Seawall inspections in Jupiter
Seawall inspections in Jupiter, where a new wall may go 18 in in front of the old one, once.
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We inspect the cap, face, joints, tiebacks and toe at low tide and tell you plainly what to fix now, what can wait and what your city requires.
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The short answer
Jupiter lets a replacement seawall go up to 18 in waterward of the old one, but only once (Code 27-2624). NOAA's Jupiter Inlet gauge shows a 2.75 ft great diurnal range, one of the larger tides in South Florida.
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When to book an inspection
Book one when something changes, not only when something breaks.
- After a city citation or warning
- Before buying or selling a waterfront home
- After a hurricane or a run of king tides
- When you see new cracks, stains or sinkholes
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.
An inspection report tells you which side of that line your wall sits on before a city notice does.[1]
Inlet tide on the Loxahatchee
NOAA's Jupiter Inlet south jetty station records a 2.39 ft mean range and a 2.75 ft great diurnal range, with mean higher high water about 0.19 ft above NAVD 88 (1983 to 2001 epoch). Lift travel and floating dock gangways near the inlet are planned from this gauge.
We inspect at the lowest tide of the week so the lower wall face and the toe are visible.[2]
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.
Every inspection records the cap elevation against that standard.[1][3]
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.[5]
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][4]
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.
What we check
We walk the full length of the wall from the land and the water.
- Cap: cracks, spalling, rust staining, height against the local standard
- Face and panels: cracks, open joints, lean
- Tiebacks and anchors: signs of movement
- Toe: scour or undercutting
- Land side: sinkholes, soft ground, weep holes
Who is responsible for a private seawall?
The property owner. Miami Beach requires owners to correct walls that let tidal water flow over or through them and can cite owners with no seawall at all. Fort Lauderdale presumes a wall is in disrepair if it lets upland soil erode, material pass through it, or tidal water flow onto neighbours or the street, and gives owners 60 days to show progress and 365 days to finish.[6][7]
| City | Show progress | Finish | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Beach | 60 days | 730 days | 10 days to appeal; fines $250 then $500 per day |
| Fort Lauderdale | 60 days | 365 days | Disrepair presumed if water or soil passes through |
Frequently asked questions
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.
How much does the tide move in Jupiter?
At NOAA's Jupiter Inlet south jetty station, a 2.39 ft mean range and a 2.75 ft great diurnal range (1983 to 2001 epoch).
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)).
Sources
- Marine Structure: Seawalls permit checklist (revised January 2021), Town of Jupiter Building Department. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Datums for station 8722495, Jupiter Inlet, south jetty (tidal epoch 1983 to 2001), NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), Tides and Currents. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Flood Zones and Insurance Information, Town of Jupiter. Accessed October 28, 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.
- Seawall FAQs (Miami Beach Rising Above, PDF dated 6.16.25), City of Miami Beach. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Staff Report, Planning and Zoning Board, 16 Nov 2022, Case UDP-T22010 (Tidal barrier / seawall ordinance amendment, ULDR 47-19.3), City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- 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.
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