Ono Island Unit Nine:
Old River, Bayou St. John & Interior Homesites

My detailed guide to this varied 58-lot neighborhood, including two waterfront edges, three private streets, the western point, interior homesites, lot measurements, setbacks, easements, and boating considerations.

I think of Unit Nine as one of the best examples of Ono Island’s extraordinary variety. Within one neighborhood, there are Old River homesites, Bayou St. John homesites, an irregular western point, a private cul-de-sac, and interior lots positioned between Ono Boulevard and Perdido Pass Drive.

Unit Nine Plat

The water experience changes from one side to the other. Old River forms the southern shoreline, while Bayou St. John defines the northern edge. Between them, Ono Boulevard, Perdido Pass Drive, and Dune Drive create a street network that gives Unit Nine a more layered character than a single row of waterfront property.

When I help a buyer consider a Unit Nine home or homesite, I begin with the exact lot—not simply the unit number. I compare the body of water, road frontage, lot depth, shoreline width, setbacks, easements, elevation, existing improvements, trees, dock configuration, and the buyer’s boating plans.

“Unit Nine is a three-part neighborhood: Old River along the south, Bayou St. John along the north, and interior homesites woven between the private streets.”

Unit Nine at a Glance

Where Is Unit Nine?

Unit Nine occupies a peninsula-like portion of western Ono Island in Baldwin County, Alabama. Bayou St. John forms the northern waterfront, and Old River forms the southern waterfront.

The western side narrows toward an outlet and small adjacent island. The eastern side connects with adjoining Ono Island neighborhoods and the continuation of Ono Boulevard.

This location creates three very different property experiences: direct Old River frontage, protected Bayou St. John frontage, and interior homesites near—but not directly on—the water.

Google Maps is provided for geographic orientation only. Legal boundaries, easements, setbacks, shoreline ownership, water depth, and the buildable area of any property require parcel-specific confirmation.

How the 58 Lots Are Arranged

Unit Nine contains 58 numbered homesites. Their arrangement creates three broad property categories, although the western point and curved street sections add exceptions and irregularities.

The Unit Nine Street Network

Ono Boulevard curves through the southern half of Unit Nine and ends in a western cul-de-sac. The internal portion occupies a 40-foot right-of-way. East of Unit Nine, Ono Boulevard continues within a wider 100-foot right-of-way.

Perdido Pass Drive follows the northern half of the neighborhood in a 40-foot right-of-way. Dune Drive provides the north-south connection between Perdido Pass Drive and Ono Boulevard, also within a 40-foot corridor.

The western cul-de-sac and street curves create wedge-shaped homesites. For those properties, I read the curved frontage, side depths, rear width, driveway approach, and building area together.

Measurements and Lot Geometry

Unit Nine does not use a single standard homesite dimension. Road frontage commonly falls within an approximate 60-to-100-foot range, with repeated 70-, 80-, 85-, and 90-foot segments. Curved road sections and the western cul-de-sac create wider arcs and narrower wedges.

Side-line depths vary considerably. Interior parcels are generally more regular, while waterfront lots extend toward a naturally changing shoreline. Some become wider at the water; others narrow around the western point, inlet, or street curves.

I use a current boundary and topographic survey for property-specific planning rather than relying on frontage or depth alone.

Setbacks and the Building Envelope

Unit Nine includes building-setback lines along portions of both waterfront edges and within several interior sections. Those lines do not create one universal building envelope for all 58 homesites.

The western point, cul-de-sac lots, waterfront curves, utility corridors, drainage areas, and changing side depths make lot-specific analysis especially important. A generous total depth can still contain a narrower practical building area.

Easements, Shared Rights, and Common Areas

Unit Nine includes shared rights for ingress and egress, utilities, drainage, maintenance, repair, and related neighborhood purposes. Utility and drainage corridors occur along portions of the streets and between certain homesites.

Ono Boulevard, Perdido Pass Drive, Dune Drive, and the western turnaround are private-subdivision features rather than unrestricted public streets. Their rights-of-way should not be treated as extra lot area when planning a driveway, landscaping, fencing, drainage work, or construction.

There is no separately numbered park, clubhouse parcel, or recreational common element inside Unit Nine. The shared framework is primarily the private-road and easement network. I confirm present ownership and maintenance responsibilities through the deed, title commitment, exception documents, covenants, POA information, and current survey.

The Western Outlet, Sandbar, and Adjacent Island

The western edge of Unit Nine has a very different character from the straighter central and eastern lots. The land narrows toward an outlet, the shoreline turns sharply, and the adjoining homesites become increasingly irregular.

A sandbar was documented across the outlet in September 1979. I treat that as historical context—not as evidence of present depth, dredging, navigability, or safe vessel passage. Coastal conditions can change considerably over time.

The small island immediately west of the Unit Nine shoreline is outside Unit Nine. Its proximity should not be interpreted as ownership or inclusion with an adjoining waterfront homesite.

Old River and Bayou St. John Boating

Old River and Bayou St. John offer two different waterfront experiences. Old River generally feels more open and direct, while Bayou St. John has a more protected northern-shore character. The western outlet adds another layer of tide, shoaling, and channel considerations.

I never assume that waterfront frontage guarantees suitability for every boat. I consider current water depth, tide, bottom conditions, dock placement, pier length, lift capacity, piling configuration, channel route, vessel draft, air draft where applicable, and the time and comfort of the trip toward Perdido Pass.

For waterfront improvements, I also confirm permits, repair history, electrical service, structural condition, usable slip dimensions, shoreline stabilization, and whether maintenance or dredging obligations may apply.

Flood, Elevation, and Waterfront Due Diligence

Unit Nine has long been recognized as land within a flood-hazard area. Historical flood classifications are useful background, but they are not current insurance determinations.

For a present purchase or building plan, I verify the current FEMA flood zone, base flood elevation, finished-floor requirements, elevation certificate, drainage patterns, insurance options, and property-specific engineering needs. For waterfront properties, I also review existing fill, bulkheads, seawalls, shoreline stabilization, trees, and the way water moves across the homesite.

How I Evaluate a Unit Nine Property

Unit Nine FAQs

Why Unit Nine Is So Distinctive

I appreciate Unit Nine because it captures so much of Ono Island in one neighborhood. A buyer may be comparing two different bodies of water, a western point, a cul-de-sac, a protected bayou setting, an open river setting, or an interior homesite—all within the same unit.

The unit number is only the beginning. The exact street, body of water, lot geometry, easements, elevations, improvements, and boating plans are what reveal whether a property is the right fit.

Considering a Unit Nine Property?

Send me the lot number or street address. I will help you consider the property beside its current survey, title information, setbacks, easements, elevation, waterfront improvements, boating access, insurance, and ownership costs.

This guide is educational and should not replace a current survey, title examination, legal advice, engineering, flood and elevation review, environmental analysis, insurance guidance, boating assessment, or written approvals from the appropriate governing bodies.