Tampa, Florida — Where CPTED Happens

Tampa is more than a destination—it’s a place where CPTED happens.

For decades, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) has shaped how neighborhoods, corridors, parks, and facilities across Tampa look and feel. Today, that same city is also becoming a home base for immersive CPTED training—so practitioners can learn in the very environments where principles are actively applied.

Policy & Planning: The Foundation

A lot of cities talk about safety-by-design. Tampa wrote it into how the city grows.

Codified overlay districts embed CPTED directly into development review and streetscape expectations, including:
– West Tampa Overlay District
– East Tampa Overlay District
– Westshore Overlay District
– Kennedy Boulevard Corridor District

Supporting ordinances such as Parking Requirements (Sec. 27-178), Regulations for Special Uses (Sec. 27-132), and Penalties (Sec. 14-296) reinforce upkeep, transitions of space, and management practices that make CPTED standards stick.

The City of Tampa’s Greenways and Trails Master Plan also requires CPTED reviews and direct collaboration with the Tampa Police Department to ensure user comfort and security from the planning stage forward.

“Tampa didn’t just adopt CPTED, it operationalized it.”

Practice: From Code to Community

CPTED is not just written into codes—it is practiced daily.

The Tampa Police Department was the first department in the U.S. to create a dedicated CPTED Unit within the Special Operations Division. This step elevated CPTED from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a core operational practice.

Tampa also requires CPTED surveys through its Public Nuisance Abatement Board, further embedding CPTED into problem-solving for properties and neighborhoods.

Regionally, Hillsborough County has mirrored this commitment with two CPTED standards in its Land Development Code:
– Sec. 6.03.11 — CPTED within site development design standards
– Sec. 4.1.5.1.2 — CPTED review within permitting procedures

Together, these efforts make Tampa and Hillsborough County leaders in putting CPTED into practice.

Education & Ecosystem

Tampa also stands out as a hub for CPTED education and professional collaboration.

The University of South Florida offers a graduate-level CPTED course instructed by Art Hushen, ensuring that research-informed practice is woven into professional development. USF has also hosted two U.S. CPTED Association national conferences, drawing practitioners and thought leaders from across the country.

Florida is also home to the nation’s only CPTED associations:
– The U.S. CPTED Association (USCA), based in Tampa
– The Florida Design Out Crime Association

This ecosystem of training, professional exchange, and association leadership reinforces Tampa as the only city in the U.S. where CPTED is embedded across policy, practice, and education in one place.

Tampa as the Hub of Training

Tampa is not only a living laboratory of CPTED—it is also becoming the home of immersive CPTED training.

The National Institute of Crime Prevention (NICP) is anchoring its core training at the historic Hotel Flor in downtown Tampa. In 2026, two key events highlight Tampa’s training role:

– Basic CPTED (40 hours) — Hotel Flor, February 23–27, 2026
– Exclusive 2.5-Day CPTED Workshop — Hotel Flor, March 2026

By attending training in Tampa, practitioners can see how CPTED is codified in the environment, learn from experienced instructors, and apply lessons directly to their own communities. Tampa is where you can see CPTED, study CPTED, and practice CPTED—all in one place.

Closing: Plan Ahead

Tampa, Florida, is where CPTED happens. From policy and policing to education and immersive training, this city demonstrates what it looks like to live CPTED every day.

We invite you to join us in Tampa:
– Register for Basic CPTED, February 23–27, 2026
– Apply for the exclusive 2.5-Day Workshop, April 2026
– Explore other NICP training opportunities in 2025 or online CPD renewal options

Plan ahead, secure your seat, and experience CPTED where it happens.