Seawall cap repair and replacement
Replace a cracked cap or add a new cap to raise your wall.
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A new cap seals the top of the wall, ties the panels together and can add height. We check first that the existing wall can carry the extra weight.
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- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
Adding a 12-inch concrete cap to an existing seawall was estimated at $75 to $125 per linear foot in Fort Lauderdale's 2016 survey. In Miami-Dade, cap repair or replacement with structurally approved plans gets an expedited DERM authorisation with a $75 review fee instead of a full Class I permit (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025).
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When a new cap is the right fix
A cap replacement suits a wall whose panels are sound but whose cap is cracked, spalled or too low.
- Cracked or spalled cap with rust staining
- Wall a little below the city's new height
- Panels separating at the top
Typical project sizes
Cap jobs usually run the full length of the lot. At the 2016 rate of $75 to $125 per linear foot, a 12-inch cap on 75 feet of wall is about $5,625 to $9,375 before permits.
Can the wall take a new cap?
Not always. Whether a cap can be added depends on whether the existing wall can bear the weight, which a marine or structural engineer must assess. A wall that cannot take it needs replacing instead.[1]
Permits for cap work
Miami-Dade DERM gives cap repair or replacement an expedited administrative authorisation when the building department has approved the structural plans. At the state level, seawall caps, batter piles and king piles used only to stabilise and repair seawalls fall under an exemption in rule 62-330.051(12)(d).[2][3]
Caps and city height rules
In Miami Beach a wall may be built to 4 ft NAVD if it is designed to support a future 5.7 ft NAVD, so the cap and footing need to be designed for that later raise. In Boca Raton the city must approve a location survey before the cap is poured, and a final engineer report confirms the cap elevation.[4][5]
| Item | Figure | Source year |
|---|---|---|
| New 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) |
| DERM expedited cap review | $75 plus 7.5% surcharge | 2025 (Miami-Dade) |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a seawall cap cost?
Fort Lauderdale's 2016 estimate for adding a 12-inch cap was $75 to $125 per linear foot. Replacing a damaged cap adds demolition, and prices have risen since 2016.
Does raising a seawall cap need a permit?
Yes. In Miami-Dade it needs structurally approved plans from the building department and an expedited DERM authorisation, plus your city's building permit.
Can I just add height to my existing seawall?
Only if an engineer confirms the wall can carry the extra load. If it cannot, the wall needs replacing.
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.
- 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.
- Department of the Army State Programmatic General Permit VI (SPGP VI), SAJ-2015-2575, State of Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (document hosted by Florida DEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Seawall FAQs (Miami Beach Rising Above, PDF dated 6.16.25), City of Miami Beach. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Seawalls and Marine Structures, City of Boca Raton. 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.
- Rising Above the Risk: Frequently Asked Questions (05/05/2017), 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.
- 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.
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