A short history of Shore Acres
Shore Acres sits on converted wetlands between Smacks Bayou and Bayou Grande near the mouth of Old Tampa Bay. The land was created with fill from dredging for the Gandy Bridge, and the first homes were sold in the mid-1920s.
It's often called St. Petersburg's lowest-lying neighborhood, and streets flood on sunny high tides. Residents estimated about 45 percent of homes flooded in Idalia in 2023 and 85 to 90 percent in Helene in 2024.
Waterfront homes in Shore Acres
Homes sit close to sea level on filled land, many on canals off the bayous. After Helene, some owners are elevating, rebuilding or selling, and each of those choices involves the seawall.
Get matched with an independent, licensed contractor who works this shoreline.
Free EstimateMost-requested seawall work in Shore Acres
- Seawall Height Raise
Repeated tidal and surge flooding drives interest in taller walls.
- Seawall Replacement
Walls in the neighborhood took the brunt of Helene.
- Seawall Crack & Joint Repair
Low lots lose fill quickly through leaking joints.
A wall alone won't keep water out
Water in Shore Acres also comes up through storm drains and streets, not just over walls. A taller wall helps most as part of neighborhood-wide work, so ask the contractor how your project fits with your neighbors' walls.
Getting a Shore Acres seawall job approved
Pinellas County Water and Navigation is the permitting office for seawall work countywide, cities included, and reviews environmental and navigation impacts.
Shore Acres is part of the City of St. Petersburg, so landside building permits for work on your lot go through the City of St. Petersburg Building & Permitting at One 4th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 893-7231.
- 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 St. Petersburg Building & Permitting, One 4th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (727) 893-7231
- Check your parcel
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser
Sources: Pinellas County Docks / Dredge & Fill and Building Departments in Pinellas County, checked October 2026.
Prepare for your Shore Acres estimate
- Get your cap measured against neighbors' caps
- If elevating your home, coordinate the wall and the yard grade
- Write down when you first noticed the problem and whether it changed after high tides
- Note any dock, lift or pool within ten feet of the wall
Have photos of the damage? Mention them when you request your estimate.
Free EstimateWhat seawall work costs in Shore Acres
Here's how published price ranges line up; your contractor's estimate is what counts. Height raises and replacements dominate here, so expect engineering and permitting to be a bigger part of the price than on simple repairs.
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.
Shore Acres seawall questions
Is Shore Acres in the City of St. Petersburg?
Yes. The city's building office handles building permits and the County's Water and Navigation section permits seawalls.
How bad was flooding in Helene?
Residents estimated 85 to 90 percent of homes flooded, according to the St. Pete Catalyst.
Will a taller wall stop my yard flooding?
It can reduce water coming over your wall, but water can still come up through storm drains and streets. It works best alongside neighbors.
Other areas close to Shore Acres
- St. PetersburgTampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and dozens of bayous
- Snell IsleCoffee Pot Bayou and Tampa Bay