Finding a new home in St. Petersburg means navigating a lot of new construction that just doesn’t fit. Houses that ignore the character of our historic neighborhoods, or developments so far out you’ll spend half your life in the car.
We build differently. Since 2013, Canopy Builders has focused on creating homes for sale in St. Petersburg FL that actually belong in the neighborhoods where we build them. The kind of streets with sidewalks and oak trees, where you can walk to dinner or the park.
Our new homes for sale in St. Petersburg FL are designed to look like they’ve always been there: rooted in the Low Country architecture that feels right in Florida.
You’re getting the same quality we bring to custom projects: solid craftsmanship, interiors put together by people who know what they’re doing, and construction built to last. No endless trips to tile showrooms. We handle the design work.
If you want a move-in-ready home, we have options. If you’d rather build something specific to you, we do that too as custom home builders in St. Petersburg FL.
We’re a local builder, not a national company running projects from three states away. Ben and Lauren Gelston started Canopy Builders in 2013 with a specific goal: build homes that make St. Petersburg better, not just bigger. That means no subdivisions where every house looks identical and you can’t tell one street from another.
We build in neighborhoods people want to live in. Places with history, mature trees, and sidewalks that actually go somewhere. And we design homes that fit—drawing from Southern architectural traditions, especially Low Country styles, because that’s what works here. These aren’t trendy builds that’ll look dated in five years.
Our approach to building homes for sale in St. Petersburg FL reflects these core principles:
According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, St. Petersburg continues attracting families who recognize the value of living in a city with a rich history and vibrant culture. We’re honored to contribute homes that respect this legacy while serving the needs of today’s discerning homebuyers.
Our job is to make this process straightforward so you can focus on the actual decision: is this the right home for you?
EXCELLENT Based on 9 reviews Posted on Diedra FloraTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Many thanks to Canopy Builders for building the Arts and Crafts bungalow we imagined. Throughout the design, building and follow-up process, Canopy was friendly, efficient and responsive to my questions, requests and ideas. Special thanks to Leia Hoffman, the Project Designer, who ensured that my design choices were aligned with my vision and budget. Even though I was out-of-town during much of the critical decision making, she was always quickly responsive to my many emails and extra questions. Also, a big shout-out goes to Hugh Seeley, our Project Manager. Hugh was always patient, friendly and eager to make sure that we were happy with the house and process. Hugh understood our vision of a contemporary Arts and Crafts house and we are very grateful for his suggestions and input. Finally, thanks to Edwin Cardona, Warranty Manager, for quickly responding to the very few small issues we had after we moved into our house. We are very happy with our Canopy experience and would highly recommend the company.Posted on Michelle LoeweTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have had a great experience purchasing our home from Canopy! Our project manager, Quentin, was very helpful and responsive to questions or concerns we had, and worked on a resolution for any issues immediately. The whole team was wonderful to work with, organized, and genuinely care about the work they do. We have had several service providers at the house (blinds, water softener, landscaping) and they have all commented on the craftsmanship of the home - even the home inspector during the purchase process noted to us the build quality. We are loving our new home and couldn’t be happier about our decision to go with a Canopy home.Posted on Paul MullenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn’t be happier with our experience working with Canopy Builders in St. Pete. From the very beginning, Kristin made the purchase and design process feel easy and fun — she was patient, thoughtful, and really listened to what we wanted. Hugh, our project manager, was fantastic and kept everything running smoothly from start to finish. The home turned out absolutely beautiful — on time, on budget, and without a single hiccup. We’ve built before, and this was by far the best experience we’ve ever had. Huge thanks to the entire Canopy team for making it such an easy process! We love it!Posted on glenn rappaportTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We're in the process building our house. Working with John our project manager has been a great experience. In addition they have been very considerate about trying limit disturbing the neighbors. Leia our designer has been great. Halfway through our project and I would highly recommend Canopy Builders.Posted on Kate PTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We could not be happier with our Canopy home. Kristin and Ben were extremely helpful in answering all of our questions from the get go so we could start with a clear understanding of how the design and build process works. Leia made the whole design process much easier and we greatly appreciated her suggestions and design expertise. We loved working with our project manager, Andy. Besides being professional and responsive, he made sure that we were extremely happy with the end product. The