A short history of Snell Isle
Snell Isle is named for C. Perry Snell, a Kentucky druggist who moved to St. Petersburg in 1900. The neighborhood opened in October 1925 on a muddy mangrove island where only 39 of its 275 acres were above high tide, and Snell sold more than $7 million in lots quickly.
Snell also built the St. Petersburg Woman's Club on Coffee Pot Bayou. Today the neighborhood is one of the city's best-known waterfront areas, with homes facing the bayou and Tampa Bay.
Snell Isle's waterfront and its walls
Because most of the island was built up from low land, its walls hold back fill on lots that sit close to sea level. Homes range from 1920s originals to large rebuilds, and walls vary just as much.
Get matched with an independent, licensed contractor who works this shoreline.
Free EstimateCommon seawall jobs in Snell Isle
- Seawall Height Raise
Low-lying fill lots are where owners ask about adding height.
- Seawall Crack & Joint Repair
Older walls on filled land lose material through joints.
- Seawall Inspections
High-value sales here usually involve a seawall report.
Older lots, older walls
Some walls on Snell Isle date from early phases of the neighborhood and may have been repaired many times. A contractor who documents past repairs can help you decide whether another repair or a replacement makes more sense.
Permits for a Snell Isle seawall
In Pinellas, seawall permits come from Pinellas County Water and Navigation, the County office that covers waterfront structures in the cities as well as unincorporated areas.
Snell Isle 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 Snell Isle estimate
- Ask for past permits on the wall from the Pinellas County Access Portal
- On a rebuild, ask whether the wall should be replaced before new construction
- Look for rust stains or loose concrete along the cap
- Note whether water has topped the wall during king tides
We'll pass your details to one licensed local contractor, not a call list.
Free EstimateBudgeting for a Snell Isle seawall
Use these published ranges as a starting point, not a quote. On high-value lots, owners often weigh a one-time replacement against repeated repairs; ask for both priced side by side.
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.
Snell Isle seawall questions
Is Snell Isle its own city?
No. It's a neighborhood in St. Petersburg, so the city's building office and the County's Water and Navigation section apply.
How low is Snell Isle?
When it opened in 1925, only 39 of 275 acres were above high tide; the rest was built up.
Can I find old seawall permits?
Yes. Past Water and Navigation permits can be searched in the Pinellas County Access Portal.
Neighboring communities
- South PasadenaBoca Ciega Bay, Bear Creek and Pasadena Isle
- St. PetersburgTampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and dozens of bayous
- Shore AcresSmacks Bayou, Bayou Grande and Old Tampa Bay