Overview
Ken Tinkler is a government law specialist who focuses on resolving disputes with and among government agencies involving land use regulation, environmental permitting, ethics regulation, and election law. He represents individuals and corporations petitioning federal, state, and local government agencies; financial institutions and homebuilders determining project viability; and state, county government, and constitutional officers regarding complex and politically sensitive matters. Ken is board certified in city, county, and local government law by the Florida Bar.
Ken has helped clients navigate a broad range of government law matters, including zoning, future land use plans, governmental closure orders, ad valorem tax assessments, property tax appeals, code enforcement, variances, annexations, alcohol beverage licensing, tax incentives, license acquisition and transfer, and economic development. He has handled many large-scale land use due diligence projects for complex real estate transactions collectively worth billions of dollars on behalf of purchasers, investors, and lenders.
Ken routinely handles public hearings and government agency meetings for clients. He also advises on parliamentary procedure questions, Florida's Sunshine Law and public records regulation, and Florida Constitution and home rule issues related to city and county charters, along with assisting local governments with implementing new legislation and ordinance drafting.
Ken also helps clients solve issues involving federal, state, regional, and local environmental regulators, including energy facility siting, submerged lands leases, and redevelopment of brownfields.
His election law experience includes representing state and local government officials handling election procedures and Federal Voting Rights Act requirements, and advising clients on campaign finance reporting and qualifying for election. He regularly advises clients on lobbying regulations and other ethics-related legal requirements facing their operations.
Ken serves as advisory counsel to the City of Tampa Charter Review Commission. Earlier in his career, he served as a senior assistant county attorney in the Hillsborough County Attorney's Office.
Experience
Financial Institution Representation
Represents multinational financial institutions in regard to land use analysis and diligence for complex real estate project acquisition and construction loans.
Routinely works with financial institutions in regard to the land use and local government approvals for their real estate holdings and the potential for valuation improvements.
Provides advice on local government law requirements for project implementation, along with risk analysis concerning project viability.
Homebuilder Representation
Represents numerous national homebuilding clients in regard to land use approvals and local regulations.
Provides statewide counsel on diligence issues and navigating the complex issues related to infill developments and redevelopments.
Handled the large-scale licensing transfers and land use issues caused by the acquisition of a national homebuilder by another.
Land Use
Represents clients throughout the state dealing with complex zoning, comprehensive plan, and redevelopment matters.
Routinely provides land use counsel related to large-scale development projects throughout Florida for due diligence purposes and feasibility investigations.
Assists clients with variances, special approvals, administrative determinations, property tax appeals, code enforcement, annexations, and other local approvals.
Handles issues for clients related to alcohol beverage licensing involving state and local approvals throughout Florida.
Analyzes the potential for use of tax incentives and other economic development measures to support project viability and assist clients with multifaceted application processes.
Advises clients on land use regulations related to their property and options available for their project plans.
Environmental Permitting
Obtains approval of brownfield site designations throughout the state from local and state government officials.
Resolves clients' issues involving submerged lands leases, water management district, and environmental resource permit approvals.
Assisted client in determining viability of large energy pipeline installation, including coordination of the federal, state, and local agencies involved.
Obtained long-term environmental approvals for client from federal and state officials for a major Central Florida tourist institution, allowing project expansion plans for the next several decades to move forward.
Other Permitting and Representation
Represented major wireless provider in code enforcement dispute over tower design and configuration.
Represented national nonprofit in code enforcement dispute over permitted child welfare operations.
Guided client through new business startup issues connected with the state health department.
Long-term representation of clients serving as government contractors and public-private partnerships taking on government roles.
Election Law
Represents Florida political committees involved with local issue and referendum campaigns and state political races.
Represented state officials regarding matters involving election procedures and processes during a presidential election year.
Represented candidates running for statewide office.
Represented a Florida local government dealing with Department of Justice Voting Rights Act preclearance and election law issues and obtained the needed approval in a timely manner, saving the local government the expense of a special election.
Represented a Florida supervisor of elections during multiple presidential election years, including handling various legal disputes over voting procedures and ballot eligibility.
Advises clients on Florida and federal campaign finance regulations and ways to incorporate the regulations into corporate procedures and employee manuals.
Assists clients with issues related to candidate appearances and campaign finance regulation.
Assists clients with understanding Florida's election and referendum process and regulatory environment.
Ethics Regulations
Guided former county official through defense of ethics complaint and criminal investigation, along with related contract and severance dispute.
Advises clients on state and local ethics and lobbying requirements applicable to their operations, including clients in the energy, nonprofit, real estate development, and construction sectors.
Provides guidance and training to individuals subject to Florida's ethics and lobbying regulations.
Sunshine Law and Public Records
Assists private entity clients with resolving the impact of Florida's Sunshine and public records laws on their operations, due to their government contracts and agreements.
Resolved investigation of local civic group's public responsibilities under Florida's Sunshine and public records laws.
Other Local Government Projects
Represented Florida city dealing with litigation over constitutional challenge to their local zoning and business regulation process.
Assisted clients with preparation of proposed state legislation.
Advised clients on implementing ordinance updates required throughout the state due to legislative changes.
Represented multiple charter review boards, including drafting of ballot language and city and county charter provisions.
Drafted local ordinance and resolution provisions to assist local governments with implementing new hearing processes and procedures authorized by general law.
Represents Florida special district, including refinancing its debt to reduce interest payments and allow for new recreation facility construction.
Additional Matters
Served in multiple cities and counties as a land use and environmental dispute resolution special magistrate pursuant to Florida Statutes section 70.51.
Facilitated local government meetings and workshops providing elected officials with methods designed to help with major policy decisions involving multiple stakeholders.
