The City of St. Pete Beach is a barrier island community located just off the Pinellas County mainland of Saint Petersburg, just south of Treasure Island, and 20 miles from Clearwater Beach. With miles of pristine, white sandy beaches, year-round sunshine, an abundance of recreational opportunities, restaurants, and shopping, St. Pete Beach is one of the most enjoyable places to live and vacation, in the world.
A 1928 landmark, the pink Moorish-style Don CeSar Hotel looms over the shore of St. Pete Beach. The Pass-A-Grille area offers galleries, shops and the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, which displays postcards and other artifacts in a 1917 church. Nearby, boats depart to Shell Key, a nesting site for seabirds and turtles. The city has a permanent population of about 10,000 residents, but is also a popular winter residence for people living in other parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe. Nearly 28 percent of the total residential homes and condominiums in St. Pete Beach are owned by people claiming primary residence elsewhere, reflecting a high volume of seasonal visitors.
The city’s sought after location that makes it popular for visitors both seasonal and year round also makes St. Pete vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding. The city actively offers flood safety information to property owners and participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Additionally, Pinellas County launched a comprehensive, countywide vulnerability analysis, which will conclude in 2020. Funded with grant money from the 2010 BP oil spill, the project is a partnership with Pinellas County municipalities and Forward Pinellas.
