Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Contingencies [Abstract]
Contingencies	11. Contingencies The Company and its affiliates are involved in litigation on a number of matters and are subject to various claims which arise in the normal course of business, including claims resulting from construction defects and contract disputes. When appropriate, the Company establishes estimated accruals for litigation matters which meet the requirements of ASC 450 — Contingencies. The Company is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and regulations, which include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites, including sites which have been previously sold. It is the Company's policy to accrue and charge against earnings environmental cleanup costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated. As assessments and cleanups proceed, these accruals are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, as additional information becomes available. The Company's former paper mill site in Gulf County and certain adjacent properties are subject to various Consent Agreements and Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The paper mill site has been rehabilitated by Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in accordance with these agreements. The Company is in the process of assessing and rehabilitating certain adjacent properties. Management is unable to quantify the rehabilitation costs at this time. Other proceedings and litigation involving environmental matters are pending against the Company. Aggregate environmental-related accruals were $1.5 million and $1.6 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Although in the opinion of management none of our environmental litigation matters or governmental proceedings is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, it is possible that the actual amounts of liabilities resulting from such matters could be material. There is an ongoing securities class action lawsuit against the Company and certain of its current and former officers pending before Judge Richard Smoak in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Meyer v. The St. Joe Company et al., No. 5:11-cv-00027). A consolidated class action complaint was filed in the case on February 24, 2011 alleging various securities laws violations primarily related to the Company's accounting for its real estate assets. The complaint seeks an unspecified amount in damages. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the case on April 6, 2011, which the court granted without prejudice on August 24, 2011. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 23, 2011. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on October 24, 2011. Additionally, on March 29, 2011 and July 21, 2011, two separate derivative lawsuits were filed by shareholders on behalf of the Company against certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Nakata v. Greene et. al., No. 5:11-cv-00090 and Packer v. Greene et al., No. 3:11-cv-00344). The complaints allege breaches of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment arising from substantially similar allegations as those described above in the Meyer case. The Company has received two other demand letters asking the Board of Directors to initiate derivative litigation in this matter. On June 6, 2011, the court granted the parties' motion to stay the Nakata action pending the outcome of the Meyer action. On September 12, 2011, a third derivative lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Florida (Shurkin v. Berkowitz, et al., No. 5:11-cv-304) making similar claims as those in the Nakata and Packer actions. On September 16, 2011, plaintiffs in Nakata and Packer filed a joint motion to consolidate all derivative actions and appoint lead counsel. On October 3, 2011, plaintiff in Shurkin filed a cross motion seeking separate lead counsel for Shurkin and coordination of Shurkin with the other derivative cases. On October 6, 2011, the Company filed a response in which it stated that all derivative cases should be consolidated. On October 14, 2011, Nakata and Packer plaintiffs filed an amended joint motion seeking consolidation of those two cases only. On October 21, 2011, the court issued an order consolidating the Nakata and Packer actions. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the above referenced claims and intends to defend the actions vigorously. On January 4, 2011 the SEC notified the Company it was conducting an inquiry into the Company's policies and practices concerning impairment of investment in real estate assets. On June 24, 2011, the Company received notice from the SEC that it has issued a related order of private investigation. The order of private investigation covers a variety of matters for the period beginning January 1, 2007 including (a) the antifraud provisions of the Federal securities laws as applicable to the Company and its past and present officers, directors, employees, partners, subsidiaries, and/or affiliates, and/or other persons or entities, (b) compliance by past and present reporting persons or entities who were or are directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's common stock (which includes Fairholme Funds, Inc, Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C. and the Company's current Chairman Bruce R. Berkowitz) with their reporting obligations under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, (c) internal controls, (d) books and records, (e) communications with auditors and (f) financial reports. The order designates officers of the SEC to take the testimony of the Company and third parties with respect to any or all of these matters, and the Company is cooperating with the SEC. The Company carries a standby guarantee liability of $0.8 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 related to the strategic alliance agreement with SouthWest Airlines. The Company has retained certain self-insurance risks with respect to losses for third party liability and property damage. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company was party to surety bonds of $28.8 million and $27.9 million, respectively, and standby letters of credit in the amount of $0.8 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 which may potentially result in liability to the Company if the underlying obligations, primarily development and litigation related obligations, of the Company are not met.

