Seawalls in Pompano Beach, FL

Seawalls in Pompano Beach are no longer just a property line along the canal. Under section 151.05 of the city code, last amended by Ordinance 2022-28, the city treats them as tidal flood barriers. That changes what a repair or replacement has to achieve, how it gets approved and, in some cases, what happens when a neighbor's yard floods during a high tide.

The numbers in the code

• Minimum height: new walls and walls being substantially repaired or rehabilitated need at least 5 feet NAVD88
• Maximum height: no higher than 5 feet 10 inches NAVD88
• Plans: prepared by a Florida-licensed engineer, showing elevations in NAVD 88, and approved by the City Engineer
• Cap width: a new cap may not reach more than 36 inches seaward of the existing wet face
• Rebuilding in front: a rebuilt wall's face may not sit more than 12 inches out from the old face unless the City Engineer approves it
• Habitat face: the waterward face needs natural lime rock riprap or another approved habitat feature

The code also says a wall must stop tidal water from flowing through it while still letting water pressure from the yard side escape. That is why weep holes and filter fabric matter as much as the concrete.

When an older wall has to come up

A wall below 5 feet does not have to be raised just because it exists. Three things can change that: a substantial repair or rehabilitation, which requires raising the whole shoreline to 5 feet; attached work such as docks or lifts costing more than half the value of the wall along your shoreline; or a citation because tide water is getting through or over the wall onto a neighbor's lot or the street. After a citation the code gives 60 days to show progress and 365 days to finish.

Broward County's regional standard

The city rule follows a countywide standard. Broward County adopted a policy in January 2020 and an ordinance in March 2020 setting a 5-foot NAVD88 minimum for tidal flood barriers, and it gave cities until February 13, 2022 to adopt their own rules. Other cities near Pompano Beach have their own versions, so the exact limits change once you cross a city line.

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Signs a seawall needs attention

• Cracks in the cap, or a cap that has pulled away from the panels
• Panels leaning toward the water or joints opening between them
• Soil washing out through the wall, leaving holes or sinking spots in the yard
• Water seeping through joints or weep holes at high tide
• Rust stains on the concrete, a sign steel inside is corroding

Caught early, many of these are repairs. Left alone, washouts behind the wall can undermine patios, pool decks and the dock that is tied to it.

Repair, cap raise or new wall

When the panels and tiebacks are sound, a repair or a taller cap may be enough to restore the wall and meet the elevation rule. When panels are failing, the usual fix is a new wall installed just in front of the old one, no more than 12 inches out from the old face unless the City Engineer approves more. Broward County's general license covers seawall repair up to one foot waterward of the original location. The engineer decides which route the wall can take, and we price it from those drawings.

Living shorelines and riprap

The code requires natural lime rock riprap or another approved habitat enhancement at the waterward face. A row of lime rock at the toe also takes wave energy off the wall and protects it from scour. We include it as its own line on the estimate.