Pinellas County Clerk of Court — St. Petersburg Branch

Tucked into the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the Pinellas County Clerk of Court's St. Petersburg Branch sits at 545 First Avenue North — a short walk from the waterfront and the central business district. This courthouse annex handles passport applications for Pinellas County residents without requiring an appointment, making it one of the most accessible acceptance points in the Tampa Bay area. Staff are trained to review DS-11 and DS-82 forms, verify supporting identity documents, and witness the required oath before forwarding completed packages to the National Passport Processing Center.

The office handles both first-time adult applications and applications for minor children, who must appear in person with both parents or guardians (or a notarized Form DS-3053 when one parent cannot attend). Renewal applicants who qualify for the DS-82 mail-in route can also get guidance here on whether they meet the eligibility criteria. Because no appointment is needed, early morning visits on weekdays tend to move quickly; midday peaks can slow the queue, so arriving within the first hour of opening is a practical strategy.

For residents on the west side of St. Petersburg looking for an alternative, the other Pinellas County Clerk acceptance offices in St. Petersburg serve different neighborhoods, and the full picture of Florida passport options is covered on our Florida passport offices guide.

No appointment is required at this downtown branch, which sets it apart from the USPS locations in St. Petersburg where advance booking is mandatory. Bring originals and photocopies of your identity documents — the clerk cannot make copies for you. Minor applicants must have both parents present, or one parent plus a signed and notarized DS-3053 consent form. The Florida passport offices page has a broader breakdown of the state's acceptance network and processing time expectations.