Sea Walls in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Guardians of the Coastline: Protecting Property and Preserving Beauty — serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding waterfront communities.
Do I need a permit to repair or replace a seawall in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Since March 2023, Fort Lauderdale's tidal-barrier and seawall ordinance has required new or substantially repaired seawalls to meet raised minimum top-of-bank elevations aligned with Broward County's regional flood-resilience standard, and the work requires a city permit plus, depending on scope, Broward County EPGMD environmental review.
Why are so many seawalls being replaced in Fort Lauderdale right now?
Many of Fort Lauderdale's seawalls predate current flood-resilience standards. Under the city's 2023 ordinance, older, lower seawalls no longer meet code once they need substantial repair, which is prompting more full replacements across canal neighborhoods citywide.
What sea walls looks like in Fort Lauderdale
Much of Fort Lauderdale's waterfront sits in FEMA Zone AE or VE, and in March 2023 the city adopted a tidal-barrier and seawall ordinance that raised minimum seawall and top-of-bank elevations to match Broward County's regional flood-resilience standard.
Fort Lauderdale has roughly 165 miles of navigable inland waterways within city limits, which is why the city is known as the "Venice of America."
Fort Lauderdale's March 2023 tidal-barrier and seawall ordinance raised minimum seawall cap elevations, directly affecting how replacement seawalls are engineered.
With roughly 165 miles of navigable canals, seawalls line the vast majority of residential waterfront in the city, making seawall condition a common concern in canal neighborhoods like Rio Vista and Coral Ridge.
Broward County's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division reviews shoreline stabilization work, adding a county-level review step beyond the city permit.
We regularly work in Las Olas Isles, Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, Coral Ridge and Seven Isles, and coordinate permitting with the City of Fort Lauderdale (waterway ordinance and building permits, with unusual dock configurations reviewed by the city's Marine Advisory Board), coordinated with Broward County's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division (EPGMD) and, where applicable, FDEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For the complete breakdown of our sea walls process, materials, and options, see the full Sea Walls page. Want to explore other cities we serve? Visit Areas Served.
Sea Walls in Fort Lauderdale — Frequently Asked Questions
Watson Marine inspects the existing seawall's condition and elevation, confirms what the 2023 ordinance requires for the site, submits city and (where applicable) Broward County EPGMD permit applications, and builds to the current elevation standard.
Ready to build on the water in Fort Lauderdale?
Tell us about your Fort Lauderdale property and what you need built — we'll follow up to schedule a site visit and put together a quote.