The city's seawall templates
In 2026 St. Pete Beach announced a seawall guide with three template designs for raising walls to 5 ft NAVD.
- Fewer permits: the designs are meant to let homeowners do it with one permit instead of four.
- Less engineering: they're reference designs, which can cut engineering costs.
- Who made them: the city, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and an environmental restoration group, funded by a grant.
- Listed contractors: contractors who agree to build the permitted designs are to be listed alongside the guide.
Why 5 ft
According to the city, most seawalls in the area sit at about 3.8–4 ft. It warns that without raising them to 5 ft, king tides alone will reach the streets. The city says a 5 ft wall should protect nearby roads and utilities through at least 2050. It won't hold back a storm like Hurricane Helene, but it helps with everyday high tides and smaller storms.
Raising is voluntary as far as we could find. But if you're replacing or rebuilding a wall anyway, building to 5 ft now usually costs far less than raising it later.
Permits
Beyond the city's own process, work in the water in Pinellas goes through the county's Water and Navigation review. See Pinellas permits. Ask your contractor whether your project fits one of the city's templates.
Docks and lifts
Helene's surge in 2024 damaged docks and lifts across the barrier islands. Salt water can ruin lift motors and switches even when they look fine. See boat lift repair and dock repair.
Getting a quote
Use the form below. We'll pass your request to one licensed, insured contractor who works in St. Pete Beach. Free for homeowners, with no obligation.
Source: Tampa Bay Beacons, June 2026.
This page summarizes published rules and prices for general information. It isn't engineering or legal advice, and codes change. Your contractor, engineer and building department have the final word for your property.
Common questions
Does St. Pete Beach require seawalls to be 5 ft?
Not as far as we could find. The city recommends raising seawalls to 5 ft NAVD, and in 2026 it published template designs to make that easier and cheaper, with one permit instead of four.