Port St. Joe, Florida Real Estate
Port St. Joe is the county seat of Gulf County and the home base of Selling the Coast Real Estate. The city sits on the eastern shore of St. Joseph Bay, a body of water sheltered from the Gulf by the St. Joseph Peninsula. That setting shapes daily life here. Boats head out from the Port St. Joe Marina, paddlers and anglers work the grass flats of the bay, and the sun sets over the water on the city's west side.
The town has deep roots. In 1838, delegates met in the old town of St. Joseph to draft Florida's first constitution, and Constitution Convention Museum State Park tells that story today. The modern city grew around the St. Joe paper mill, which opened in 1938 and closed in 1999. Since then, Port St. Joe has turned more toward its waterfront, its downtown and visitors drawn to the beaches nearby.
Reid Avenue is the heart of downtown, with locally owned shops, restaurants, galleries and offices, including ours at 402 Reid Ave. A few blocks away, George Core Park is home to the Cape San Blas Lighthouse, which was moved from the cape to the bayfront in 2014 along with its two keepers' houses and oil house. The lighthouse is open to visitors on a regular schedule.
St. Joseph Bay is also known for bay scallops. In a typical year, the Gulf County scalloping season runs from mid-August to late September, with dates set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC closed the 2026 season in the Gulf County zone after a survey found very low scallop numbers, so always check the current rules before you go.
From downtown, it is a short drive to Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, WindMark Beach and St. Joe Beach, about 25 minutes to Mexico Beach and about 30 minutes to Apalachicola. Port St. Joe is on Eastern Time.
Buying real estate in Port St. Joe
Port St. Joe offers older homes in established in-town streets, bayfront and bay view homes, newer construction, townhomes, vacant lots and some commercial property downtown. Flood zones vary block by block, so a property's flood zone and elevation certificate are worth reviewing early, along with insurance quotes from a licensed agent. If you plan to rent a home short term, Gulf County requires a short-term rental business license and tourist development tax registration, and the state requires a vacation rental license in many cases. Rental demand and income vary and are not guaranteed.
See what's available: Browse current Port St. Joe homes, lots and condos at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Port-St.-Joe/ or check what your home may be worth at sellingthecoastfl.com/listings/city/Port-St.-Joe/home-values/. Call Selling the Coast Real Estate at (850) 201-6154 or stop by our office on Reid Avenue.
FAQs
What county is Port St. Joe in? Port St. Joe is in Gulf County and is the county seat.
Is Port St. Joe on Eastern or Central Time? Port St. Joe is on Eastern Time. Parts of northern Gulf County, including Wewahitchka, are on Central Time.
Can you visit the Cape San Blas Lighthouse in Port St. Joe? Yes. Since 2014, the lighthouse has stood in George Core Park on the bayfront in Port St. Joe. Check the current hours before your visit.
When is scallop season in Port St. Joe? In a typical year, the Gulf County zone opens from mid-August to late September, but FWC sets the dates each year and closed the 2026 season. Check FWC's website for the current season.
Do I need a license to rent my Port St. Joe home to vacationers? In most cases, yes. Gulf County requires a short-term rental business license and tourist development tax registration, and the Florida DBPR requires a vacation rental license for many rentals. Check with the county and state for current requirements.
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