Snell Isle, St. Petersburg: Neighborhood Guide

Updated October 2026.

Snell Isle is a waterfront neighborhood in Northeast St. Petersburg, inside the City of St. Petersburg. It is known for homes on Coffee Pot Bayou and open water with access to Tampa Bay, a private golf club at its center, and a 1920s plan by developer C. Perry Snell. This guide covers the setting, waterfront and boating, flood and elevation, the city’s storm repair rule and rental rules.

We are John and Nicole Kavaliauskas, licensed Florida Realtors with LoKation Real Estate. We live on the Pinellas Gulf beaches and help buyers and sellers of waterfront homes across Pinellas County.

Where Snell Isle is and how it began

Public reference sources describe Snell Isle as a St. Petersburg neighborhood centered on Snell Isle Boulevard, developed by C. Perry Snell. They report that when the development officially opened in October 1925, only 39 of its 275 acres were above the high tide line. A local history in The Gabber places Snell Isle across Coffee Pot Bayou from the mainland North Shore area and notes it was first reached by a wooden bridge in 1919.

The Northeast Journal reports that the Venetian-style bridge connecting Old Northeast to Snell Isle opened on Christmas Day 1931 with a drawbridge, and that when it was rebuilt in 1996 the lift mechanism was removed and the span became permanent. It also calls the bridge the only multi-modal exit during hurricane evacuations. Buyers with tall boats should note the fixed span when planning a route.

The Vinoy Golf Club area

The Florida Historic Golf Trail lists the Vinoy Golf Club at 600 Snell Isle Boulevard NE. It says play is limited to members and registered guests of the Vinoy hotel, and that the 18-hole course dates to the 1920s, with a 1992 redesign. Sources differ on the course history: the trail page says it opened in 1920 as the Coffee Pot Golf Club and was renamed Snell Island Golf Course in 1926, while The Gabber says it became Sunset Golf and Country Club and was renamed the Vinoy Golf Club in 1993. Homes near the course offer fairway views rather than water, which appeals to a different buyer.

Homes and waterfront

Neighborhood guides on Homes.com describe a mix of midcentury ranch homes, Mediterranean-style homes and contemporary builds, plus condos, with Snell Isle bordering Coffee Pot Bayou and Smacks Bayou and many homes having docks and lifts with access to Tampa Bay. The Gabber notes the Snell family residence, built in 1928, was Mediterranean Revival. Water type, depth at the dock and the route to open bay vary from street to street, so each home needs its own review. Our waterfront homes guide and seawall and dock inspection guide cover what to check.

Water Club Snell Isle is a separate Kolter condo project, a midrise waterfront community that Kolter lists on Snell Isle; it is not related to Water Club St. Pete Beach.

Flood zones and elevation

Much of Snell Isle was low land when it opened, as the 1925 figures above show, so elevation and flood zone matter for every purchase. Check a property on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. The National Weather Service Helene impact summary reports a St. Petersburg gauge reading of 6.31 feet above mean higher high water, a site record. The summary does not report readings for Snell Isle itself. Ask for an elevation certificate, flood insurance declarations and the storm history of any home you consider. See our flood zone and insurance guide.

St. Petersburg uses a 49% rule

The City of St. Petersburg’s storm permitting page applies a 49% threshold rather than 50%. It quotes the city ordinance: substantial damage is any combination of repair, reconstruction or other improvement where the cumulative cost equals or exceeds 49% of the pre-damaged market value. The city uses the Pinellas County Property Appraiser assessment of the structure, and owners who disagree may submit an independent appraisal by a state-licensed appraiser completed within the last 12 months. The city says unpermitted repairs result in a violation and put the community’s 25% flood insurance discount at risk. Our Snell Isle home value page explains what this means for price.

Rental rules

A City of St. Petersburg transient accommodation handout dated 2023 states that rentals shorter than 30 days may be rented a maximum of three times within any consecutive 365-day period, unless the property operates as a licensed hotel or motel or lies within an approved Resort Facilities Overlay. Buyers who need nightly rental income should look elsewhere or confirm current rules with the city. Compare towns in our Pinellas short-term rental guide.

Who Snell Isle suits

• Boaters who want a private dock with access to Tampa Bay, after checking depth and the fixed bridge.
• Buyers who want to be close to downtown St. Petersburg, which Kolter describes as minutes away, and a golf club in the neighborhood.
• Year-round and seasonal owners rather than short-term rental investors.

Prefer the Gulf side? Compare St. Pete Beach or Gulfport.

Next step

Selling? Start with our Snell Isle home value guide or request a free written valuation. Buying? Call or text (727) 955-1222 or send us a message.

This page provides general information only and is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Flood rules, substantial damage determinations, zoning, and rental regulations change and apply differently to each property. Verify details with the City of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, FEMA, your association, insurer, lender, or a licensed attorney before making decisions. John and Nicole Kavaliauskas are licensed Florida Realtors with LoKation Real Estate.