Custom home construction and renovation in St. Johns
Established in 1821 as one of Florida’s original two counties, St. Johns was once vast enough to encompass most of peninsular Florida, 39,000 square miles, anchored by St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States. That depth of history informs the identity of the county even as the modern community of St. Johns has become one of the fastest-growing and most sought-after addresses in Northeast Florida.
The appeal is straightforward: excellent schools consistently ranked among the best in Florida, proximity to Jacksonville without the density and new planned communities with strong infrastructure and design standards. The combination of Intracoastal waterway access, proximity to Ponte Vedra and the beaches and the open, well-planned character of newer communities here makes St. Johns a natural fit for new custom and semi-custom construction.
We build in St. Johns because our clients here are making serious, long-term decisions about where they want to live. They want a builder who treats a new home with the same level of intention they bring to choosing the location.
AREA CONSIDERATIONS
Planning to build, renovate or remodel a home in St. Johns County?
St. Johns falls under St. Johns County jurisdiction for permitting and building authority. The county has grown rapidly and many newer areas are governed by community development districts (CDDs) and homeowners associations with their own architectural review and design approval requirements.
We work regularly in planned communities throughout St. Johns County and are experienced navigating both county permitting and community-level review processes. Lot availability varies significantly across the area. We can help advise on parcel suitability for your intended build.
QUICK FACTS
- St. Johns County established 1821, one of Florida’s original two counties
- Home to St. Augustine. Founded in 1565, it’s the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States
- Consistently ranks among the highest-income counties and best school districts in Florida
- One of the fastest-growing communities in Northeast Florida over the past decade
- Active golf, outdoor recreation and a strong community amenities base throughout newer planned communities
- Home to TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS Championship
WHAT WE DO IN ST. JOHNS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Most of the St. Johns community falls within unincorporated St. Johns County, so permitting, plan review and inspections run through St. Johns County Building Services. Some developments within CDDs have additional review layers. We navigate all of this on behalf of our clients and are experienced with the county’s process and timelines.
In many cases, yes. St. Johns County has a significant number of planned communities governed by CDDs and HOAs that have their own architectural review requirements for new construction and renovations. These cover elements like exterior materials, roof types, colors, landscaping and overall design compatibility with the community. We identify all applicable requirements during the planning phase and manage the process accordingly.
Yes, and this is a common approach for clients in St. Johns. We work with clients who already own land and those who are still identifying a suitable parcel. We can advise on lot suitability, how parcel characteristics affect the build and what design and engineering considerations apply to your specific site before you’re committed to a direction.
From breaking ground to final walkthrough, most custom home builds take nine to fourteen months, depending on size, complexity and St. Johns County permitting timelines. Projects in communities with CDD or HOA review add time to the front end. Semi-custom builds on established plans typically move faster. We develop a realistic project schedule during pre-construction and communicate proactively if anything shifts.
We work throughout St. Johns County, including Nocatee, Ponte Vedra and surrounding communities. We’re familiar with the permitting and community review processes for a range of planned developments in the county and can advise on how requirements differ by location.
In addition to St. Johns, we work in Ponte Vedra Beach, the First Coast beach communities and throughout established Jacksonville neighborhoods including Riverside, Avondale, San Marco and Mandarin. Our full service area covers Duval, St. Johns, Nassau and Clay counties.
