Venetian Isles is a deed-restricted waterfront community of about 530 single-family homes on man-made islands in northeast St. Petersburg, dredged from Tampa Bay beginning in 1959 and built out from 1968 into the early 1970s. Its canals connect to Tampa Bay, and most lots have seawalls and docks.
Venetian Isles is one of the neighborhoods in St. Petersburg.
Venetian Isles was developer George R. Davis’s dredge-and-fill project on the bay bottom off northeast St. Petersburg, started in 1959 and built out between 1968 and the early 1970s. It is one of the city’s most consistent boating neighborhoods: roughly 530 homes, nearly all on canals or open bay, with deep-water access to Tampa Bay and deed restrictions that have held since 1970.
Shane Vanderson works with buyers and sellers of Venetian Isles waterfront homes from Engel & Völkers South Tampa, with emphasis on boating-lifestyle buyers.
Living in Venetian Isles
The community sits on Tampa Bay east of Shore Acres and north of Snell Isle, with downtown St. Petersburg about ten to fifteen minutes south by 4th Street North or Shore Acres Boulevard. Weedon Island Preserve is a short drive north, and the 4th Street corridor carries everyday shopping. The Venetian Isles Homeowners Association, formed in 1970, maintains the deed restrictions and runs architectural review. Tampa International Airport is typically 25 to 35 minutes by the Gandy or Howard Frankland bridges.
The Venetian Isles market
Nearly every lot is on the water, so the spread comes from position and condition: open-bay lots at the edges, wide canals near the bay, and interior canals that pass under fixed bridges. Sailboat owners should confirm mast clearance for a specific route, and every boater should check water depth, seawall age, and the dock and lift. What transfers with a boat slip or dock covers the questions to ask.
The original housing is late-1960s and 1970s concrete block built on fill. The developer placed that fill five to seven feet above the natural shoreline, which protected the neighborhood through earlier storms, but Hurricane Helene’s September 2024 surge reached homes here as it did across northeast St. Petersburg. The city’s 49% substantial-improvement rule now shapes what happens to each original home: repair and hold, elevate, or rebuild. Today’s inventory mixes all three. The FEMA 50% rule and how to read a flood zone explain the mechanics.
Boundaries
A set of man-made islands on the west shore of Tampa Bay in northeast St. Petersburg, east of Shore Acres and north of Snell Isle and Smacks Bayou, reached from Overlook Drive and Shore Acres Boulevard. ZIP 33703, which it shares with Shore Acres.
Homes in Venetian Isles
About 530 single-family homes, nearly all waterfront, on open-bay and canal lots with seawalls and docks. Original late-1960s and 1970s concrete block homes share streets with renovated homes and new elevated construction, a mix that has grown since the 2024 storms. The community is deed-restricted with architectural review through the Venetian Isles Homeowners Association.
Nearby amenities
Tampa Bay boating with deep-water canal access; Weedon Island Preserve; 4th Street North shops and restaurants; Shore Acres Recreation Center; Snell Isle and the Vinoy Golf Club to the south; downtown St. Petersburg, typically 10 to 15 minutes; Tampa International Airport, typically 25 to 35 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Venetian Isles deed-restricted?
Yes. The Venetian Isles Homeowners Association, formed in 1970, maintains the deed restrictions and reviews exterior changes. Confirm the current restrictions and any dues during the document review.
Can you keep a sailboat in Venetian Isles?
On some lots. Open-bay and wide-canal lots near the bay have clear routes to open water. Interior canals pass under fixed bridges that limit mast height, so confirm the route and clearance for a specific address.
Did Venetian Isles flood in Hurricane Helene?
Yes. The fill elevation protected the neighborhood through earlier storms, but Helene’s September 2024 surge reached homes in Venetian Isles and across northeast St. Petersburg. For any home, ask for the city’s damage determination, repair permits, an elevation certificate, and insurance quotes.
How does Venetian Isles compare with Shore Acres?
Venetian Isles is smaller, almost entirely waterfront, and deed-restricted with an active association. Shore Acres, next door, is larger, has a wider range of lots and prices, and has no mandatory HOA. Both share ZIP 33703.
Where do the Venetian Isles market figures on this page come from?
The key-facts table is pulled from Stellar MLS and shows the month it was updated. Open-bay and canal lots, and elevated and non-elevated homes, behave differently, so rely on a direct valuation for a specific property.
