Dengue emergency still in effect: free tire drop-off through Oct. 30 and yard checks in Palm Harbor
Pinellas County's dengue state of local emergency, extended Sept. 30 through Oct. 8, keeps Mosquito Control crews knocking on doors in the Palm Harbor area. Residents can also drop off up to four household tires free through Oct. 30.
An Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species that spreads dengue, rests on a leaf in this illustrative file photo. Photo: Wee Hong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Resized; website wordmark added. Photo source · License
Pinellas County's dengue response is still running at full tilt in Palm Harbor, and two parts of it directly affect households this month: uniformed crews may knock on your door to look for standing water, and old tires can be dropped off free through Oct. 30.
County Administrator Barry Burton extended the state of local emergency for mosquito-borne dengue until Oct. 8, according to a Sept. 30 county announcement. The Board of County Commissioners declared the emergency on Sept. 24 in a resolution that lets the administrator quickly approve mosquito control spending and opens the door to state reimbursement if funding becomes available.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sept. 28 to Oct. 30, 2026 |
| Location | Solid Waste Disposal Complex, 3095 114th Ave. N., St. Petersburg |
| Limit | Up to four tires, each under 36 inches in diameter |
| Proof required | Valid driver's license showing Pinellas residency |
| Load rules | Tires separated from other waste; rims may stay attached |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed-toed shoes required |
Source: pinellas.gov
Case counts have climbed since August
The county's dengue page, updated Oct. 2, cites the Florida Department of Health's most recent report showing 239 confirmed locally acquired dengue cases in the Tampa Bay area, including 13 in Pinellas County. A week earlier, the county cited FDOH's Sept. 24 report with seven Pinellas cases since August and 179 across Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough.
Palm Harbor was the first local flashpoint. On Aug. 11, Pinellas County Mosquito Control said it was ramping up in the Palm Harbor area after DOH-Pinellas confirmed two locally acquired cases, adding dawn truck-mounted fogging, daytime backpack treatments, daily surveillance and door-to-door inspections.
Who may knock on your door
In treatment areas, crews go door to door and, with the resident's permission, treat standing water that could become a breeding site, the county says. They wear Pinellas County uniforms and an ID badge. Mosquito Control also notes that because of high viral activity it is not taking routine mosquito complaints for now.
The Aedes mosquitoes that carry dengue bite during the day and breed in containers holding as little as a bottle cap of water, so the county asks residents to dump standing water at least weekly and check buckets, toys, plant saucers, pet dishes and tires. A single water-filled tire can produce thousands of mosquitoes in one season.
Free tire drop-off details
The fee waiver covers household tires only; business tires are excluded. Anyone who thinks they have a mosquito-borne illness is asked to call the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County at (727) 824-6932.
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