Is Sanibel Island getting rebuilt?

Though it's smaller than many Florida vacation towns, Sanibel Island has been a place important to many people for generations. With the community's efforts to rebuild, it will continue to be so.



Yes, Sanibel Island is actively being rebuilt in 2026, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in late 2022. The "Sanibel Plan Update," which turns 50 in 2026, is the guiding document for this reconstruction, focusing heavily on resilience and environmental stewardship. Most of the island's iconic features, including the Sanibel Causeway, the Lighthouse, and major beaches like Bowman's and Turner Beach, have been fully restored with reinforced infrastructure. Over 75% of local businesses and restaurants have reopened, often with modernized, storm-hardened interiors. However, the island's residential landscape is changing; many of the older ground-level cottages are being replaced by "elevated" modern homes built to current hurricane codes. In 2026, visitors will see a mix of brand-new luxury resorts and ongoing construction sites. While the "Old Florida" charm remains, the 2026 version of Sanibel is intentionally being built "stronger, higher, and cleaner" to ensure the island can withstand the increasingly severe weather patterns of the future.

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Though it's smaller than many Florida vacation towns, Sanibel Island has been a place important to many people for generations. With the community's efforts to rebuild, it will continue to be so.

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The goal is to finish that by the end of 2023. The rest of the repairs and Lee County Causeway Island improvement projects will be done sometime in 2024. Right now the price tag is nearly $340 million. It's mostly funded by The Federal Highway Administration, but Lee County is on the hook for about $51 million.

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By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The City of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian.

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Note that Sanibel Island sustained significant damage in September 2022 as a result of Hurricane Ian. Though the island is open to the public as of January 2023, local officials are warning visitors that much of the island's attractions and businesses remain closed.

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FDOT's proposed timeline for the upgraded Sanibel Causeway is one year. The cumulative cost for this project is just over $285 million. Commissioners plan to seek federal infrastructure funds to pay most of the cost. This would bring Lee County's share of the bill to about $51.6 million.

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General Access to the Sanibel Island Causeway/Bridge The Sanibel Island Bridge is open to the public and accessible to all visitors who wish to explore the island's wonders. Whether you are planning a day trip or an extended stay, you can traverse the bridge without any restrictions.

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Sanibel Island is twelve miles long, three miles at its widest, and peaks around four feet above sea level. It's a barrier island, which is to say that it sits entirely on shifting sands, three miles off the coast of southwest Florida.

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By Staff | Jan 3, 2023 The Sanibel Causeway reopened Monday but the city of Sanibel government is asking non-residents to wait a while longer before visiting the storm-damaged island.

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Sanibel is an island and city in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,382 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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At least five sections of the Sanibel Causeway — which connects the barrier islands, including Sanibel and Captiva, to the mainland — were washed away by the storm, Lee County officials said.

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Sanibel Island attracts many people who choose to live year-round. It creates a very distinct and passionate local community, making Sanibel more than a vacation destination.

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An estimated 6,400 people lived in the City of Sanibel as of April 2021, according to the US Census Bureau. The island is also home to a number of hotels and resorts and sees a significant amount of tourists each year. DeSantis has directed transportation authorities to prioritize the repair of the Sanibel Causeway.

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Although the islands remain sundered, things are a bit quieter now. Today the southern island, still known as Captiva, is a beautiful and pricey tourist destination reachable by car over a causeway from the mainland near Fort Myers.

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Located about 3 miles off the coast of Fort Myers, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Florida is the perfect getaway vacation destination. Whether it's a family vacation, romantic adventure or an escape to the beautiful beaches, there's no other place to escape to than Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

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