Ono Island Permitting & Bridge Impact Fees: What I Tell My Buyers and Sellers



As a homeowner on Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/ and a real estate advisor focused on Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/ and the surrounding waterways, I guide owners through the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) permitting steps and the Road & Bridge Impact Fees that fund wear-and-tear from construction traffic. Getting this right keeps your project moving and prevents costly delays.

Below is the straightforward flow I use when I’m mapping a project—whether it’s a new ICF build, a pool, or a boathouse on Old River, Bayou St. John, or the canals.

Ono Island Permitting and Impact Fees for Building and New Construction

The Permitting Flow I Recommend

  1. Scope & Pre-Design
    …

290 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Top 5 Waterfront Restaurants to Boat To in Orange Beach, Alabama

On the Orange Beach coast, dining and boating often go hand in hand. After a morning cruise past Ono Island or a slow drift through Bayou St. John, nothing beats pulling up to a dock, tying off, and sharing a meal overlooking the water. Here are my five favorite restaurants that capture the flavor, charm, and boating convenience of life on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Orange Beach Alabama Restaurants Boating

1. Zeke’s Landing Restaurant

Located at Zeke’s Marina off Canal Road, this full-service restaurant and marina hub offers slip-side dining and a refined menu featuring fresh Gulf catch. It’s a favorite for those returning from offshore trips. Draft depths average 10–14 ft (3.0–4.3 m), ideal for larger center…

260 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Boating the Gulf Corridor: Orange Beach, Perdido Key & Ono Island

Boating the Gulf Corridor: Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Ono Island

On the Gulf Coast, our lives follow the tides. From Orange Beach to Ono Island and east to Perdido Key, I match buyers with the right home and the right water. Depths and drafts matter as much as porches and views—because your dock is your front door to adventure.

Quick Links: Ono Island listings · Orange Beach listings · Boating accommodations

The Waterways That Shape Our Days

Bayou St. John

Broad, protected water on the north side of the corridor. Steady depths and a forgiving lee make it ideal for year-round moorage and family cruising.

Old River

The south ribbon between Ono Island and Perdido Key. A scenic, reliable channel with sandbars along the inside…

264 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Boating in Orange Beach, Alabama: A Complete Guide to Depths, Navigation, and Vessel Compatibility

Orange Beach Alabama Boating Guide

The Heart of Gulf Coast Boating

In Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/, boating isn’t just a pastime; it’s the pulse of daily life. From early-morning anglers easing out of Terry Cove to sunset cruisers drifting past Robinson Island, the water is where our community gathers, explores, and connects. Over my years living and working along these shores, I’ve come to appreciate how uniquely diverse Orange Beach’s boating waters are — from deep-draft channels for sportfishing yachts to shallow coves perfect for pontoons and skiffs.

Understanding the Waterways

Orange Beach sits at the junction of several navigable bodies…

247 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Waterfront Properties on Old River, Ono Island


Life Along Old River: The Southern Edge of Ono Island

As a homeowner and real estate advisor on Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/, I’ve always been drawn to the quiet beauty and rhythm of Old River, the stretch of water that defines the island’s southern edge. Facing the Gulf of Mexico, this side of Ono Island offers something truly special — a landscape shaped by tides, breezes, and open water views that stretch toward the horizon.

Waterfront Ono Island Homes For Sale Alabama Florida

Homes and vacant lots on Old River are located along Ono Boulevard and River Road, both of which trace the shoreline and provide residents with direct access to boating, fishing, and waterfront living. The southern exposure brings a…

43 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


How to Build Equity with New Construction on the Gulf Coast


Along the Gulf Coast, building a home isn’t just about creating a place to live—it’s about crafting equity from the ground up. I’ve spent years helping investors and homeowners turn land into legacy.  In markets like Orange Beach and Ono Island, new construction offers one of the most rewarding paths to long-term appreciation. Whether it’s a spec build, a second home, or a custom coastal retreat, strategic construction can significantly outperform the resale market when planned thoughtfully.

Build Equity with New Construction on Gulf Coast

My Investment Strategy: Buy, Build, Hold (or Sell)

The strategy is simple in principle but powerful in execution: purchase the right parcel of land, build smart with proven…

181 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

2780 W Beach Blvd — Gulf Shores, Alabama

Featured Lagoon-Front Listing with Deeded Gulf Access



A Boats + Beach Address That Lives Larger

I’m proud to feature 2780 W Beach Blvd as a rare dual-water lifestyle on West Beach—Little Lagoon in the back yard for calm-water days and a deeded Gulf access directly across W Beach Blvd for seamless beach time. This extra-deep parcel lives bigger than typical lots, creating a private outdoor envelope with room to breathe and plan. A newer pier with a covered dock makes staging paddleboards and smaller bay boats straightforward, and the raised construction combined with a Gold Fortified roof supports practical, low-stress ownership and clearer insurance conversations.  Listing page —…

23 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


30532 Ono North Loop West — Specifications


Location: Ono Island, Orange Beach, Alabama — gated

Address: 30532 Ono North Loop West, Ono Island (Orange Beach, Alabama)

Community Guide: Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/

Nearby Area Guides: Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/ • New Construction on Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/onoconstruction/

Ono Island New Construction Homes For Sale

Property Overview

  • Approx. Living Area: ~2,680 sq ft (single level)
  • Beds / Baths: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths
  • Garage: Oversized three-car, no step from garage into main level (flat threshold)
  • Ceiling Heights: 16' in entry/great room core; ~10' typical elsewhere
  • Plan Notes:  Designed to live as a primary or vacation…

27 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What I’m Seeing on the Coast Right Now: Contract Lessons, 1031 Strategy, and Local Moves Shaping Value

Earlier this week, I sat down with colleagues to compare notes on contracts, market balance, and the steady drumbeat of local planning decisions in Orange Beach and nearby corridors. The conversation ranged from mold and crawlspace protocols to an unusual assignment request on one of my beach condo deals. Below is my first-person recap with the takeaways I’m giving my buyers and sellers today. For current property search and deeper context, start here: Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/, Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/, Gulf Coast condos — https://www.searchthegulf.com/condos/.

Ono Island Waterfront Homes

1) Contract…

300 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post


Orange Beach Real Estate Market Update


 

Orange Beach and Ono Island Market Update October 2025

I’ve pulled together a quick, data-forward update using the latest inventory-to-sales ratios and recent municipal actions that affect our market. If you’re watching homes on Ono Island — https://www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/ — or considering a move anywhere in Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/ — here’s the signal I’m seeing in the noise.

Market Overview (as of the September 2025 snapshot)

  • Tight under $300k; looser above $400k. Entry-level segments show lean supply across coastal Baldwin County sub-markets.

  • Orange Beach Condos: Months of supply (MOS) skews tight under $300k, then steps up meaningfully: roughly ~0.5–3.0 MOS below $300k; ~7.1 MOS at…

173 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post