Duval County · Jacksonville · 32223 · 32257 · 32258

Mandarin

Mandarin occupies the southernmost part of Jacksonville on the east bank of the St. Johns River, bordered by Beauclerc to the north, Julington Creek (the Duval/St. Johns county line) to the south and the river to the west. Development ran rapidly south along SR 13 (San Jose Blvd) through the 1970s–1990s, producing mostly single-family subdivisions on suburban and wooded lots, with riverfront and creek-front estates along Mandarin Rd and Scott Mill Rd. It adjoins Julington Creek/Fruit Cove (St. Johns County), Bartram Park to the east, and the Buckman Bridge (I-295) to Orange Park.

Median sale

$400,000

as of 2026-06

CDD

Some

School district

Duval

Find zoned schools ↗

To downtown

25 min

typical off-peak

Housing stock

Mostly 1970s–early-2000s single-family homes (ranch, contemporary, brick traditional) on quarter- to half-acre lots, with older Mandarin homes and larger acreage/waterfront parcels along Mandarin Rd and Loretto Rd; townhomes and condos cluster near San Jose Blvd, Old St. Augustine Rd and I-295. Many 1970s–90s subdivisions have no HOA and no CDD; newer gated sections carry HOAs. Not a historic district; Walter Jones Historical Park preserves historic structures.

Flood zones

Predominantly FEMA Zone X inland, but riverfront parcels on the St. Johns River and lots along Julington Creek, Goodbys Creek and their tributaries carry Zone AE with established base flood elevations. Old Mandarin riverfront areas flooded during Hurricane Irma (2017). Verify at msc.fema.gov or the Duval Property Appraiser map; AE parcels need an elevation certificate for NFIP rating (City keeps ECs for floodplain structures built since 1992).

Insurance factors

Typical 1970s–90s stock means most homes trigger 4-point inspections (over 20 years old); roof age over 15 years, original polybutylene or galvanized plumbing, aluminum branch wiring (1960s–70s builds) and Federal Pacific/Zinsco panels are the common findings. Wind-mitigation credits for hip roofs/clips. Septic systems remain in some older Mandarin neighborhoods (JEA Septic Tank Phase-Out program lists Mandarin/Julington Creek-area projects). Condos of 3+ habitable stories fall under milestone/SIRS rules.

CDD and HOA

Most established Mandarin subdivisions have no CDD; CDDs appear mainly in newer communities toward Bartram Park/32258 and across the county line.

None in many 1970s–90s subdivisions; where present typically modest annual dues, higher in gated or amenity communities.

Short-term rentals

City of Jacksonville framework applies: no city-specific STR registration ordinance on jacksonville.gov; Florida Statute 509.032(7) preempts local bans; DBPR vacation-rental license, Duval local business tax receipt and tourist tax registration required. HOA covenants in many Mandarin subdivisions may restrict rentals.

Getting around

SR 13 / San Jose Blvd is the spine; I-295 (Buckman Bridge to Clay County, ~3 miles long, with periodic lane-closure weekends), Old St. Augustine Rd, Loretto Rd, Sunbeam Rd and Hood Rd connect to I-95. Julington Creek bridge on SR 13 is the link to St. Johns County. JTA Route 25 (San Jose/University Hub) and the First Coast Flyer Blue Line at University Hub/Avenues area serve the corridor; Buckman Bridge and the I-295/San Jose interchange are the main chokepoints.

Before you make an offer here

Is the property on septic or JEA sewer, and is it in a JEA septic-to-sewer phase-out area?
Parcel flood zone relative to Julington Creek, Goodbys Creek or the St. Johns River and existence of an elevation certificate.
Roof age, plumbing type (polybutylene/galvanized), wiring type and panel brand from the 4-point inspection.
Whether the subdivision has an HOA/CDD and what the recorded covenants say about rentals, fences and RV/boat storage.
Well vs. JEA water service and whether irrigation runs on a private well.

Sources

Updated 2026-08-25. Facts change — verify anything material before you rely on it.