Bayshore Boulevard: 4.5 miles along Tampa's waterfront edge

How long is Bayshore Boulevard?

It is 4.5 miles long. The City of Tampa says the boulevard offers 4.5 miles of scenic views alongside Tampa Bay. The City also calls it one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the United States.

The 10-foot-wide sidewalk starts on the north at Columbus Statue Park at Platt Street. It ends at Gandy Boulevard. A three-mile on-road bike lane also runs along the north-bound lane between Rome Avenue and Gandy Boulevard.

Source: City of Tampa Bayshore Boulevard Greenway page and Bayshore Trail page. The greenway page also carries older planning notes, so use the trail page for the current layout.

What else is on the trail?

The City lists benches, a water fountain, bicycle parking, a city marina and fitness stations. It also says fifteen cast bronze trail markers are set into the sidewalk to mark each mile, half mile and kilometer going south. Michele Oka Doner designed them in 1992, according to the trail page.

These are public amenities along a public road. They shape daily use of the street, and that matters when a builder plans trucks and staging for a nearby lot.

Which neighborhoods are near it?

More than one, and they have different records. Our Bayshore Beautiful page and our Hyde Park page cover two of them. Hyde Park has a local historic district with its own review. Read our post on Hyde Park historic review.

Do not assume one set of rules for the whole boulevard. A lot’s rules come from its zoning, its flood zone and any historic district it sits in. The greenway page itself describes a sidewalk and trail. It does not set building rules.

What does the boulevard mean for siting a home?

Mostly it means the bay is close. A lot near the water brings questions that a lot inland may not. The City pages give no rule for this, so use this checklist to find the answer for your lot.

• Flood zone: confirm the FEMA zone for the exact address.
• Surge: the City says storm surge from tropical systems can create the most widespread damage in Tampa. Ask where your lot sits.
• Seawall: if the lot touches the water, find out who owns the seawall and what shape it is in.
• Elevation: if the lot is in a special flood hazard area, plan for an elevation certificate.
• Historic review: ask City staff whether any local historic district covers the lot.

The City pages read for this post list no water-side building rules for Bayshore Boulevard, so none are stated here. If you need a rule for a specific lot, ask the City in writing.

How current are the City pages on the boulevard?

Some parts are old. The City greenway page carries planning notes about federal funding programmed for fiscal years 2007-08 and 2010-11, and about a Walkable Communities Workshop on the stretch between Gandy Boulevard and Ballast Point Park. It says the workshop recommendations were being evaluated for feasibility and funding.

Those notes read like a plan from years ago. The page does not say what was built. So this post uses only the length, sidewalk, bike lane and trail details that the City pages state plainly.

That is a good habit for any research. When a City page looks dated, call staff before you rely on it. A lot decision can cost much more than one phone call.

Can I use the sidewalk length as a siting guide?

No. Length and width tell you about the public path, not about your lot. A long sidewalk does not set a setback, a height limit or a flood elevation. Those come from zoning and flood records for the address. Use the boulevard as a landmark when you describe where a lot is, and use records when you decide what to build.

What questions should I bring to the City?

Bring a short list, and write down the answers with a date. City rules change, and a note from last year may be wrong today.

• Which FEMA flood zone and base flood elevation apply to this address?
• Does any local historic district cover this lot?
• What zoning district applies, and what are its setbacks and height limit?
• Is the seawall, if any, public or private?
• Who do I contact if I need to stage materials near the public sidewalk?

Ask each question in writing when you can. A written answer is easier to share with your designer and your builder.

How do I check flood risk for a lot near the boulevard?

Call the City of Tampa Stormwater Department at (813) 274-3101 with the street address. The City says this service is free. Ask for the FEMA zone and the base flood elevation. Our guide to base flood elevation and freeboard in Tampa explains how to read the answer.

For a longer look at flood rules, read our flood zone building page. Storm surge is the rise of seawater pushed ashore by a storm.

What is the next step?

Pick the address first, then check flood, zoning and historic status before you hire a designer. Halo Homes offers luxury home construction in Tampa Bay and the surrounding regions. Call (813) 956-1972 or write through the contact page.