Nature of Operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations The St. Joe Company together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a Florida real estate development and operating company with real estate assets and operations, including land concentrated primarily between Tallahassee and Destin, Florida. On March 5, 2014, the Company completed its previously announced sale to AgReserves, Inc., (“AgReserves”) of approximately 380,000 acres of land located in Northwest Florida previously owned by the Company, along with certain other assets and inventory and rights under certain continuing leases and contracts (the “AgReserves Sale”). The acreage included in the AgReserves Sale included a significant portion of the Company’s land previously designated for forestry operations as well as other land (i) that was not utilized in the Company’s residential or commercial real estate segments or its resorts, leisure and leasing segment or (ii) that was not part of Company's development plans. See Note 4, Real Estate Sales for further information on the AgReserves Sale. As of March 31, 2014, the Company conducts primarily all of its business in the following four reportable operating segments: 1) residential real estate, 2) commercial real estate, 3) resorts, leisure and leasing operations and 4) forestry. In prior periods, the Company's reportable operating segments also included rural land. As of March 31, 2014, the Company's rural land segment no longer meets the qualitative or quantitative factors as a reportable operating segment. The Company has revised its segment presentation to include the remaining rural land segment primarily within the Company's forestry segment. All prior period segment information has been updated to conform with the 2014 presentation. The change in reportable segments had no effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the periods presented. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements are not included herein. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in which the Company has significant influence, but not a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The December 31, 2013 balance sheet amounts have been derived from the Company’s December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements. The statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for fair presentation of the information contained herein. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company adheres to the same accounting policies in preparation of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. As required under GAAP, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year assumptions. For interim financial reporting purposes, income taxes are recorded based upon estimated annual income tax rates. Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncement Income Taxes In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (the “FASB”) determined that an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforwards or other tax credit carryforwards when settlement in this manner is available under applicable tax law. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2014, which reduced the Company's Deferred tax asset and Accrued liabilities and deferred credits by $1.7 million. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or Statements of Cash Flows. Discontinued operations In April 2014, FASB issued an accounting standards update (“ASU”) that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations and have a major effect on the organization's operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. In addition, this ASU expands disclosures about the discontinued operation and requires disclosures about disposals that do not qualify as discontinued operations. This guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals or classification as held for sale that have not already been reported in previously issued financial statements.

Nature of Operations

The St. Joe Company together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a Florida real estate development and operating company with real estate assets and operations, including land concentrated primarily between Tallahassee and Destin, Florida.

On March 5, 2014, the Company completed its previously announced sale to AgReserves, Inc., (“AgReserves”) of approximately 380,000 acres of land located in Northwest Florida previously owned by the Company, along with certain other assets and inventory and rights under certain continuing leases and contracts (the “AgReserves Sale”). The acreage included in the AgReserves Sale included a significant portion of the Company’s land previously designated for forestry operations as well as other land (i) that was not utilized in the Company’s residential or commercial real estate segments or its resorts, leisure and leasing segment or (ii) that was not part of Company's development plans. See Note 4, Real Estate Sales for further information on the AgReserves Sale.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company conducts primarily all of its business in the following four reportable operating segments: 1) residential real estate, 2) commercial real estate, 3) resorts, leisure and leasing operations and 4) forestry. In prior periods, the Company's reportable operating segments also included rural land. As of March 31, 2014, the Company's rural land segment no longer meets the qualitative or quantitative factors as a reportable operating segment. The Company has revised its segment presentation to include the remaining rural land segment primarily within the Company's forestry segment. All prior period segment information has been updated to conform with the 2014 presentation. The change in reportable segments had no effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the periods presented.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements are not included herein. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries and variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in which the Company has significant influence, but not a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The December 31, 2013 balance sheet amounts have been derived from the Company’s December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements.

The statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for fair presentation of the information contained herein. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company adheres to the same accounting policies in preparation of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. As required under GAAP, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year assumptions. For interim financial reporting purposes, income taxes are recorded based upon estimated annual income tax rates.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncement

Income Taxes

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (the “FASB”) determined that an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforwards or other tax credit carryforwards when settlement in this manner is available under applicable tax law. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2014, which reduced the Company's Deferred tax asset and Accrued liabilities and deferred credits by $1.7 million. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations or Statements of Cash Flows.

Discontinued operations

In April 2014, FASB issued an accounting standards update (“ASU”) that changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations. Under the new guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations and have a major effect on the organization's operations and financial results should be presented as discontinued operations. In addition, this ASU expands disclosures about the discontinued operation and requires disclosures about disposals that do not qualify as discontinued operations. This guidance is to be applied prospectively and is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals or classification as held for sale that have not already been reported in previously issued financial statements.