WallDockDeck
Delray Beach · Palm Beach County

How high does a seawall have to be in Delray Beach?

4.2ft NAVD88 minimum

Delray Beach sets one minimum in every flood zone, 4.2 ft NAVD88, and lets the maximum vary with your flood zone. The rule applies when a seawall is built, substantially repaired, or has fixed structures attached to it. Build below 5 ft and the wall must still be engineered so it can be extended to 5 ft later.

Source: City of Delray Beach Land Development Regulations Sec. 7.1.7 and Table 7.1.7(D); Ordinance 23-21, adopted 11 January 2022 · Verified 2026-09

The detail

Minimum, every flood zone4.2 ft NAVD88; Table 7.1.7(D) applies the same minimum to all three flood-zone rows.
When it appliesNew tidal flood barriers, substantial repair or rehabilitation of shorelines and shoreline structures, and installing fixed infrastructure attached to a barrier, such as docks or mooring structures. The applicability sentence ends with the words on the Intracoastal Waterway, so ask the city how it reads that for a canal lot. LDR 7.1.7(B).
Maximum, BFE 5.0 ft or higherThe base flood elevation of the property, from the FEMA map.
Maximum, BFE of 4.0 ft5 ft NAVD88.
Maximum, X zone outside the floodplainMust meet the definition of grade in Section 4.3.4(J)(2).
Build low, engineer highA wall built under 5 ft NAVD88 must be designed and constructed to accommodate a future extension to at least 5 ft.
What counts as substantial repairWork on more than 50% of the length of the structure, cap included, or any work changing the elevation along more than 50% of the length. Then the whole shoreline must meet the minimum.
Sellers must discloseUnder LDR 7.1.7(D)(7), any contract to sell property in a tidally influenced area of Delray Beach, signed after 1 February 2022, must carry a tidal-flood-barrier disclosure in bold capitals of at least 14 point.
To get a permitA survey showing the seawall's location and elevation, plans sealed by a Florida registered engineer, and sign-off from the reviewing agencies first.

Your city's height sheet

The elevation your city requires, the datum it is measured in, and the section of code that says so. One page.

Available for the cities whose rule we have verified and sourced.

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The county rule behind this

What applies across Palm Beach County, and where each city departs from it.

Palm Beach CountySeawall requirements county-wide

The same question, nearby

The rule changes at the city line, not the county line.

Palm BeachBoca RatonPalm BeachJupiterPalm BeachWest Palm BeachPalm BeachNorth Palm Beach

Other questions about Delray Beach

Seawall permit processDo I need a permit to repair a seawall in Delray Beach?Flood zone & elevationWhat flood zone is Delray Beach in, and what does it require?Dock permit & size limitsHow big a dock can I build in Delray Beach?Boat lift rulesWhat are the boat lift rules in Delray Beach?Waterfront deck requirementsWhat are the deck setback and railing rules in Delray Beach?Checking a marine contractorHow do I check a marine contractor in Delray Beach?Storm prep & documentationWhat are the storm and debris rules in Delray Beach?

Twelve signs a seawall is failing

What to look for, where to look for it, and what it means when you find it. Walk your wall in twenty minutes.

A screening sheet for owners, not an engineering inspection.

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