Government figures put a new or replacement seawall in South Florida at $650 to $2,000 per linear foot (Fort Lauderdale contractor survey, 2016), and Miami Beach's rule of thumb was $1,000 to $1,500 per linear foot to bring an old wall up to code (2017). Engineering and permitting added $2,000 to $5,000 per job, and prices have risen since.
How much does a seawall cost per foot?
The best public figures come from city governments. In May and June 2016, the City of Fort Lauderdale surveyed seawall contractors and found $650 to $2,000 per linear foot, depending on the depth of the waterway and where the wall sits.[1] In 2017, Miami Beach told owners to expect $1,000 to $1,500 per linear foot to bring an old seawall up to code.[2]
| Item | Figure | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| New or replacement seawall | $650 to $2,000 per linear foot | 2016, Fort Lauderdale |
| Old seawall brought up to code | $1,000 to $1,500 per linear foot | 2017, Miami Beach |
| Engineering and permitting | $2,000 to $5,000 per job | 2016, Fort Lauderdale |
| Adding a 12-inch cap | $75 to $125 per linear foot | 2016, Fort Lauderdale |
| Cap spall repair | $60 per cubic foot of epoxy mortar | 2016, Fort Lauderdale |
What a 75 foot seawall works out at
On a typical 75 foot lot, the 2016 range of $650 to $2,000 per linear foot is about $48,750 to $150,000, before engineering, permits, dock or lift resets and yard repair.[1] The national cost guides that AI answers often quote are based on lake and inland walls, which are smaller and simpler than a tidal wall on Biscayne Bay or the Intracoastal.
What drives the price?
- Water depth and wall height. Deeper water means longer panels or sheet piles, and city height rules mean taller walls.
- Access. Most walls are built from a barge; tight canals and low bridges add time.
- The old wall. Most new walls go in front of the old one, within the 18 inch limit in Florida law and Miami-Dade's short form.[4][3]
- Permits and engineering. Fort Lauderdale's survey put these at $2,000 to $5,000 per job.[1]
- Height rules. A wall built to Miami Beach's 5.7 ft NAVD or Coral Gables' 6 ft NGVD 1929 costs more than a like-for-like replacement.[5][6]
Permit fees in Miami-Dade
DERM's Class I fees depend on construction cost. For a $20,000 to $74,999 job, the application fee is $470 plus $25 per $1,000 above $10,000, and the short-form permit fee is the same formula, both plus a 7.5% surcharge.[3] Your city's building permit fee is separate.
Grants and fee breaks
How long will a new seawall last?
Fort Lauderdale's ordinance FAQ assumed a design life of about 50 years, and city engineers described 30 to 50 years for a wall built today.[1]
Get a real number
The only accurate price is a quote for your wall. Start with seawall replacement or seawall repair, or see the rules in Miami Beach and Coral Gables.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a seawall in Florida?
City government figures for South Florida put it at $650 to $2,000 per linear foot (Fort Lauderdale, 2016) and $1,000 to $1,500 per linear foot to bring an old wall up to code (Miami Beach, 2017), plus $2,000 to $5,000 for engineering and permits.
How much does a 100 foot seawall cost?
At the 2016 Fort Lauderdale range of $650 to $2,000 per linear foot, about $65,000 to $200,000 before engineering, permits and other work. Expect more today.
Is seawall replacement covered by grants?
In Miami Beach, the PPA grant reimburses 50% of eligible costs up to $20,000. Coral Gables offers fee breaks rather than grants.
Sources
- Seawalls and Sea Level Rise Induced Flooding (Florida Sea Grant compilation, includes City of Fort Lauderdale 'Frequently Asked Questions: Seawall Ordinance Implementation', 25 Jan 2017), Florida Sea Grant (reproducing City of Fort Lauderdale and Florida Bar ELULS material). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Rising Above the Risk: Frequently Asked Questions (05/05/2017), City of Miami Beach. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Class I Permit Application for Coastal Construction and Mangrove Trimming within Miami-Dade County (Revised May 2025), Miami-Dade County RER, Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), Coastal Resources Section. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 403.813: Permits issued at district centers; exceptions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Seawall FAQs (Miami Beach Rising Above, PDF dated 6.16.25), City of Miami Beach. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- CAO 2022-007: Legal Opinion Regarding Scrivener's Error in Zoning Code 3-706 Bulkheads and Retaining Walls (17 Aug 2022), City of Coral Gables, City Attorney. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Private Property Adaptation (PPA) program, City of Miami Beach (Miami Beach Rising Above). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Solar, Open Air Dining, and Other Permits, City of Coral Gables. Accessed October 27, 2026.
