The Caya Costa neighborhood is a gated community on Riviera Bay, a protected area just off Tampa Bay, in the 33702 ZIP code of northeast St. Petersburg. It has about 230 homes and was first developed in the mid 1980s. Many of the homes in Caya Costa are waterfront with access to Riviera Bay, and a few sit on the interior lake with no access to the big water.
Where is Caya Costa in St. Pete?
Caya Costa sits on its own peninsula reaching into Riviera Bay at the east end of 78th Avenue NE, in northeast St. Petersburg. The Riviera Bay neighborhood lies to the west and north, and the water wraps around the rest of the community, as the map above shows. A Tampa Bay Times neighborhood profile explained that the name means coastal key.
Inside the gate, the streets carry Florida place names: Gasparilla Drive, Marco Drive, San Carlos Avenue, and courts such as Captiva, Amelia, Myakka and Glades. For more bayfront neighborhoods across the city, see our guide to St. Petersburg luxury waterfront real estate.
Is Caya Costa a gated community?
Yes. Caya Costa is a guard gated community, with a staffed guard gate at its entrance on 78th Avenue NE. The Tampa Bay Times called it among the first gated communities in St. Petersburg. Behind the gate, residents also share a private boat ramp, so boat owners can launch without leaving the neighborhood.
If you are comparing gated communities in St. Petersburg, FL, ask each association what the gate includes: staffed hours, guest access and how deliveries are handled. The answers vary from one community to the next.
The Caya Costa social committee often organizes community events such as Easter egg hunts, appearances by Santa, bowling parties, cookie exchanges and more. Caya Costa features a community pool, tennis courts, a private boat launch ramp and boat storage. Homeowners pay HOA fees to the Caya Costa association, which takes care of your yard, the neighborhood, its facilities and the guard gate. There is also a section of the neighborhood where the HOA takes care of the homes’ roofs, almost like a condo. Many people enjoy this type of maintenance-free living in Caya Costa, St. Petersburg.
What are the homes and HOA like in Caya Costa?
Caya Costa mixes detached single family homes with attached town houses and villas. Pinellas County Property Appraiser records list about 230 residential parcels here, and the Tampa Bay Times described the mix as custom homes, bay homes, town houses and villas, with the town houses grouped four to a building. In the county records, most single family lots are between about an eighth and a third of an acre, and most attached homes sit on lots of about a tenth of an acre.
Owners belong to the Caya Costa Community Association, the HOA that owns the common areas. What the HOA fee covers depends on the section and the type of home: the guard gate and shared facilities, yard care, and in one section the roofs. Fees change, so ask for the current amount for the specific home you like.
What should buyers ask for before buying in Caya Costa?
- HOA documents and fees. Florida law (Section 720.401, Florida Statutes) requires that a buyer in a mandatory homeowners association receive a disclosure summary before signing the contract. Liane and her team request the declaration, rules, budget and current fees early, so you and your attorney have time to review them before your deadlines.
- Estoppel certificate. Before closing, the association issues an estoppel certificate that states what is owed on the home (Section 720.30851, Florida Statutes). The closing agent usually requests it for the seller.
- Approval and rules. Ask whether the association requires an application or approval before closing, and what its rules say about rentals, pets and boats.
- Flood zone, seawall and dock. For a waterfront home, look up the flood zone on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center, get a flood insurance quote from a licensed insurance agent, and have a licensed marine contractor inspect the seawall and dock.
- Boat ramp and storage. Ask the association how residents reserve boat storage and use the ramp.
View Caya Costa Homes for Sale
Caya Costa homes for sale range from attached villas and town houses to custom homes on Riviera Bay. The listings above update from the MLS, and our team can set up an alert so you hear about new Caya Costa listings as soon as they come on the market. As your buyer’s agent in St. Petersburg, Liane requests the HOA documents as soon as your offer is accepted.
Caya Costa FAQ
Is Caya Costa a gated community?
Yes. Caya Costa has a staffed guard gate at its entrance at the east end of 78th Avenue NE, and residents share a community pool, tennis courts and a private boat ramp.
Where is Caya Costa in St. Petersburg?
Caya Costa is in northeast St. Petersburg, in the 33702 ZIP code, on a peninsula in Riviera Bay at the east end of 78th Avenue NE.
How many homes are in Caya Costa?
About 230, a mix of detached single family homes, bay homes, town houses and villas, according to Pinellas County Property Appraiser records.
Does Caya Costa have an HOA?
Yes. Owners belong to the Caya Costa Community Association and pay HOA fees. What the fee covers varies by section and type of home, so ask for the current fee and the governing documents before you make an offer.
