Cape San Blas, Florida Real Estate
Cape San Blas is the elbow of the St. Joseph Peninsula, a thin ribbon of sand that curves out from the mainland south of Port St. Joe. The Gulf of Mexico is on one side and St. Joseph Bay is on the other, so many homes here have water close by in two directions. Most of the cape is unincorporated Gulf County, and mailing addresses use Port St. Joe and the 32456 ZIP code.
At the northern tip of the peninsula is T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. The park covers more than 2,700 acres, including a wilderness preserve of about 1,700 acres, with tall dunes, miles of beach and bay shoreline, cabins, a campground and hiking trails. In 2002, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, known as "Dr. Beach," ranked the park's beach first on his annual list of U.S. beaches.
Closer to the main road, Salinas Park offers bayside and Gulfside access with boardwalks and picnic areas. Gulf County allows beach driving on parts of the cape with a county beach driving permit, sold by the Gulf County Tax Collector, and only through designated access points. Bring a paddleboard or kayak and the calm waters of St. Joseph Bay are a short walk or drive from most homes.
The Cape San Blas Lighthouse stood on the cape for more than a century until 2014, when it was moved to George Core Park in Port St. Joe because of beach erosion. Erosion is still part of life on the cape, and Gulf County has worked on beach restoration projects over the years.
Cape San Blas is on Eastern Time and is about a 20 minute drive from downtown Port St. Joe, where you will find groceries, restaurants, the hospital and our office.
Buying real estate on Cape San Blas
Most properties are single-family beach homes built on pilings, along with some townhomes, condos and vacant lots, on the Gulf, on the bay or in between. Much of the cape lies in high-risk flood zones. Parts of Cape San Blas are also in the federal Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), where National Flood Insurance Program coverage is generally not available for buildings built after the area's prohibition date, so private flood insurance may be the main option. You can check any address with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CBRS Mapper, and we recommend getting insurance quotes before you make an offer. Many cape homes are used as vacation rentals. Gulf County requires a short-term rental business license, and income varies and is not guaranteed.
See what's available: Browse Cape San Blas listings at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Cape-San-Blas/ or check home values at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Cape-San-Blas/home-values/. Call Selling the Coast Real Estate at (850) 201-6154.
FAQs
Is Cape San Blas part of Port St. Joe? Cape San Blas is in unincorporated Gulf County, outside the Port St. Joe city limits, but it uses Port St. Joe mailing addresses and the 32456 ZIP code.
Can I get flood insurance on Cape San Blas? Yes, but the type of coverage depends on the property. Parts of the cape are in the Coastal Barrier Resources System, where federal NFIP flood insurance is generally limited to buildings built before the area's prohibition date. Private flood policies are often used. Talk with a licensed insurance agent about any specific property.
Can you drive on the beach at Cape San Blas? In designated areas, yes, with a Gulf County beach driving permit from the Gulf County Tax Collector. Rules and access points can change, so check with the county first.
Where is the Cape San Blas Lighthouse now? It was moved in 2014 to George Core Park in Port St. Joe, about 12 miles away, where it is open to visitors.
Selling the Coast Real Estate | 402 Reid Ave, Suite A, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 | Office (850) 201-6154 | Carla Ashabranner, Broker, (850) 730-3278