Seawall repair, docks and boat lifts in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale's seawall height rule

Fort Lauderdale revised its tidal barrier ordinance in 2023. According to the city's FAQ:

• 5 ft NAVD88 is the minimum for new or substantially repaired tidal barriers.
• 4 ft NAVD88 is allowed for structures permitted before January 1, 2035, if they're designed to be raised to 5 ft by January 1, 2050.
• The city's earlier rule, from 2016, set 3.9 ft NAVD88, so many walls built in the last decade sit below today's standard.

The county's rule on keeping walls in repair applies too: a wall that lets tidal water flow through or over it is presumed to be in disrepair, with 60 days to show progress after a citation and 365 days to finish. See Broward's 5 ft rule for the full picture.

Living seawalls: permit fees waived

Fort Lauderdale's Living Seawall Permit Fee Assistance Program waives 100% of the seawall building permit base fee for qualifying "living" seawalls. The base fee is 1.75% of the job value, and the waiver is capped at $3,500 for single-family homes and $7,000 for condos, townhomes and other multi-family or commercial properties. To qualify:

• the wall is a vertical seawall of concrete, steel, vinyl or similar, with habitat-enhancing features on the water side, such as textured retrofit panels that mimic mangrove roots or tidal pools
• at least 51% of the wall's surface is "living"
• the wall meets the city's required NAVD elevation

You start with an online interest form, and the city's Chief Waterways Officer helps with the application, which goes in with the seawall permit.

Permits in Fort Lauderdale

Expect two approvals: a city building permit, and a Broward County environmental licence for the work in the water. Some projects need state or federal approval as well. Your contractor should apply for all of them in their own name. More on our Broward permits page.

What seawall work costs in Fort Lauderdale

One Fort Lauderdale contractor publishes $1,500–2,200 per linear foot for concrete seawall replacement and $1,200–2,000 per foot for vinyl. South Florida contractors put targeted repairs at about $100–600 per foot. Raising a wall to 5 ft, working from a barge and difficult soil all add cost. See the seawall cost guide.

Docks and lifts

Elevator lifts on the seawall or pilings are common on the city's narrower canals. Four-post lifts suit wider frontage. City code limits how far docks and lifts extend into the waterway, so the contractor should confirm your lot's limits before designing. See docks and boat lifts in Broward.

Getting a quote

Send us the details using the form below. We'll pass them to one licensed, insured contractor who works in Fort Lauderdale, and they'll call to arrange a look at the job. It's free, and there's no obligation.

Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale, tidal barrier ordinance FAQ and Living Seawall Permit Fee Assistance Program.

This page summarizes published rules and prices for general information. It isn't engineering or legal advice, and codes change. Your contractor, engineer and building department have the final word for your property.

Common questions