On August 21, 2024, a piece of metal came loose from one of the support pilings under the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier. In most years nobody would have spotted it. The pilings near the end of the pier usually sit underwater, and an inspection in April of that year, both above and below the waterline, had turned up nothing. That August was different because new sand from beach renourishment kept the area above water, according to the Ponte Vedra Recorder. Six days later the county closed the last stretch of the pier. Two years and a full shutdown later, St. Johns County expects the repair to be finished by the end of November 2026.
When it reopens, the pier will have new pilings under roughly half its length and a higher price at the gate. Both changes trace back to that August.
The Sand Did the Inspecting
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was renourishing St. Augustine Beach that summer. In its August 30, 2024 announcement, the county explained that Facilities Maintenance workers had seen pillars that are "normally underwater but exposed to visual inspection" during the Corps' work, and some of them "appeared to show evidence of decay." The county brought in a structural engineering firm. On the firm's advice, it closed the last 100 feet of the pier, above and below, while the rest of the pier stayed open for sightseeing.
Wider beaches are what renourishment is meant to deliver, and they matter to anyone who walks the sand below the pier. Here the new sand also did something else. It lifted the problem out of the water long enough for someone to see it. The April inspection, done before the new sand arrived, had found nothing.
Two Years From Discovery to Construction
The gap between finding the decay and closing the whole pier makes more sense laid out in order:
- April 2024. A routine inspection above and below the waterline turns up no damage.
- August 21, 2024. Metal is found detached from a piling in the area kept dry by the new sand.
- August 27, 2024. The easternmost 100 feet close to the public.
- September 17, 2024. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approves moving ahead with repairs, as reported by News4Jax and the Recorder.
- May 13, 2026. The full pier closes for construction.
- End of November 2026. The county's anticipated completion date, unchanged from the May announcement through its November 2 coastal projects update.
At the 2024 meeting, county staff said permitting requirements might slow things down, though that was still unknown at the time. Construction started about 20 months after that vote. For most of that stretch, the pier was open everywhere except its last 100 feet.
Half a Pier, Rebuilt for Two More Decades
This is more than a patch job. Facilities Management Director Daniel Whitcraft told commissioners that the engineering firm's proposal covered piling sections nine through 16, "roughly half the pier," according to the Ponte Vedra Recorder. The same report said the repairs were expected to extend the pier's life by an estimated 20 years.
Two figures show how the cost came together:
- Up to $3 million was authorized in September 2024, based on an "opinion of cost" for long-term repairs and drawn from Tourist Development Tax reserves.
- $2,388,198 is the award amount to Southern Road & Bridge, LLC, on the county's bid listing.
So the contract came in about $600,000 under the ceiling commissioners set. The money came from tourism tax reserves, not the county's general property tax revenue.
The Gate Price Went Up While the Gate Was Closed
The pier stayed closed through the start of a new county fiscal year, and its fees changed in the meantime. St. Johns County's Schedule of Fees and Services, marked amended September 15, 2026, lists new rates for the Ocean Pier. The county's fishing piers page, updated in October, shows the same numbers. The county's Ocean Pier & Park page from June still lists the rates people paid before the closure.
| Pier fee | Rate on June 2026 county page | Rate on October 2026 county page |
|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing | $2 | $3 |
| Fishing, St. Johns County resident | $4 | $5 |
| Fishing, nonresident | $6 | $8 |
| Fishing, military or handicapped | $2 | $3 |
| 12-month pass, resident | $40 | $50 |
| 12-month pass, nonresident | $60 | $80 |
| 12-month pass, military or handicapped | $20 | $30 |
| 12-month family sightseeing pass, up to six | $50 | $60 |
Two things stand out in the table. Every paid rate went up, and the gap between residents and nonresidents grew. A daily nonresident fishing pass used to cost $2 more than a resident pass, and now it costs $3 more. On annual passes, the gap grew from $20 to $30. The free categories stayed free. Children under 6 still fish free, and so do St. Johns County residents over 60.
For a resident who fishes from the pier often, the annual pass still pays for itself within 10 visits at the new $5 daily rate. Under the old prices, the break-even point was the same 10 visits. The county's fee schedule includes a note that its fees can be waived only by official action of the Board of County Commissioners, so the posted rate is the rate. To confirm a rate before a first visit, call the county's pier contact at (904) 209-0326.
What Kept Running at Ocean Pier Park
The pier sits on a four-acre beachfront park, and most of that park never closed. The county kept the Pier Gift Shop open throughout construction and said permitted events at Ocean Pier Park would not be affected. The gift shop rents beach chairs, umbrellas and fishing poles. It also sells bait, tackle, ice cream, hot dogs, hot coffee and hot chocolate.
The Wednesday Pier Farmers Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon each Wednesday, according to the county's pier page. The market describes its purpose as supporting local growers, producers, farmers and small businesses. Its artist roster includes Florida Heartbeat Brand, Kreative Impressions, Eco Purposed, Oceans Treasures, Miss Robin's Jewelry, Air Plants by Janet and Potters Wheel. For questions, the market's email is [email protected].
Until the work wraps up, a few construction rules remain:
- Beach access. The northern St. Augustine Beach access point stays closed for the length of the project, and beachgoers are directed to the south entrance.
- Parking. The county lists minor parking impacts near the pavilion and asks drivers to follow the temporary traffic signs.
- In the water. Access under the pier is restricted, and surfers and swimmers are asked to stay 500 feet away during construction. The county's standing rule, listed on its fishing piers page, bars swimming and surfing within 400 feet of the pier.
After construction, the buffer for surfers goes back to the standard 400 feet, and the south entrance stops being the only way onto the sand near the pavilion. The county's Coastal Projects page carries its pier updates, including the end-of-November completion target.
At Noah Bailey Group, we follow changes like these along A1A Beach Boulevard because they shape everyday life near the beach, from where you park on a Wednesday morning to what a season of pier fishing costs. If you have questions about life near the pier or anywhere on Anastasia Island, we would be glad to talk. Contact Us.
