Bulkheads in Jupiter
Bulkheads in Jupiter, where a seawall cap may not rise above base flood elevation.
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The short answer
In Jupiter the top of a seawall cap must be at or below the property's base flood elevation, read from FEMA maps effective 20 December 2024. Jupiter borders two aquatic preserves, so river and sound docks face the 500 sq ft Outstanding Florida Waters limit and SFWMD review.
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Who this is for
Owners and associations with a bulkhead that leaks, leans or sits below the local height standard.
A cap no higher than base flood elevation
Jupiter caps seawalls from above: the top of the concrete cap, in NAVD, must be at or below the property's base flood elevation (Code 27-2624(8)). Since FEMA's new maps took effect on 20 December 2024, the BFE on the current map is the number to check before a cap is designed.
Two aquatic preserves meet at Jupiter
The Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve (1,800 acres, 1970) borders Jupiter and Tequesta, and the Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve (23,000 acres) has been Outstanding Florida Waters since 1979. On those waters the state dock exemption falls to 500 sq ft, and SFWMD approval is needed for structures in natural waterways.
Grass beds decide where barges can anchor and where piles can go.[3][4][5][1]
An 18 inch allowance, once
A replacement bulkhead in Jupiter may go up to 18 in waterward of the existing one, or landward of mean high water, and the Town treats that as a one-time-only allowance (Code 27-2624). The permit survey must show the mean high water line in NAVD88 plus existing and proposed riprap and mangroves.
Repairing an old bulkhead can trigger the full height rule, so we check first.[1]
What makes Jupiter different
Town Code 27-2626 keeps half of every waterway clear: a centreline channel of 50% of the waterway width must stay unobstructed, or at least a 15 ft channel where that cannot be met. Only rectangular, T and L shaped docks are allowed unless the Planning and Zoning Director approves another shape.[7]
Who approves what
The Town's checklists ask for FDEP self-certification or exemption verification, Army Corps approval if not included in the DEP decision, and SFWMD approval for structures on submerged lands or in natural waterways such as the Loxahatchee River, the Intracoastal Waterway and Sawfish Bay.[1][6]
Permits in Jupiter
- Town of Jupiter Building and Planning and Zoning: Marine structure permits; dock waivers under Town Code 27-2626.
- Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: FDEP self-certification or exemption verification for canal docks; SFWMD approval for structures in the Loxahatchee River, the Intracoastal and Sawfish Bay.
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Army Corps approval where the FDEP decision does not include it, as the Town checklists note.
Where state exemptions stop
Florida exempts restoring a seawall at its previous location or within 18 inches waterward, and allows seawalls in artificial waterways. The exemption does not cover new vertical seawalls in estuaries or lagoons unless they sit inside an existing manmade canal already lined with seawalls.[5]
Frequently asked questions
Is there a maximum seawall height in Jupiter?
Yes. The top of the cap in NAVD must be less than or equal to the property's base flood elevation (Code 27-2624(8)).
Why are river docks in Jupiter harder to permit?
The Loxahatchee and Jupiter Sound are aquatic preserve waters, so dock exemptions are smaller and SFWMD must approve structures in natural waterways.
Can a new seawall be built in front of the old one in Jupiter?
Up to 18 in waterward of the existing bulkhead, as a one-time-only allowance, with a sealed survey showing mean high water, riprap and mangroves.
Sources
- Marine Structure: Seawalls permit checklist (revised January 2021), Town of Jupiter Building Department. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Flood Zones and Insurance Information, Town of Jupiter. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 403.813: Permits issued at district centers; exceptions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Marine Structure: Docks permit checklist (revised January 2021), Town of Jupiter Building Department. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Application for Dock Waiver (form dated 14 Mar 2016, quoting Town Code 27-2626), Town of Jupiter Department of Planning and Zoning. Accessed October 28, 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.
- Construction Industry Licensing Board: Archives (HB 1383 / SB 1142 specialty licensing changes), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board. Accessed October 27, 2026.
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