A short history of Gulfport
Gulfport went through several names: Barnett's Bluff in 1868, Bonifacio, Disston City after Hamilton Disston's 1884 port plan, and Veteran City in 1905. It incorporated in October 1910, at the Gulf Casino on the electric railway's dock. The 2020 census counted about 11,800 residents.
The city's police marine unit patrols about five miles of Boca Ciega Bay coastline. The Gulfport Casino ballroom from 1930, Williams Pier and the city marina next to Clam Bayou Nature Park all sit along the water.
Gulfport's waterfront and its walls
Gulfport has some of the older bayfront housing in south Pinellas, close to the water and low. Owners deal with both aging caps and streets that flood on high tides.
Get matched with an independent, licensed contractor who works this shoreline.
Free EstimateSeawall services that fit Gulfport
- Seawall Cap Repair
Older bayfront caps show spalling from decades of salt exposure.
- Seawall Height Raise
Low bayfront streets have owners asking about raising walls.
- Seawall Crack & Joint Repair
Joint leaks show up in yards along Clam Bayou and the bay.
Low streets, low walls
If your wall sits lower than your neighbors', water can find its way through your lot. Ask the contractor to shoot your cap elevation and your neighbors' so you know where you stand before choosing repair or a height raise.
Permits for a Gulfport seawall
Pinellas County Water and Navigation is the permitting office for seawall work countywide, cities included, and reviews environmental and navigation impacts.
Inside Gulfport city limits, landside building permits go through the City of Gulfport Community Development at 5330 23rd Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33707, (727) 893-1024. For an unincorporated parcel with a Gulfport mailing address, Pinellas County Building Services handles that part instead.
- Seawall permit
- Pinellas County Water and Navigation section (Public Works), 22211 U.S. Highway 19 N., Clearwater, FL 33765, (727) 464-4170
- Building permits
- City of Gulfport Community Development, 5330 23rd Ave S, Gulfport, FL 33707, (727) 893-1024
- Check your parcel
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser
Sources: Pinellas County Docks / Dredge & Fill and Building Departments in Pinellas County, checked October 2026.
A quick Gulfport checklist
- Get your cap elevation measured against neighbors' caps
- Ask how yard drainage will work if the wall is raised
- Take photos at low tide of the cap, joints and any holes in the yard
- Measure your wall length roughly, from one neighbor's wall to the other
Ready to compare a repair and a replacement price? Start with a free estimate.
Free EstimateBudgeting for a Gulfport seawall
Use these published ranges as a starting point, not a quote. A cap extension on a sound wall is usually far less than a taller replacement wall, so it's worth having the wall's condition checked before deciding.
Reference figures, not quotes. Angi, seawall repair cost (2026 data): about $100–$250 per linear foot for repairs. LatestCost, Florida seawall replacement (2026): about $500–$1,200 per linear foot. HomeAdvisor, sea wall cost: average $25,000, typical $15,000–$60,000. Checked October 2026.
Gulfport seawall questions
Who issues building permits in Gulfport?
The City of Gulfport Community Development office at 5330 23rd Ave S, (727) 893-1024. Seawalls go through the County's Water and Navigation section.
Was Gulfport ever called Disston City?
Yes, after financier Hamilton Disston's 1880s plan for a port town.
Does Gulfport's marina affect my wall?
Only if you're nearby. Marina traffic adds wake on some stretches of the bay.
Also serving near Gulfport
- St. Pete BeachBoca Ciega Bay and Long Key canals
- Tierra VerdeThe canals between its six sections and the mouth of Tampa Bay
- South PasadenaBoca Ciega Bay, Bear Creek and Pasadena Isle
- St. PetersburgTampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and dozens of bayous