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By Linda Reynolds, Broker, Reynolds Realty Gulf Coast (License #BK3021695) · Updated November 2026
Quick answer: Terra Ceia is a small, unincorporated island community in Manatee County, FL 34250, at the south end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near US 19 and I-275, just north of Palmetto. Homes are single-family, many on the bay or canals or on large lots, and in November 2026 the median list price was about $925,000, with most listings from about $600,000 to $1.7 million. Most homes have no HOA and no CDD, many waterfront lots are in high-risk flood zones, and there is no age restriction.
Terra Ceia is one of the quietest corners of Manatee County. It’s an island of winding bayside roads, old citrus land, mangroves and big trees, with Tampa Bay to the north and west and Terra Ceia Bay to the south. You can be on I-275 heading to St. Petersburg in minutes, or in downtown Palmetto in about 15. For the bigger picture, see my Palmetto real estate guide.
Own a home in Terra Ceia?
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Terra Ceia at a glance
- Location: Terra Ceia Island, at the south end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near US 19 and I-275, north of Palmetto, Manatee County, FL 34250
- Streets: Bayshore Drive, Terra Ceia Road, Center Road, Burns Road, Michiana Drive, Kennedy Court and Mound Place
- Built: homes from the 1930s to the late 2010s; most are resales
- Builders: mostly individual custom builders over many decades
- Home types: single-family homes, from small cottages of about 840 square feet to bayfront homes of 4,000-plus square feet, on lots from about a quarter acre to more than 2 acres
- Typical prices: November 2026 median list price about $925,000; most listings about $600,000 to $1.7 million, with a few smaller homes in the $450,000s
- HOA: most homes have none; CDD: none shown in listings
- Gated: no
- Age rule: none
What is Terra Ceia like?
Terra Ceia feels like old Florida. There are no big subdivisions, no shopping centers and no clubhouses, just homes tucked along the water and under the oaks. People have lived here a long time. Timucuan people left shell mounds on the island, and you can still visit the Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site. Joseph and Julia Atzeroth settled here in 1843, and by 1897 about 127 households were growing citrus, vegetables and flowers. A 1926 storm surge flooded the island and ended much of the farming. Today, the 1,932-acre Terra Ceia Preserve protects mangroves, salt marsh and pine flatwoods for fishing and hiking. Many bayfront homes have docks or boat ramps, and the Skyway Fishing Pier and Emerson Point Preserve are both close by. Groceries and errands are in Palmetto and Ellenton.
What do homes cost in Terra Ceia?
Terra Ceia is small, so only a handful of homes sell each year and prices swing a lot from home to home. In early November 2026, there were about 11 single-family homes for sale with a median list price near $925,000. Small older cottages on Michiana Drive and Bayshore Drive have listed from about $454,000 to $750,000. A 2019 home of about 2,700 square feet on Kennedy Court has listed near $700,000. Bayfront homes have listed from about $925,000 for a 2000 home on 2.7 acres on Bayshore Drive to about $1.35 million to $1.9 million for larger waterfront homes with docks.
Prices change month to month and depend heavily on water frontage, elevation and lot size. Call or text me for current Terra Ceia sales.
Terra Ceia HOA, CDD and schools
Most homes in Terra Ceia have no HOA, which is a big part of its appeal if you want room for a boat or fewer rules. A few small pockets have their own association, so ask for any fees on the home you like. Recent listings show no CDD. Property taxes vary widely, from about $2,900 to more than $12,000 a year in recent listings, depending on the home, the water and homestead status. Schools are assigned by Manatee County; recent listings have shown Palm View Elementary, Lincoln Middle and Palmetto High. Confirm zoning for any address. My guide to HOAs, CDDs and 55+ communities in Manatee County explains how these fees work.
What should you know before buying in Terra Ceia?
- Flood zone and elevation. Many waterfront homes are in flood zones AE or VE. Get the elevation certificate and a flood insurance quote early, and ask about past flooding.
- Insurance. Wind and flood coverage can cost a lot on older bayfront homes. Roof age and storm protection make a big difference.
- Water and septic. Ask whether the home is on septic and whether there is a well, and get them inspected.
- Docks and seawalls. Check the dock, seawall and water depth if you plan to keep a boat, and whether the home has riparian rights.
- Older homes. Many homes date from the 1930s to the 1960s. Ask about updates to wiring, plumbing and the roof.
- Homestead exemption. If this will be your permanent home, file for homestead with the Manatee County Property Appraiser.
Terra Ceia questions people ask
Where is Terra Ceia, Florida?
Terra Ceia is on Terra Ceia Island in Manatee County, at the south end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge near US 19 and I-275, just north of Palmetto.
What ZIP code is Terra Ceia?
Terra Ceia uses ZIP code 34250.
What do homes cost in Terra Ceia?
In November 2026, the median list price was about $925,000. Most listings ran from about $600,000 to $1.7 million, with a few smaller cottages in the $450,000s.
Do Terra Ceia homes have an HOA?
Most do not. A few small pockets have an association, and recent listings show no CDD.
Is Terra Ceia in a flood zone?
Many waterfront homes are in flood zones AE or VE. Check the flood zone and elevation certificate for the specific home.
What schools serve Terra Ceia?
Recent listings have shown Palm View Elementary, Lincoln Middle and Palmetto High. Manatee County sets zoning, so confirm for the specific address.
Buying or selling in Terra Ceia?
Tell me what matters most, whether that’s bay frontage, a dock, acreage, no HOA or your budget. I’ll send you what’s available in Terra Ceia and nearby Palmetto, or a straight read on what your home would sell for.
Call or text 941-737-6562, schedule a call, or grab one of my free guides.
Clear answers, no pressure. I’ll give you a straight read on what’s out there and what it takes.
More Palmetto and Manatee County guides
- Palmetto Real Estate — neighborhoods, prices and waterfront homes.
- Emerson Point — Palmetto homes near Emerson Point Preserve.
- Highland Shores — a Palmetto neighborhood with some canal homes.
- Manatee County Homeowner Handbook — taxes, insurance, HOAs, hurricanes and more.
Looking for a home in Terra Ceia?
Online searches show you what’s listed. A free consultation with our buyer specialist, Celeste Schott, helps you find what’s right: the true costs, the neighborhoods that fit, and the homes worth seeing first.