11. Contingencies

The Company and its affiliates are involved in litigation on a number of matters and are subject to various claims which arise in the normal course of business, including claims resulting from construction defects and contract disputes. When appropriate, the Company establishes estimated accruals for litigation matters which meet the requirements of ASC 450 — Contingencies.

The Company is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and regulations, which include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites, including sites which have been previously sold. It is the Company's policy to accrue and charge against earnings environmental cleanup costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be reasonably estimated. As assessments and cleanups proceed, these accruals are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, as additional information becomes available.

The Company's former paper mill site in Gulf County and certain adjacent properties are subject to various Consent Agreements and Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The paper mill site has been rehabilitated by Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in accordance with these agreements. The Company is in the process of assessing and rehabilitating certain adjacent properties. Management is unable to quantify the rehabilitation costs at this time.

Other proceedings and litigation involving environmental matters are pending against the Company. Aggregate environmental-related accruals were $1.5 million and $1.6 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Although in the opinion of management none of our environmental litigation matters or governmental proceedings is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, it is possible that the actual amounts of liabilities resulting from such matters could be material.

There is an ongoing securities class action lawsuit against the Company and certain of its current and former officers pending before Judge Richard Smoak in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Meyer v. The St. Joe Company et al., No. 5:11-cv-00027). A consolidated class action complaint was filed in the case on February 24, 2011 alleging various securities laws violations primarily related to the Company's accounting for its real estate assets. The complaint seeks an unspecified amount in damages. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the case on April 6, 2011, which the court granted without prejudice on August 24, 2011. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 23, 2011. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on October 24, 2011.

Additionally, on March 29, 2011 and July 21, 2011, two separate derivative lawsuits were filed by shareholders on behalf of the Company against certain of its officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Nakata v. Greene et. al., No. 5:11-cv-00090 and Packer v. Greene et al., No. 3:11-cv-00344). The complaints allege breaches of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment arising from substantially similar allegations as those described above in the Meyer case. The Company has received two other demand letters asking the Board of Directors to initiate derivative litigation in this matter. On June 6, 2011, the court granted the parties' motion to stay the Nakata action pending the outcome of the Meyer action. On September 12, 2011, a third derivative lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Florida (Shurkin v. Berkowitz, et al., No. 5:11-cv-304) making similar claims as those in the Nakata and Packer actions. On September 16, 2011, plaintiffs in Nakata and Packer filed a joint motion to consolidate all derivative actions and appoint lead counsel. On October 3, 2011, plaintiff in Shurkin filed a cross motion seeking separate lead counsel for Shurkin and coordination of Shurkin with the other derivative cases. On October 6, 2011, the Company filed a response in which it stated that all derivative cases should be consolidated. On October 14, 2011, Nakata and Packer plaintiffs filed an amended joint motion seeking consolidation of those two cases only. On October 21, 2011, the court issued an order consolidating the Nakata and Packer actions.

The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the above referenced claims and intends to defend the actions vigorously.

On January 4, 2011 the SEC notified the Company it was conducting an inquiry into the Company's policies and practices concerning impairment of investment in real estate assets. On June 24, 2011, the Company received notice from the SEC that it has issued a related order of private investigation. The order of private investigation covers a variety of matters for the period beginning January 1, 2007 including (a) the antifraud provisions of the Federal securities laws as applicable to the Company and its past and present officers, directors, employees, partners, subsidiaries, and/or affiliates, and/or other persons or entities, (b) compliance by past and present reporting persons or entities who were or are directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's common stock (which includes Fairholme Funds, Inc, Fairholme Capital Management L.L.C. and the Company's current Chairman Bruce R. Berkowitz) with their reporting obligations under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, (c) internal controls, (d) books and records, (e) communications with auditors and (f) financial reports. The order designates officers of the SEC to take the testimony of the Company and third parties with respect to any or all of these matters, and the Company is cooperating with the SEC.

The Company carries a standby guarantee liability of $0.8 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 related to the strategic alliance agreement with SouthWest Airlines.

The Company has retained certain self-insurance risks with respect to losses for third party liability and property damage.

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company was party to surety bonds of $28.8 million and $27.9 million, respectively, and standby letters of credit in the amount of $0.8 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 which may potentially result in liability to the Company if the underlying obligations, primarily development and litigation related obligations, of the Company are not met.