TownSeawalls 'shall require a building permit' - Sec. 64-77(g); new, substantially repaired or rehabilitated walls are built under a town building permit once all other agencies' permits are acquired - Sec. 64-82(d)
Substantial repairModification along more than 50% of the shoreline, or over 50% of engineer-certified fair market replacement cost; docks and piles are not counted - Sec. 64-82(c)(5)
Minimum heightTop including cap at least 5 ft NAVD88 - Sec. 64-82(a)(1); an existing wall must also comply when the principal house is substantially damaged or improved - Sec. 64-82(b); not applied to Atlantic Ocean frontage - Sec. 64-82(f)
WaterwardA substantially repaired wall may project up to 18 in. waterward of the property line, no further; cap no wider than 2 ft - Sec. 64-82(a)(3)a., (a)(4)
UpkeepA wall that lets tidal water flow through is presumed in disrepair, a citable violation - Sec. 64-82(e) (Ord. 2025-03)
Neighbors and capsWalls are to adjoin neighboring seawalls where practicable to close gaps and stop tidal water trespassing; a cap set higher than the adjacent property needs a wall return of the same material or an engineer-approved one - Sec. 64-82(a)(2), (a)(3)c., (a)(6)
No new wallsA new seawall is not allowed where there was never a seawall or a principal structure, unless it protects publicly owned property - Sec. 64-82(g)
State (FDEP)Restoring a seawall in place or up to 18 in. waterward can be exempt from an Environmental Resource Permit where it was damaged within the last year by a discrete event or needs only minimal backfilling, and any chapter 161 permits are obtained (s. 403.813(1)(e) F.S.; r. 62-330.051(12)(b) F.A.C.); batter piles, king piles or a cap used only to stabilize and repair a wall are also exempt (r. 62-330.051(12)(d))
State-owned bottomExempt work on sovereign submerged land still needs separate authorization under chs. 253 and 258 F.S., which the Board of Trustees grants by rule for many exempt activities (r. 62-330.051 intro; r. 18-21.005(1)(b) F.A.C.)
CountyPalm Beach County ERM's Permitting and Regulation page lists no seawall or shoreline permit program among its topics (PBC ERM Permitting and Regulation page)
Ocean sideSeaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line a wall needs a separate state coastal construction permit; the chapter 161 repair exemption expressly excludes seawalls (s. 161.053(2)(a), (11)(a) F.S.)
Small-job exemptionThe state's under-$7,500 single-family permit exemption does not cover structural work or property in a flood hazard area (s. 553.79(1)(g)2. F.S.)
FederalA U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Department of the Army) authorization is required for structures or work in or affecting navigable waters, unless exempt or covered by a nationwide or regional general permit - 33 CFR 322.3(a) (Rivers and Harbors Act s. 10)