WallDockDeck
Riviera Beach · Palm Beach County

Do I need a permit to repair a seawall in Riviera Beach?

Yesbuilding permit

Yes. Riviera Beach incorporates the Florida Building Code, plus city amendments recommended by the county advisory board, as its building code, so seawall repair needs a building permit. Since 1963 no fill may be placed channel-ward of the city's Lake Worth bulkhead lines.

Source: City of Riviera Beach Code Ch. 22 Secs. 22-31, 22-61, 22-63; Sec. 31-557 (Supp. 65); s. 403.813(1)(e), 161.053, 553.79 F.S. (2026); r. 62-330.051, 18-21.005 F.A.C.; 33 CFR 322.3(a); PBC ERM Permitting and Regulation page · Verified 2026-10

The detail

CityFlorida Building Code incorporated as the city's building code, with the 'Riviera Beach Amendments to the Florida Building Code 7th Edition (2020)', as recommended by the Palm Beach County Building Code Advisory Board, kept on file at the building division - Sec. 22-31
Bulkhead linesSince 27 Feb 1963 no fill or extension of land channel-ward of the bulkhead lines in Lake Worth - Secs. 22-61, 22-63; the line west of the Intracoastal runs from U.S. harbor line point no. 71 (approved 1926) north toward Blue Heron Boulevard - Sec. 22-61(a)
DocksDock permits need PE-sealed plans showing the top-of-seawall elevation plus written DEP or SFWMD and Army Corps authorization (a DEP self-certification printout can suffice) - Sec. 31-557(f)(2)
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)

Your city's height sheet

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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

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

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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.

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