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West Palm Beach · Palm Beach County

Do I need a permit to repair a seawall in West Palm Beach?

Yesbuilding permit

Yes. West Palm Beach's building code chapter recognizes the Florida Building Code, which governs repair as well as construction of structures. City shoreline rules allow hardening only where erosion threatens life and property and vegetation has failed, and a replacement bulkhead must include sloping riprap or permeable material with vegetation.

Source: City of West Palm Beach Code Ch. 18 Secs. 18-31, 18-296; Ch. 94 Sec. 94-378 (enCodePlus); 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

CityThe Florida Building Code governs the 'design, construction, erection, alteration, modification, repair, and demolition' of buildings and structures - Sec. 18-31
HardeningShoreline hardening structures may be used only if erosion is a threat to life and property and vegetation has failed to stabilize the shoreline - Sec. 94-378(b)(3)
Replacement design'New shoreline hardening structures or replacement of any existing bulkheads shall consist of or include sloping structures of rip-rap or permeable materials combined with vegetation' - Sec. 94-378(b)(4)
Flood zone VSeawalls only if also authorized by the appropriate federal, state or local authority, with a design-professional analysis - Sec. 18-296(g)
HabitatA coastal-area development may cause no net loss of marine or terrestrial habitat or native shoreline vegetation, and natural shoreline without wetland plants must be planted with them - Sec. 94-378(b)(1)-(2); no new structure may constrict water circulation in Lake Worth - Sec. 94-378(a)(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)
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

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.

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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.

A screening sheet for owners, not an engineering inspection.

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