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Seawall permits in Palm Beach County: state exemptions, county checklist and 2026 Army Corps permits

Updated November 6, 2026

Three layers of approval, what each one says in its own words, and where the exemptions stop.

Most seawall work in Palm Beach County needs a local building permit, but restoring a seawall in its existing location, or no more than 18 inches waterward of it, is exempt from state environmental permits under Florida Statute 403.813(1)(e). Federal work in navigable water falls under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers nationwide permits that took effect March 15, 2026. The local building permit is still required either way. In unincorporated Palm Beach County, the county Building Division's Type 8 marine checklist asks for engineered seawall drawings and proof of state and federal approval or exemption.

This is a plain-language summary of public documents, not legal or engineering advice. The contractor who pulls the permit and your city or county building department have the final word.

Layer 1: State (Florida DEP and the water management district)

Florida Statute 403.813(1) lists projects for which "a permit is not required under this chapter, chapter 373" (the state environmental resource permit chapters). Three apply to seawalls:

Two limits matter. The exemption does not relieve an owner of "any requirement to obtain permission to use or occupy lands owned by the Board of Trustees" (state submerged lands), and it does not override "requirements of county and municipal governments." It also says a local government "may not require a person claiming this exception to provide further department verification." Source: The 2026 Florida Statutes, s. 403.813, fetched November 6, 2026.

Layer 2: Federal (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The Corps reissued its nationwide permits in the Federal Register on January 8, 2026 (document 2026-00121, 91 FR 768): 57 nationwide permits that "go into effect on March 15, 2026" and "expire on March 15, 2031." Two are the usual fit for seawalls:

• NWP 3, Maintenance: "The repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of any previously authorized, currently serviceable structure or fill," with minor deviations allowed for changes in materials or current codes.
• NWP 13, Bank Stabilization: covers bulkheads, riprap and revetments up to 500 feet along the bank. The district engineer can waive that limit in writing, but not for a bulkhead longer than 1,000 feet. A pre-construction notification is required if the work is over 500 feet or involves special aquatic sites. The 2026 text also authorizes "nature-based" seawall features such as textured panels and rock placed against the wall.

Source: Federal Register document 2026-00121, full text fetched November 6, 2026.

Layer 3: Local building permit (Palm Beach County Type 8 checklist)

For unincorporated Palm Beach County, the Building Division's Type 8 Marine Structures application checklist (dock, seawall, boatlift) lists:

• Completed application, and the owner/builder affidavit if the owner pulls the permit.
• An attestation that the work conforms to the approvals of the "Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction" over the water.
• HOA approval letter for work in a common area, and easement releases or agency approvals for work in an easement.
• Two sets of surveys, with proposed improvements drawn to scale.
• "Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Inland Navigational District, and Army Corp of Engineers Approval or Exemption, as applies."
• For seawalls: "Plan and section views" and "Engineered, detailed construction drawings."

The checklist also tells applicants that marine work may need approval from the Corps, the Florida Inland Navigation District, FDEP, county Environmental Resources Management and the South Florida Water Management District, and to contact them before applying. Inside a city (West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boca Raton and others), apply to that city's building department, which may add its own rules, such as the minimum cap heights by city. Source: Palm Beach County Building Division Type 8 checklist PDF, fetched November 6, 2026.

How long it takes

One contractor's published estimates: a standard residential canal seawall takes 4 to 8 weeks from application to permit; an Intracoastal seawall 6 to 12 weeks, because of Army Corps review (JKT Marine permit guide, fetched November 6, 2026). The same firm's cost page says county building permits typically take 4 to 10 weeks for standard residential projects. Treat these as one company's experience, not agency processing standards.

Who pulls the permit

Usually the licensed contractor. An owner can pull it as owner/builder, which the Type 8 checklist says requires the owner to "appear personally." Before you sign, read our guide to deposits, the Notice of Commencement and lien rules, and compare prices on the seawall cost per foot page.