Pro Bono
Served as legal counsel to Friends of Carrollwood Cultural Center Inc. for issues related to the nonprofit's public/private partnership, Florida Sunshine Law, and public records obligations tied to its operation of the Carrollwood Cultural Center in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Served as conflict counsel for charter review boards, including the Hillsborough County Charter Review Board. The Charter Review Board for Hillsborough County, Florida, consists of 14 citizens, appointed every five years per a mandate in the Hillsborough County Charter, to conduct a comprehensive study of any or all phases of county government. The board holds two public hearings for any proposed amendments to the charter. Proposed amendments to the charter must be approved by two-thirds of the Charter Review Board members, and then voted on in a public referendum.
Assists Girl Scouts of West Central Florida with land use and government regulatory questions related to the organization's operations, and the improvement of camp locations throughout West Central Florida.
Represented Waterfront Parks Foundation in matters related to the improvement and long-term viability of the parks of St. Petersburg, Florida.
News & Insights
News
Publications
Speaking Engagements
"Turning Transit Challenges Into Opportunities: Advancing Tampa Bay's Infrastructure Through Public-Private Partnerships," Carlton Fields Community and Development Series (November 18, 2025)
"Technology Tips for the Local Law Practitioner," The Florida Bar (December 2024)
"Ethical Considerations: Practical Tips for the Land Use Law Practitioner," CLE International (August 2024)
"The Heartbeat of Innovation: Tampa's Medical District Initiative," Carlton Fields Community and Development Series (June 4, 2024)
"Florida Election Law Update 2024: Beware the Robot Overlords," 47th Annual Local Government Law in Florida Conference, The Florida Bar, Palm Coast, FL (April 26, 2024)
"Ethical Considerations: Practical Tips for the Land Use Law Practitioner," CLE International (August 2023)
"Florida Election Law Update (or How to Speak the Florida Dialect of Election-ese)," 46th Annual Local Government Law in Florida Conference, The Florida Bar, Palm Coast, FL (April 28, 2023)
"Ethical Considerations: Practical Tips for the Land Use Law Practitioner," CLE International (August 23, 2019)
"Local Government Law," CLE International, Tampa, FL (March 3, 2017)
"How the 'Sharing Economy' and Automation Will Change Our Real Estate World," 28th Annual Spring Symposia, American Bar Association Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section, Boston, MA (May 13, 2016)
"Commercial Real Estate: Zoning and Land Use," Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate Webinar Series, American Bar Association Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section (May 27, 2015)
"Voter ID and Election Law: The Electoral Landscape in 2012," Fall Regional Circuit Meeting, American Bar Association Law Student Division, Tampa, FL (September 29, 2012)
"Florida Election Law Update," Plant City Bar Association, Plant City, FL (September 14, 2012)
"Swamps & Sinkholes: An Ethics Update for Land Use and Environmental Lawyers," Environmental and Land Use Law Section Annual Conference, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (August 9–11, 2012)
"May You Live in Interesting Times: Florida Land Use in 2012," Plant City Bar Association, Plant City, FL (June 8, 2012)
"Funding and Legal Framework for Florida's Transportation Future," American Planning Association Florida Chapter Annual Conference, Tampa, FL (September 15, 2010)
"Amendment 4 and Florida Election Law," The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section Annual Update, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (August 13, 2010)
"Due Diligence Investigations," Real Estate Team Seminar, Florida Legal Education Association, Tampa, FL (April 16, 2010)
"Planning, Transit and Voting: Comprehensive Plans, Transit Oriented Development and Amendment 4," Pinellas County Economic Development Council Quarterly Meeting (January 21, 2010)
"Making Brownfields Work on RCRA Permitted Sites," 12th Annual Florida Brownfields Conference and Exhibition, Tampa, FL (November 1–4, 2009)
"Land Use Planning for Renewable Energy Generation: Integration into Development Projects," The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section Annual Update, Amelia Island, FL (August 20–22, 2009)
"Green Buildings, Not-So-Green Buildings, and Chinese Drywall," Hot Topics in Environmental Law, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (August 1, 2009)
"LULUs (Locally Unwanted Land Uses): A Panel Discussion," American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (July 31, 2009)
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Multimedia
Recognition
Honors & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America (2023–2025, 2027)
Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, National Eagle Scout Association (2024)
Lifetime Achievement Award, The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (2022)
Paul S. Buchman Public Service Award, The Florida Bar City, County, and Local Government Law Section (2014)
Judy Florence Memorial Outstanding Service Award, The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (2013)
Chair Service Award, The Florida Bar City, County, and Local Government Law Section (2006)
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.
Professional & Community Involvement
Professional & Community Involvement
Ken's involvement includes leadership roles in national bar organizations. He serves on the council of the American Bar Association's Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section, where he is liaison to the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources and co-chairs the Task Force on Public Service and Education. He previously chaired the section's Land Use and Environmental Group. Ken is a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation and co-chairs its Fellows Florida chapter.
Ken remains on the executive council of the Florida Bar's City, County, and Local Government Law Section and is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Florida Association of Parliamentarians. He is a past chair of the section and also chaired the bar's City, County, and Local Government Law Certification Committee.
In the community, Ken is legal counsel and a past president of the Westshore Alliance, which represents Tampa's Westshore business district, and serves on its board. He is a graduate of Leadership Westshore and Tampa Connection. He chairs the Innovation for our 2nd Century program of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, and previously served on its national board.
Beyond the Bio
Ken is an Eagle Scout and still volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America. He mentors college students across the country on community service and leadership, teaches civics to middle school students, and received the National Eagle Scout Association's Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
Related Capabilities
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Certifications
City, County, and Local Government Law
Education
J.D., University of Florida College of Law
B.A., cum laude, Boston University
