WallDockDeck
Surfside · Miami-Dade County

How high does a seawall have to be in Surfside?

BFEFEMA base flood elevation, max town DFE

Surfside ties its seawall height to the FEMA flood map, not to a fixed number. Since Ordinance 23-1734 (14 March 2023), the top of a seawall on Biscayne Bay, Indian Creek or Point Lake must be at or above the base flood elevation on the FIRM, may not exceed the town's minimum design flood elevation, and must be built so at least two more feet can be added later. Code Sec. 90-63.4.

Source: Town of Surfside Code of Ordinances Sec. 90-63 (90-63.1, 90-63.3, 90-63.4), as amended by Ord. No. 23-1734, Sec. 2, 3-14-23 (Municode); Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 24 · Verified 2026-10

The detail

MinimumAt or above the base flood elevation (BFE) on the applicable FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, for every seawall fronting Biscayne Bay, Indian Creek and Point Lake. Surfside Code Sec. 90-63.4.
MaximumNo higher than the town's minimum design flood elevation (DFE), which the code puts at approximately plus 8.5 NAVD as of the 2023 ordinance. Sec. 90-63.4(a).
Built to go higherThe wall must be structurally designed and built to take at least two feet of additional elevation for projected sea level rise. Sec. 90-63.4(b).
When it appliesA new seawall; repairs or renovations costing more than 50% of a new seawall; a new home; or renovations to an existing home exceeding 50% of the home's fair market value. Sec. 90-63.4(c).
The house can trigger the wallBuilding a new home, or renovating one past half its value, brings the seawall under this rule even when nobody planned to touch the wall. Sec. 90-63.4(c)(iii)-(iv).
Mind the datumYour BFE is read from the FIRM in the datum the map states, and the DFE cap is given in NAVD. Take both from your survey and the map rather than converting by rule of thumb.
No county floorMiami-Dade sets no countywide elevation, so the town's rule is the one that governs.
The county still permitsMiami-Dade RER-DERM review under Chapter 24 applies regardless of the town's elevation.

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 Miami-Dade County, and where each city departs from it.

Miami-Dade CountySeawall requirements county-wide

The same question, nearby

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

Miami-DadeMiami BeachMiami-DadeCoral GablesMiami-DadeMiami

Other questions about Surfside

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

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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