portal labels and record coverage can change; confirm the live agency page before relying on a result.