Seawall and bulkhead planning for waterfront businesses
Get a plan for the seawall while accounting for boat slips, customer access, utilities and busy seasons.
Tell us how the business uses the waterfront.
- Shoreline sections, approximate lengths and any reports of movement, erosion or damage.
- Slips, docks, shore power, fuel, water and other utilities in or near the work area.
- Customer and staff routes, emergency access, accessible entrances and delivery needs.
- Busy seasons, events, lease requirements and preferred dates for the work.
- Boat movements, space for equipment and limits on access from the water.
Check what the wall supports.
Show the engineer any docks, pavement, equipment and utilities connected to or near the wall. These can affect its design and repair cost. Get a project-specific assessment and budget for the commercial work.
Plan permits and business access together.
Ask the project team to list the permits needed and who will handle each application. Florida DEP’s application instructions explain the information needed for marina and shoreline projects.
Ask whether work can be done in stages. Plan temporary protection, any closures and changes to slips or utilities before the work begins.
Common questions
Can the business stay open during work?
It depends on the work and safe access. Tell the project team which operations need to continue and ask for a plan showing any closures or temporary changes.
Can repairs be scheduled outside peak season?
Share your preferred dates and peak season. Confirm the feasible work schedule with the project team before relying on a preferred date.
Are dock and utility changes included?
Ask for dock connections, electricity, water and fuel systems to be listed in the work description and price. Some systems may need a separate specialist.
Can I use a homeowner calculator for this budget?
It can help organize known prices and missing costs. For the marina’s budget, use prices based on its own design, equipment access, utilities and permit needs.
Who handles permits and operational approvals?
Ask the project team to list the local, state and federal permits needed and name who will handle each application.
Is emergency stabilization available?
If there is immediate danger, move people away and contact local emergency services. For movement, soil loss or serious wall damage, seek prompt help from a seawall professional.
Marina bulkheads: larger permits, more agencies
Commercial and multi-slip projects usually fall outside single-family exemptions. Fort Pierce requires Planning and Engineering pre-approval and Fire Department review for commercial docks. In aquatic preserves, dock length is limited to 500 feet or 20% of the waterbody width, whichever is less. Port St. Lucie’s 2020 Ordinance 20-52 set commercial seawall fees at $200 per 100 linear feet; confirm the current commercial schedule.
Checklist for Dock Permits · Fla. Admin. Code R. 18-20.004 - Management Policies, Standards, and Criteria · Ordinance 20-52 (Chapter 150 ordinance format final), Legistar File 2020-681
Local marina and bulkhead projects
Fort Pierce rebuilt its City Marina after Frances and Jeanne destroyed 140 slips, with a breakwater island system the city describes as FEMA-funded, costing more than $18 million. Martin County’s 96th Street bulkhead on the St. Lucie River drew a $1,012,835.85 low bid for about 210 feet in 2024. Stuart awarded a $2,674,713 contract in 2026 to replace its downtown courtesy dock.
Environmental Stewardship Award Narrative - The Fort Pierce City Marina · Supplemental Memorandum, Contracts That Meet the Threshold for Board Approval $1 Million or Greater (24-0774), Item A.2; RFB2024-3604 Bid Tabulation and CIP · Stuart approves multimillion-dollar dock replacement near Roosevelt Bridge
Put spill reporting in the site contact sheet
For oil or hazardous-material spills, Florida DEP lists the State Watch Office at 800-320-0519 and the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. Keep them with the marina’s incident plan.
Show sourcesHide sources
- Checklist for Dock PermitsSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 18-20.004 - Management Policies, Standards, and CriteriaSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Ordinance 20-52 (Chapter 150 ordinance format final), Legistar File 2020-681Source reviewed 2026-10-25
- Environmental Stewardship Award Narrative - The Fort Pierce City MarinaSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Supplemental Memorandum, Contracts That Meet the Threshold for Board Approval $1 Million or Greater (24-0774), Item A.2; RFB2024-3604 Bid Tabulation and CIPSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Stuart approves multimillion-dollar dock replacement near Roosevelt BridgeSource reviewed 2026-10-25
- Discharge NotificationSource reviewed 2026-10-23
Discuss a waterfront business project
Record the affected shoreline and the decision you need to make. Use the notes when discussing scope with the appropriate professional.