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Port St. Lucie Canal Front Homes for Sale

Canal Front Homes for Sale in Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie is laced with canals, and a canal lot is one of the most affordable ways to own a home on the water here. But "canal front" covers two very different things: saltwater canals that connect to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and out to the ocean, and freshwater drainage canals that do not. Knowing which one you are looking at is the most important thing on this page.

The listing feed above shows Port St. Lucie homes marketed as canal front or with canal access, updated automatically from the MLS. It includes both kinds of canal, because the MLS does not separate them. For every kind of water in the city, see Port St. Lucie waterfront homes for sale.

Two Kinds of Canal

  Saltwater canal Freshwater canal
Connects to The North Fork, the St. Lucie River and the St. Lucie Inlet The city and water management drainage system
Boating Yes, to the river and ocean, subject to depth and bridges Kayak, canoe or small boat on that stretch only; control structures block passage
Where East side, near the river, mostly 34952, 34983 and 34984, plus a short stretch in 34953 near Florida's Turnpike Throughout the older central, western and southern neighborhoods
Edge Usually a seawall, often with a dock and lift Often a natural or sloped bank
Price Higher; the ocean access is what you pay for A modest premium over a dry lot

How to Tell Which Canal a Home Is On

Listing photos of the two can look identical, and some agents select "canal front" or even "ocean access" for a freshwater canal home by mistake. The quickest check is the street: the ocean-access streets in Port St. Lucie are listed street by street on the ocean access homes page. If a canal home is not on one of those streets, assume it is freshwater until someone shows you otherwise. Beyond that, look at the canal on a map and follow it: if it reaches the North Fork without a water-control structure in the way, it is a boating canal.

Living on a Freshwater Canal

Freshwater canals are part of the drainage system that keeps Port St. Lucie's neighborhoods from flooding. Water-control structures along them manage water levels and keep salt water out, which is also why boats cannot pass. What you get is water behind the house, no rear neighbors in some spots, wildlife, and a place to paddle a kayak or fish, often on a lot with no HOA. The city and the water management district maintain the canal itself; the owner maintains the yard. Levels rise and fall with the seasons, and alligators live in these canals, so keep pets and children back from the edge.

Living on a Saltwater Canal

Saltwater canals are where Port St. Lucie's boating homes are. They run off the North Fork through neighborhoods such as Section 26, River Park, Floresta Pines and the Section 6 area, plus a short saltwater stretch in 34953 behind SW Ann Arbor Road, SW Simms Court and SW Pier Court near Florida's Turnpike, and they are the reason those streets exist on the ocean access list. A saltwater canal home usually comes with a seawall and often a dock and lift, and the owner is responsible for maintaining them. Canal depth, the distance to open river and any bridges on the way decide what size boat the home really works for. See St. Lucie River homes for more on the route to the inlet.

Not sure which canal it is?

Send me the address. I will check whether the canal reaches the river, who maintains the bank or seawall, and what similar canal homes have sold for.

RE/MAX - Port St. Lucie agent and licensed mortgage loan officer NMLS #1883073.

What to Check Before You Offer

  • Salt or fresh. Confirm it, whatever the listing says.
  • The edge. Seawall condition on a saltwater canal; bank erosion on a freshwater one.
  • Dock and lift. Condition and capacity, if there is one, and whether a new one is realistic.
  • Depth and route. On a saltwater canal, depth at low tide and any low bridges between the home and the river.
  • Flood zone. The flood map and the elevation certificate, and an insurance quote.
  • HOA or no HOA. Many canal homes are on scattered city lots with no association; some are in communities with rules about docks and boats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every canal in Port St. Lucie ocean access?

No. Only the saltwater canals connected to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River reach the ocean. Most canals in the city are freshwater drainage canals with water-control structures that block boats. Check the street against the ocean-access street list before you assume a canal home has ocean access.

Can I boat on a freshwater canal?

You can usually paddle a kayak or canoe or run a small boat on your own stretch, but water-control structures prevent passage to the river. Freshwater canal homes are for the view and the paddle, not for keeping an ocean-going boat.

Who maintains a freshwater canal?

The canal itself is part of the public drainage system and is maintained by the city or the water management district. The homeowner maintains the yard down to the bank. Rules about docks and structures along these canals vary, so ask before you plan one.

Who maintains the seawall on a saltwater canal?

Usually the homeowner. Seawall repair and replacement are among the biggest costs of owning on salt water, so have the seawall inspected before you buy.

Are canal homes cheaper than lakefront or river homes?

Freshwater canal homes usually carry a modest premium over dry lots. Saltwater canal homes with ocean access cost more, and direct river frontage costs more still. I pull recent sales of comparable canal homes for any home you are serious about.

Are there alligators in the canals?

Yes, in the freshwater canals especially. Keep pets and small children away from the edge and never feed wildlife.