St. Pete Beach at a glance
St. Pete Beach covers all of Long Key. A 1957 referendum, passed by five votes, merged Pass-a-Grille, Don CeSar Place, Belle Vista and St. Petersburg Beach into one town, and voters shortened the name to St. Pete Beach in 1994. The 2020 census counted about 8,900 residents, with a median age over 60.
The Don CeSar, opened in 1928, anchors the south end near the Pass-a-Grille Historic District. The city's own Pass-a-Grille seawall and a beach wall needed costly emergency repairs after Helene's surge.
The shoreline in St. Pete Beach
Bayside neighborhoods and canals line the east side of Long Key, while Pass-a-Grille has some of the oldest waterfront on the island. Many homes are seasonal, so damage can go unnoticed for months.
Get matched with an independent, licensed contractor who works this shoreline.
Free EstimateWhat St. Pete Beach owners ask about most
- Seawall Inspections
Seasonal owners often need a condition report done while they're away.
- Leaning Seawall & Tieback Repair
Bayside walls hit by surge can show tieback damage.
- Seawall Height Raise
Owners rebuilding after 2024 are looking at taller walls.
If you're not here year-round
With a large share of homes used seasonally, walls can deteriorate for months unseen. A contractor can inspect and send photos so you can decide on repairs before you're back.
Who permits seawall work in St. Pete Beach
Seawalls, docks and riprap throughout Pinellas, inside cities and out, go through Pinellas County Water and Navigation for permits.
Inside St. Pete Beach city limits, landside building permits go through the City of St. Pete Beach Building & Permitting at 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706, (727) 367-2735. For an unincorporated parcel with a St. Pete Beach 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 St. Pete Beach Building & Permitting, 155 Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706, (727) 367-2735
- Check your parcel
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser
Sources: Pinellas County Docks / Dredge & Fill and Building Departments in Pinellas County, checked October 2026.
Before you call about a St. Pete Beach wall
- Ask for photo documentation if you're out of town
- Confirm who will meet the contractor for access
- 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
Not sure how serious it is? A contractor can tell you at a free visit.
Free EstimateBudgeting for a St. Pete Beach seawall
Prices depend on length, damage and access. Published ranges give you a baseline. Pass-a-Grille's older, smaller lots and the newer bayside canals can price very differently for similar-looking work.
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.
St. Pete Beach seawall questions
Who issues building permits in St. Pete Beach?
The City of St. Pete Beach Building & Permitting office, (727) 367-2735. Seawalls go through the County's Water and Navigation section.
Is St. Pete Beach part of St. Petersburg?
No. It's a separate city covering Long Key.
Did the city's own seawalls fail in Helene?
The city's Pass-a-Grille seawall and a beach wall needed emergency repairs after Helene's surge, according to Bay News 9.
Neighboring communities
- Madeira BeachBoca Ciega Bay and John's Pass
- Treasure IslandBoca Ciega Bay and the finger isles
- Tierra VerdeThe canals between its six sections and the mouth of Tampa Bay
- GulfportBoca Ciega Bay and Clam Bayou