original fireplace surround was delivered damaged so Canopy, Andy and Orlando worked with us to design and build the perfect surround. It’s beautiful!! Lastly, Edwin is a wealth of knowledge and extremely responsive in helping resolve any warranty issues. We’ve had very few thus far. I would highly recommend Canopy to anyone looking to build a beautiful home with personalized finishes.Posted on Bill IcelyTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Canopy Builders was a dream to work with. Their sense of style is exquisite in a world of tract home builders doing stucco boxes. Their execution of the construction process was well planned and coordinated. Supervision and quality control was first class. They exceeded our expectations at every level!Posted on Susie WheldonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After being away from St. Pete for 3 years, we had the opportunity to move back at the end of summer in 2024. I had heard of Canopy before we moved but could see in the years we were gone that they really established themselves as a leader in the home building community. We met with Ben to see what open projects they had available and he was so informative and a pleasure to work with. We wanted a home that was move in ready and we found one to fit our needs and timeline. The quality of finishes and overall craftsmanship is notable and visible throughout the home. Edwin was assigned as our PM and walked me through everything before the closing. He took his time to make sure I understood everything and was comfortable with everything in the home. Even now, I can rely on him for any questions or issues that arise. He is knowledgeable and efficient and always responds in a timely manner. I have to also mention Susan who has been a valuable resource for any inquiry I have about utilities, vendors etc. And if she doesn’t have the answer, she will put me in touch with someone who does. I know home buying can be stressful, but working with Canopy has eliminated a lot of that. It’s been a pretty low stress experience. I would definitely recommend them to anyone interested in purchasing a new home or building a custom project.Posted on Randall TaussigTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We couldn’t be happier with our experience building with Canopy Builders. The team was professional, proactive, and communicated clearly from start to finish. Issues were rare, and when they did come up, they were addressed quickly and thoughtfully. Special thanks to Tony, Ciara, Jacque, and Edwin—each of them was a pleasure to work with. And while they were our main contacts, it’s clear there’s a strong team behind the scenes that made the whole process smooth. We love our new home and continue to get compliments on it. Canopy Builders exceeded our expectations, and we’d recommend them without hesitation.Posted on Jenna BryantTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I are local realtors in the area and we always enjoy showing our clients Canopy's homes and introducing them to the builder. One of the characteristics that makes them stand apart from other builders is that they are consistent in the quality of build and the communication will always be there. We have worked with Canopy now on multiple builds and every time has been such a pleasant and amazing experience for not only us, but our clients as well. We cannot recommend Canopy Builders enough if you are moving to the St. Pete area!
Yes. They’re finished and have passed inspections. You can close and move in once financing clears. Nothing’s half-done or waiting on back-ordered fixtures.
It depends. While our inventory homes feature pre-selected finishes chosen by professional designers, we understand the importance of personal touches. Depending on construction timing, we may accommodate certain modifications. For more extensive personalization, we invite you to explore our Build Our Plan program, where you collaborate with us from the earliest design stages.
We focus exclusively on St. Petersburg’s established, walkable neighborhoods. Our homes are designed to enhance the existing architectural character of these communities. Our homes go into existing parts of the city, designed to fit what’s already there.
Depends on the property. We’re in Florida, so flood considerations come up with any purchase. We’re completely upfront about zone status for each home. Many include elevated construction and other features that address flood concerns. We can also connect you with insurance agents who specialize in coastal properties.
Yes. Bring your agent if you have one. Commission is already in the pricing, so there’s no extra cost to you.
Most homes run from the mid-$600,000s to over $1 million, depending on size and location. Each listing shows square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, and all the details you’d expect. We can recommend lenders familiar with new construction if you need financing.
Everything’s new: roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical. You’re not taking on someone else’s maintenance issues or wondering when the water heater’s going to fail. You get warranties. Everything’s built to current Florida codes, which are tough on wind resistance and structural standards for good reason. Energy costs tend to be lower with modern insulation and systems.
Whether you’re just beginning your search or ready to schedule a tour, we’re here to help. Browse our available properties above, or contact our team to discuss your timeline, preferences, and any questions about the home-buying process. We look forward to helping you discover your place in St. Petersburg’s vibrant community.