Permits in St. Petersburg
Work in the water goes through Pinellas County's Water and Navigation review, which covers the cities as well as unincorporated areas. The City of St. Petersburg handles its own approvals and building permits. Your contractor should apply for both. See Pinellas permits.
The city's Seawall Master Plan
St. Petersburg is drawing up a Seawall Master Plan for its own walls, reported as close to 15 miles of city-owned seawall. Consultants are inspecting the walls, building a mapped inventory, assessing the risks from sea level rise and storm surge, and drawing up design options. Reports say some stretches could be raised to as much as six feet, with projects funded through the city's capital budget.
The plan covers city-owned walls. Private seawalls on homeowners' lots are the owner's responsibility. But the heights the city chooses are a useful benchmark when you rebuild yours.
Raising walls
We found no countywide minimum seawall height in Pinellas, but low-lying areas around the bay see more king-tide flooding. Neighboring St. Pete Beach recommends raising walls to 5 ft NAVD. If you're replacing or rebuilding most of a wall, ask your contractor to quote the existing and finished cap height in NAVD88, and whether the design allows raising later.
After Helene and Milton
The surge from Hurricane Helene in September 2024, followed by Milton, flooded parts of St. Petersburg near the water and damaged walls, docks and lifts. Walls patched in a hurry may need proper repair. See seawall repair in Pinellas and docks and boat lifts.
Getting a quote
Use the form below. We'll pass your request to one licensed, insured contractor who works in St. Petersburg. Free for homeowners, with no obligation.
Sources: St. Pete Catalyst and St. Pete Rising on the Seawall Master Plan. Tampa Bay Beacons on St. Pete Beach's seawall guide.
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
Is St. Pete Beach the same as St. Petersburg for permits?
No. St. Pete Beach is a separate city on the barrier island, with its own building department. In 2026 it published template designs for raising seawalls to 5 ft NAVD with one permit. St. Petersburg is a different city. Both use Pinellas County's Water and Navigation review for work in the water.