Branch: U.S. Coast Guard
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
Installation Type: Coast Guard Sector
Status: Active

Overview

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg is located in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Tampa Bay. The sector is responsible for maritime safety, security, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection across a large area of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and associated waterways. St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area are among the most active recreational boating regions in the United States, generating significant search and rescue workload. The installation is one of the Coast Guard’s busiest sectors given the year-round recreational boating season, cruise ship activity at the Port of Tampa, and maritime commerce.

Mission & Units

  • Primary Mission: Conduct maritime safety, security, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental response across the Gulf Coast of Florida from Tampa Bay south to Charlotte Harbor and offshore Gulf of Mexico waters.
  • Major Units: Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg (headquarters); Marine Safety Unit Tampa; multiple Coast Guard Stations (Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cortez, Fort Myers Beach, Venice); Response Boat fleet
  • Tenant Units: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater (approximately 15 miles northwest, MH-60 Jayhawk, HC-144A, C-130J – one of the busiest air stations in the Coast Guard); various component stations

Location & Access

  • Nearest Major City: St. Petersburg, FL (population approximately 260,000) immediately adjacent; Tampa, FL – approximately 12 miles northeast across Tampa Bay; Clearwater, FL – approximately 15 miles northwest
  • Nearest Commercial Airport: Tampa International Airport (TPA) – approximately 15 miles north; St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) – approximately 15 miles northwest
  • Gate Access: Main gate; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center

Population

  • Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 800
  • Family Members: Approximately 1,000
  • Civilian Employees: Approximately 200
  • Total Installation Population: Approximately 2,000

Key Facilities

  • Medical: Coast Guard Clinic; primary care; specialty referrals to Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, Tampa General Hospital (Level 1 Trauma, excellent), or Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (St. Petersburg, world-class pediatric care)
  • Commissary: Limited on-base commissary; MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa, 12 miles) has a commissary accessible by military personnel; Tampa Bay area commercial shopping extensive
  • Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Coast Guard Exchange; limited; MacDill AFB Exchange accessible; Tampa Bay commercial options extensive
  • Fitness & Recreation: Fitness center on base; Tampa Bay area offers exceptional outdoor recreation year-round; Gulf of Mexico beaches (Clearwater Beach – one of the country’s best, St. Pete Beach, Caladesi Island); boating, fishing, kayaking; warm water year-round
  • Schools: Pinellas County Schools serve military families in the St. Pete/Clearwater area; no DoDEA schools; Pinellas County schools are generally above average for Florida; some highly rated schools in specific areas (Largo, Safety Harbor, Dunedin); popular with military families for school quality
  • Childcare: Limited on-base childcare; Tampa Bay area has private childcare options; register early
  • Veterinary Services: Local St. Petersburg and Clearwater veterinarians widely available; no on-base VTF
  • Legal Assistance / JAG: Coast Guard JAG support available; appointment-based

Housing

  • On-Post Housing: Very limited government quarters; most Coast Guard personnel live off-base
  • Average Wait Time: Off-base BAH housing standard for St. Petersburg assignment
  • Off-Post Housing: St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, South Pasadena, and Pinellas County communities popular; Pinellas County has grown and become more expensive; average rent approximately $2,000-$3,000/month for 3-bedroom home; St. Pete/Clearwater is moderately expensive for a Florida beach community; Florida has no state income tax
  • BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg BAH reflects Florida Gulf Coast costs

PCS & Newcomer Info

  • Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; Sector St. Pete sponsorship programs; Tampa Bay is a very desirable assignment
  • In-Processing: Sector St. Pete in-processing; typically 2-3 days; Tampa Bay operational area orientation
  • EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Work-Life Staff; enrollment required; Tampa Bay has excellent specialist access including Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Tampa General, and USF Health

Local Area & Quality of Life

  • Climate: Humid subtropical; hot humid summers (average high 90F/32C in July); mild dry winters (average low 54F/12C in January); lightning capital of the United States (Tampa area); hurricane risk (Tampa Bay has not had a direct major hurricane hit since 1921 but risk is real and potentially catastrophic given bay geography); Gulf breezes; year-round outdoor weather
  • Cost of Living: Moderate; Tampa Bay has grown more expensive in recent years but remains more affordable than Miami or Orlando; no state income tax in Florida; outdoor lifestyle accessible at low cost
  • Nearby Attractions: Clearwater Beach (consistently rated one of America’s best beaches, 15 miles); Caladesi Island State Park (boat-access only pristine beach); Fort De Soto Park (beach, camping, kayaking); St. Pete Pier and waterfront; Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg, world’s largest collection of Dali work outside Europe); Tampa Riverwalk and downtown; Busch Gardens Tampa (15 miles); Disney World/Orlando (90 miles); Busch Gardens; Weeki Wachee Springs; Honeymoon Island and Caladesi; Anna Maria Island; Sarasota (ringling Museum, artistic community, 50 miles); Everglades (200 miles south)
  • Spouse Employment: Tampa Bay metro offers employment in healthcare (Johns Hopkins All Children’s, Tampa General, BayCare Health, AdventHealth), technology (growing tech sector), financial services (Raymond James, TECO Energy), defense (MacDill AFB community), and tourism; remote work increasingly important; Florida’s business-friendly environment; Work-Life assists

Contact & Resources

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Atlantic-Area/District-7/Sector-St-Petersburg/; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/coast-guard-sector-st-petersburg; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnitedStatesCoastGuardSectorSt.Petersburg; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law

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