Custom Home Builders and Lots in Pass-a-Grille and St. Pete Beach
Updated October 2026.
More new homes are going up in St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille now than at any time in the last decade. Many owners whose homes flooded in Hurricanes Helene and Milton are rebuilding, builders are buying teardowns, and buyers are looking for lots. This guide covers who is building here, from the city’s own permit records, what a new beach home costs, the rules that shape it, and what to check before you buy a lot.
New home permits in St. Pete Beach, by year
Applications for new single-family homes in the City of St. Pete Beach, which includes Pass-a-Grille:
| Year | New home permit applications |
|---|---|
| 2019 (from April) | 11 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 54 |
| 2026 (through October 19) | 61 |
That is roughly three times the pre-storm pace. Roughly a fifth of the 2025 and 2026 applications are in Pass-a-Grille and the streets just north of it.
Who is building new homes here
The 115 active new-home applications filed in 2025 and 2026 list 73 different general contractors, and 47 of them have just one. Seven were filed by owner-builders. The contractors with three or more:
| General contractor on the permit | New home applications, 2025 to 2026 |
|---|---|
| Winway Homes | 5 |
| Peregrine Construction | 4 |
| Waterstone City Homes | 4 |
| Angelides Builders | 3 |
| DHM Construction Services | 3 |
| Lubke Construction | 3 |
| Saxon Metals | 3 |
This is a count from public permit records, not a recommendation. Check any builder’s license at myfloridalicense.com, and look up their recent jobs on the city’s permit portal before you sign.
How to choose a builder for a beach lot
- Flood zone experience. Ask for homes they have finished in VE and AE zones on the barrier islands, and whether they have built on pilings.
- Recent permits here. A builder who has worked with the St. Pete Beach building department recently knows its reviews and inspectors.
- The elevation certificate. Ask who orders the survey and the final elevation certificate; your flood insurance is rated from it.
- Price structure. Compare fixed-price contracts with cost-plus or time-and-materials, and read the allowances for windows, finishes and the pool.
- Timeline and draws. Get the build schedule and the bank draw schedule in writing.
- References on the island. Talk to two owners whose homes have been through a storm season.
What a new beach home costs in 2026
- Custom home in a flood zone: about $400 to $500 per square foot for construction.
- High-end waterfront: about $500 to $1,000 or more per square foot.
- Pilings: add about $50,000 to $100,000 where a VE zone or soil conditions require them.
- Impact windows and doors: about $1,200 to $2,500 per opening installed.
- All-in budget: add about 25% to 35% to construction for design, engineering, permits, impact fees, contingency and loan interest. Land is separate.
- Time: about 9 to 15 months from decision to move-in for a teardown and rebuild.
These ranges come from a Tampa Bay builder’s published 2026 cost guide and are starting points, not quotes.
Rules that shape a new beach home
- Height off the ground. Under the Florida Building Code, the lowest floor of a new home in an AE zone must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. In a VE zone, the bottom of the lowest floor framing must be at least 1 foot above it, on pilings or columns. Your survey and the FEMA flood map set the base flood elevation for your lot.
- The ground floor. Space below the elevated floor is for parking, building access and storage. St. Pete Beach limits the enclosed access area below the elevated floor to 299 square feet (Code of Ordinances section 98-33).
- Height limit in Pass-a-Grille. On October 13, 2026, the city commission adopted Resolution 2026-35, which limits new Pass-a-Grille homes to 28 feet above the design flood elevation, with an overall limit of 32 feet. The extra 4 feet can hold certain mechanical or architectural features, but not rooftop space for people to use.
- Pass-a-Grille design. Pass-a-Grille has an overlay district with design requirements, and the city is preparing a design guidebook with related code changes. Historic homes may qualify for different flood rules if the work keeps their historic designation; ask the city’s zoning office.
- Permits. New homes are permitted by the City of St. Pete Beach Building Department, 727-367-2735.
Lots and teardowns for sale now
See all St. Pete Beach lots and land for sale
Before you buy a lot or a teardown
- Flood zone and base flood elevation. They set how high the home sits, the foundation type and part of the insurance cost.
- Survey and lot size. Setbacks and lot coverage decide the footprint you can build.
- Seawall. On the water, check its condition and height before you buy; replacement is a major cost. See our seawall and dock guide.
- Existing house. Budget for demolition, utility disconnects and any substantial damage determination already on file.
- Deed restrictions and zoning. Some neighborhoods have their own restrictions on top of city zoning.
- Comparable lot sales. Teardown prices track land value, not the house. We pull recent lot and teardown sales on your street.
Selling a lot or a teardown
With new-home permits at three times their old pace, builders and lot buyers are active on the island. If your home was substantially damaged, or you would rather sell than rebuild, see your options and the numbers, then ask us for a valuation based on lot and teardown sales.
How we help
Team BeachSide is John and Nicole, licensed Florida Realtors with LoKation Real Estate, based in St. Pete Beach. John spent nearly five years marketing for a home builder, so we can help you size up a lot, compare builder bids and plan a budget before you commit. Call or text (727) 955-1222.
Sources: City of St. Pete Beach permit records (public permit portal, type of work “Single Family Dwelling,” checked October 19, 2026; void, withdrawn, cancelled and abandoned applications excluded); City of St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances, section 98-33; The Gabber, “St. Pete Beach Clarifies Pass-a-Grille Home Height Limits” (October 2026); TBN Weekly, “Design guide aims to preserve Pass-a-Grille character”; City of St. Pete Beach, Substantial Improvement/Substantial Damage packet (February 10, 2026); Revolution Florida, “Custom Home Cost in St. Pete” (updated April 29, 2026, contractor estimates); Florida Building Code, Residential, section R322. General information, not engineering or legal advice.
How many new homes are being built in St. Pete Beach?
The city received 54 applications for new single-family homes in 2025 and 61 in 2026 through October 19, compared with 9 to 19 a year from 2019 through 2024, according to its permit records.
Who builds custom homes in Pass-a-Grille and St. Pete Beach?
More than 70 general contractors filed new-home permits in St. Pete Beach in 2025 and 2026. The most frequent were Winway Homes, Peregrine Construction, Waterstone City Homes, Angelides Builders, DHM Construction Services, Lubke Construction and Saxon Metals. That is a count from public records, not a recommendation.
How tall can a new home be in Pass-a-Grille?
Resolution 2026-35, adopted October 13, 2026, limits new Pass-a-Grille homes to 28 feet above the design flood elevation, with an overall limit of 32 feet for certain mechanical or architectural features.
How high off the ground does a new beach home have to be?
In an AE flood zone, the lowest floor must be at least 1 foot above the base flood elevation. In a VE zone, the bottom of the lowest floor framing must be at least 1 foot above it, on pilings or columns. On the beaches that often puts living space 6 to 8 feet or more above the ground.
What does it cost to build a new home on St. Pete Beach?
A Tampa Bay builder’s 2026 guide puts a custom home in a flood zone at about $400 to $500 per square foot for construction, and high-end waterfront homes at $500 to $1,000 or more, before land, design, permits and carrying costs.
