Southern Pool Designs designs and builds custom pools for homes in Marsh Creek Country Club, the gated golf community on Anastasia Island across the bridge from downtown St. Augustine. Our St. Augustine office handles design, architectural review, St. Johns County permitting and construction. Marsh Creek projects typically land in our Signature tier ($175,000 to $325,000), with larger marsh-front designs reaching our Monument tier ($325,000 and up). Every project starts in our custom pool design studio, where you see the full design in 3D and know the cost before we break ground.
County, Not City: Who Permits in Marsh Creek
Marsh Creek has a St. Augustine mailing address and is often described as part of St. Augustine Beach, but it sits outside the City of St. Augustine Beach. The city’s limits run from the ocean to the west side of State Road A1A, and Marsh Creek addresses fall in unincorporated St. Johns County. That means St. Johns County, not the city, reviews and issues your pool permit.
The community’s own review comes first. Marsh Creek has an Architectural Review Board that reviews home designs, and the Marsh Creek Owners Association governs the community. We get the ARB’s current requirements for your lot before design starts, then submit to the county once the ARB approves.
The Setting: Marsh, Golf and the Intracoastal
Marsh Creek is built around an 18-hole championship course designed by Mark McCumber, set between the homes and open salt marsh along the Intracoastal Waterway. Club membership is optional. Many homes and lots look over marsh, ponds or fairways, and the community has long been known for its birdlife and marsh views. Custom homesites were laid out at roughly a third to a half acre, with patio home lots around 60 feet wide, so pool size and placement vary a great deal from street to street.
The Atlantic beaches, and Anastasia State Park with its Salt Run lagoon, are a short drive away. Being this close to the ocean has a practical effect on the build: salt air is part of daily life here, so material choices matter. Our article on building a beach pool covers finishes and metals that hold up in coastal air.
Flood Zones and Marsh Lots
Flood zones in Marsh Creek vary from lot to lot. Some addresses are in Zone X, outside the high-risk flood area, while others sit in high-risk AE zones. Before we design, we check:
- Your flood zone and base flood elevation, which guide the deck height and where the equipment pad goes.
- The jurisdictional wetland line and upland buffer on marsh lots. St. Johns County’s site plan checklist can require both, along with flood zones, setbacks, fill limits and erosion control.
- Groundwater and soils, which affect excavation and engineering on low lots near the marsh.
- Drainage, so the finished deck sends water where the site plan says it should go and not toward a neighbor.
On a marsh lot these limits usually push the pool closer to the house. That is not a drawback: a pool set tight to the back of the home, with a vanishing or low edge facing the marsh, keeps the whole view open.
Replacing an Older Pool
The typical Marsh Creek home dates to the late 1990s, and some still have the pool that was built with the house. When an older pool no longer fits how you live, we replace it with a complete rip and replace: demolition of the old pool and deck, then a new design approved and permitted like any new pool. We do not resurface or repair existing pools.
Design Ideas for Marsh Creek Homes
- Marsh-edge pool: a long, low pool facing the marsh with an infinity edge where the grade drops, and a sun shelf for morning birdwatching.
- Patio home courtyard: a compact pool and raised spa sized for a 60 foot lot, with a clean edge and room for seating.
- Golf terrace: a pool, fire feature and covered seating facing the fairway, screened with planting.
- Low-maintenance coastal finish: salt-tolerant stone, simple lines and smart automation for lighting and heat.
What a Pool in Marsh Creek Costs
- Foundation: $120,000 to $175,000
- Signature: $175,000 to $325,000, our most-built tier
- Monument: $325,000 to $1,000,000+
A pool and spa on a patio home or golf lot often fits Foundation or Signature. Marsh-front custom homes with vanishing edges, outdoor kitchens and covered living usually land in Signature or Monument. Rip and replace adds $8,000 to $20,000 for demolition.
How a Marsh Creek Project Runs
- Welcome call. We talk about your lot type, how you want to use the pool and your budget band.
- On-site design consultation. We walk the lot with the survey, confirm the flood zone and any wetland line, and collect the ARB’s requirements.
- The Signature Experience. A paid design phase produces your custom 3D design. We coordinate engineering, submit to the ARB, obtain the St. Johns County permit, and build under a dedicated project manager with real-time updates and a final walkthrough.
Marsh Creek Pool FAQs
Is Marsh Creek in the City of St. Augustine Beach?
No. Although Marsh Creek is often listed under St. Augustine Beach, the city’s limits stop at the west side of State Road A1A, and Marsh Creek addresses are in unincorporated St. Johns County. The county issues your pool permit after the community’s Architectural Review Board approves the design.
Is my Marsh Creek lot in a flood zone?
It depends on the address. Some Marsh Creek lots are in Zone X, outside the high-risk area, and others are in high-risk AE zones. We check your lot’s flood zone and base flood elevation on the survey before design, because they affect deck height and equipment placement.
Can I build a pool on a marsh-front lot?
Usually, yes. The wetland line, any upland buffer and the flood elevation set the limits, which often moves the pool closer to the house. A low or vanishing edge facing the marsh keeps the view open within those limits.
How much does a pool cost in Marsh Creek?
Most Marsh Creek projects land in our Signature tier ($175,000 to $325,000). Patio home pools can fit Foundation ($120,000 to $175,000), and larger marsh-front designs reach Monument ($325,000 and up). Replacing an existing pool adds $8,000 to $20,000 for demolition.
Plan Your Marsh Creek Pool
Call our St. Augustine office at (904) 217-0254 or request a design consultation, and we will visit your Marsh Creek lot with your survey and flood information in hand.