Stuart Pool Builder for Riverfront, Island and Estate Homes

Building Between the River, the Lagoon and the Ocean

Stuart sits where the St. Lucie River meets the Indian River Lagoon, and most of Martin County’s estate lots face one of three kinds of water: the river, the lagoon, or the Atlantic on Hutchinson Island and Jupiter Island. Each one changes how the pool is designed and permitted:

• Riverfront and seawalls. A pool near a seawall needs engineering that accounts for the wall, and the layout should keep a clear path to the dock and the boat lift.
• The Coastal Construction Control Line. On beachfront lots, construction seaward of the CCCL needs a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under Chapter 161, Florida Statutes, in addition to the local building permit. We locate the line on a current survey before design, because it often decides where the pool and deck can go.
• Sea turtle lighting. Martin County and the Town of Jupiter Island both have sea turtle lighting ordinances. We plan pool, deck and landscape lighting on the ocean side to meet the rules for your parcel, and set the automation schedule to match.
• Flood zones, salt and wind. Many waterfront lots sit in a flood zone, so we set the deck, equipment pad and electrical to the elevations the permit calls for, and choose coping, finishes and equipment for salt exposure.

For a deeper look at coastal construction, see our article on what coastal owners should know.

Who Permits Your Pool in Martin County

Unincorporated Martin County

Most of Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island is unincorporated Martin County, where the county Building Department issues the permit. Its pool checklist calls for a current survey or a signed and sealed site plan showing elevations at the property corners and lot-line midpoints, proposed drainage, the flood zone, setbacks on every side, and any easements, landscape buffers or preserve areas, along with sealed plans and electrical load calculations.

Cities and towns

The City of Stuart, the Town of Sewall’s Point and the Town of Jupiter Island each run their own building departments. Jupiter Island also has a Development Review Board, so projects there are planned around the town’s review schedule. We confirm jurisdiction from the parcel record before design so the plans are drawn for the right reviewer.

Sewall’s Point, Jupiter Island and Club Communities

Sewall’s Point sits on a peninsula between the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon, so many lots have water on one side and long views across it. Jupiter Island is a barrier island town with oceanfront and Intracoastal estates. Across Stuart, Palm City and Hutchinson Island, private club communities typically have their own architectural review, and we prepare renderings, site plans and finish selections for that submittal and run it alongside the permit.

Design Ideas for Martin County Homes

• Riverfront pool and spa set to line up with the water from the main living spaces, with the dock path kept clear.
• Raised oceanfront pools set landward of the dune, with a vanishing edge toward the horizon. See our infinity edge pools.
• Champagne spas with perimeter overflow as the focal point of a smaller lot. More on champagne spas.
• Shaded loggias and outdoor kitchens that keep the pool usable through the summer.
• Turtle-friendly lighting and automation that runs lighting scenes on a schedule. See pool automation.

Working on the Treasure Coast From Central Florida

Stuart is about 100 miles south of our Merritt Island office. Every project gets a dedicated project manager and real-time project tracking, and we schedule site visits and milestone meetings in advance so distance never slows down decisions on your job.

Stuart Pool Cost

Our published tiers:

• Foundation: $120,000 to $175,000
• Signature: $175,000 to $325,000, our most-built tier
• Monument: $325,000 to $1,000,000+

Most Martin County waterfront projects land in Signature or Monument. Seawall engineering, CCCL permitting, elevated decks, vanishing edges and full outdoor living programs move a project up the range. Replacing an existing pool adds $8,000 to $20,000 for demolition. Our pricing page shows what each tier includes.

Our Process for a Martin County Pool

1. Welcome call. We confirm which local government permits your parcel, whether it sits seaward of the CCCL or on the river or lagoon, and your goals and timing.

2. On-site design consultation. We walk the property, review the survey, locate the seawall, CCCL and flood elevations, and study the view from the house.

3. The Signature Experience. A paid design phase (here is why) produces your 3D design and coordinates engineering. We then handle state and local permits and any community review, build under a dedicated project manager with real-time updates, and close with a final walkthrough.

Stuart and Martin County Pool Questions

Who issues pool permits in Martin County?

It depends on the parcel. Unincorporated Martin County, which covers most of Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island, is permitted by the county Building Department. The City of Stuart, the Town of Sewall’s Point and the Town of Jupiter Island each permit pools within their limits. We confirm jurisdiction from the parcel record before design starts.

Do I need a state CCCL permit for a pool on Hutchinson Island or Jupiter Island?

If any part of the pool, deck, walls or grading sits seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line, plan on a Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit in addition to the local building permit. We locate the line on a current survey before design so the layout and the permit path are settled early.

Are there lighting rules for oceanfront pools in Martin County?

Yes. Martin County and the Town of Jupiter Island have sea turtle lighting ordinances. We design pool, deck and landscape lighting on the ocean side to meet the rules for your parcel and schedule it through the automation system.

Can you build a pool next to a seawall?

Yes, with engineering that accounts for the wall. We review the seawall condition and the survey early, and the structural engineer designs the pool and deck so they work with the wall instead of loading it.

How much does a custom pool cost in Stuart?

Our Foundation tier runs $120,000 to $175,000, Signature $175,000 to $325,000 and Monument $325,000 to $1,000,000+. Most waterfront Martin County projects land in Signature or Monument. You get a firm price after the design phase.

Martin County Areas We Serve