Jensen Beach seawall planning
Seawall, riprap and living shoreline planning in Jensen Beach: Martin County permits, shoreline protection zones, Indian Riverside Park and Nicole.
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Get to know your waterfront
Jensen Beach is an unincorporated Martin County community of about 12,700 residents on the Indian River Lagoon, inside the Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve. Indian River Drive frontage, the Jensen Beach Causeway and county parks such as Indian Riverside Park shape its waterfront.
TIGERweb Census 2020 Census Designated Places layer (POP100, HU100 fields) · Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve
County projects show the costs
Martin County’s Tuckahoe Mansion seawall at Indian Riverside Park drew ten bids from $964,457 to $1,649,374 in 2020, and its 2024 Indian Riverside Park living shoreline was awarded at $2,748,044.21 for breakwaters, mangrove toe stone and seawall removal.
During Nicole, Indian River Drive north of the causeway washed out and causeway docks were damaged. Replacing a permitted wall starts at the Building Department; new hardening needs a Growth Management Shoreline Stabilization Permit, and the county favors living shorelines. Supplemental Memorandum, Contracts That Meet the Threshold for Board Approval (21-0014); RFB2020-3264 Bid Tabulation; revised CIP sheet 12/8/2020 · Tropical Storm Nicole: Live updates, what to know Thursday about storm's impact to Martin County (Nov. 10-11, 2022) · Shoreline Stabilization Permitting (SSP) Application Help Document
What could the work cost?
Ask for a living-shoreline or riprap alternative; Martin County’s fees and review times are lower for vegetation-based work.
Published examples are attributed context from Treasure Coast and nearby South Florida sources, not a Port St. Lucie average or a quote. Your wall needs a property-specific written scope.
Compare quotes and plan a budget →Find the relevant permits and records
| Starting point | What to resolve | Prepare and look up |
|---|---|---|
Martin County Building Department | Repair or replacement of a previously permitted seawall; docks, lifts and pilings. | Survey dated after Oct. 4, 2002 with NAVD elevations, sealed drawings, DEP permit or exemption. 772-288-5916. |
Martin County Growth Management | Shoreline Stabilization Permit for a new seawall, riprap, retaining wall or living shoreline. | Part 1 determination letter, then the permit; new seawall SSP $1,840 plus $390 review. env@martin.fl.us. |
FDEP Southeast District | Permit or exemption the county bases its approval on. | 3301 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach. 561-681-6600. |
A Jensen Beach checklist
Use these steps to gather records and prepare a property-specific conversation. Public records and project references do not describe the condition of your wall.
Pull the permit history
Search the address on the city or county permit portal for seawall, dock and lift permits and their final inspections before the first site visit.
Find your shoreline protection zone
Lots of record before April 1, 1982 can get waivers down to 25 feet.
Shoreline Protection - Requirements for Waterfront Lots of Record, 1 Acre or Less
Pick the right permit path
Repair of a permitted wall goes to Building; new structures go to Growth Management.
Shoreline Stabilization Permitting (SSP) Application Help Document
Ask about living shorelines
The county encourages vegetation-based stabilization.
Shoreline Stabilization Permitting (SSP) Application Help Document
Get help with your Jensen Beach seawall
Tell us what has changed and how to reach you. We’ll help you work out the next step; photos and measurements can follow later.
Jensen Beach project questions
Is Ocean Breeze part of Jensen Beach?
Ocean Breeze is a separate town with its own permitting, inside the Jensen Beach area.
What happened to the mangroves at the Jensen Beach Impoundment?
It lost over 50 acres of mostly red mangrove after Irma; the county is installing culverts and replanting.
Keep planning
Nearby waterfront guides
Ocean Breeze, Rio, Hutchinson Island (Martin), Sewall’s Point
Show sourcesHide sources
- TIGERweb Census 2020 Census Designated Places layer (POP100, HU100 fields)Source reviewed 2026-10-25
- Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic PreserveSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Supplemental Memorandum, Contracts That Meet the Threshold for Board Approval (21-0014); RFB2020-3264 Bid Tabulation; revised CIP sheet 12/8/2020Source reviewed 2026-10-25
- Tropical Storm Nicole: Live updates, what to know Thursday about storm's impact to Martin County (Nov. 10-11, 2022)Source reviewed 2026-10-25
- Shoreline Stabilization Permitting (SSP) Application Help DocumentSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Residential Seawall ChecklistSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Environmental Applications and Permits Fee ScheduleSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Dock-Boatlift ChecklistSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Shoreline Protection - Requirements for Waterfront Lots of Record, 1 Acre or LessSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Building & PermittingSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Resilience ProjectsSource reviewed 2026-10-25