WallDockDeck
Riviera Beach · Palm Beach County

What are the deck setback and railing rules in Riviera Beach?

0 ftpool decks may extend to the rear line and connect to a dock on the water

Riviera Beach normally keeps pool decks, platforms and screen enclosures 7 ft from the rear line, but when the lot abuts a body of water the pool deck may extend to the property line and tie into a permitted dock. The pool's water's edge still stays 7 ft back.

Source: City of Riviera Beach Code Sec. 31-546 (Supp. 65); Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Ed. (2023) R312.1.1-R312.1.3 (ICC Digital Codes) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Rear yardA minimum 7 ft setback from the rear property line to a pool deck or platform, infinity-edge catch basin or screen enclosure; however, pool decks may extend to the property line and connect to a permitted dock and its decking when abutting a body of water. Water's edge 7 ft from the rear line. Code Sec. 31-546(1).
Side and corner7 ft from side lines; corner lots 12.5 ft from the street sides; through lots 10 ft at the functional rear. Sec. 31-546(2)-(4).
Other pool rules20 inch walk space between walls/screens and water; screening at least 5 ft where visible from a street; a patio next to the pool must drain away from the pool and not onto neighbors. Sec. 31-546.
Oceanfront and commercialEast of North Ocean Drive the pool setback is measured from the 1997 Coastal Construction Control Line; commercial pools need at least 450 sq ft and a 4 ft walkway around. Sec. 31-546.
Where it livesChapter 31 Zoning, Sec. 31-546 'Swimming pools'; residential docks are in Sec. 31-557.
Hedge specA screening hedge must be continuous and dense, planted no more than 24 inches on center from 3-gallon or larger containers. Sec. 31-546(7).
Guards (state rule)Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Sec. R312.1.1-R312.1.3: a guard is required on open sides of a walking surface located more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below at any point within 24 inches of the open edge; it must be at least 36 inches high; openings must not let a 4-inch sphere pass. No local guard amendment was found in this city's code.

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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.

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Other questions about Riviera Beach

Seawall height requirementHow high does a seawall have to be in Riviera Beach?Seawall permit processDo I need a permit to repair a seawall in Riviera Beach?Flood zone & elevationWhat flood zone is Riviera Beach in, and what does it require?Dock permit & size limitsHow big a dock can I build in Riviera Beach?Boat lift rulesWhat are the boat lift rules in Riviera Beach?

Twelve signs a seawall is failing

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