Why seawalls get cited
Under Broward County's model code, a tidal flood barrier is presumed to be in disrepair if tidal water flows through or over it onto a neighbor's property or the public right-of-way, and failing to keep it in good repair is a citable offense. Letting tidal water trespass onto other property is declared a public nuisance (Broward County Code Sec. 39-407). Most waterfront cities in the county adopted the same language. Fort Lauderdale also says it cites owners whose seawalls contribute to roadway tidal flooding (City of Fort Lauderdale), and Pompano Beach says a property reported and documented to flood adjacent roads or neighbors will be cited (city flyer).
King tide season, roughly September through November, is when most overtopping is seen and reported.
The deadlines, city by city
| City | Show progress | Finish | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | 60 days | 365 days | Ordinance C-23-05 |
| Hollywood | 60 days after the citation | 365 days | Sec. 150.30 |
| Hallandale Beach | 60 days after the citation | 365 days | Sec. 8-90 |
| Wilton Manors | 60 days | 365 days | Sec. 11-27 |
| Oakland Park | 60 days from notification | 365 days from the citation | Sec. 14-1 |
| Pompano Beach | 60 days | 365 days, including permits and final inspection | Sec. 151.05, city flyer |
| Dania Beach | Adopted the county-mandated standard in 2021 (Ordinance 2021-027). The county model uses 60 and 365 days; confirm the wording with the city. | Sec. 240-30 (Ord. 2021-027), county model | |
| Lighthouse Point | Sec. 42-381 sets height rules but no citation timeline. Ask the city how it handles overtopping walls. | Ordinance 2023-0998 | |
One detail matters a lot: where a cited wall needs a substantial repair, the county model and the cities that follow it require the new wall to be designed, permitted, built and pass final inspection at the required elevation within the same 365 days (Broward County). That year has to cover engineering, a survey, city and county review, and construction.
What to do, step by step
- Keep the notice and note the date you received it. Both deadlines run from the citation or notification.
- Document the problem. Photograph the overtopping or leak at high tide with the date and time, and the wall at low tide. Those photos help a contractor give a useful first opinion.
- Get the wall looked at early. A licensed contractor or engineer can tell you whether a targeted fix will stop the water or whether the job crosses the substantial repair line. See the inspection guide.
- Get your elevation. A survey in feet NAVD88 shows how far the wall is from your city's standard. See the Broward County height requirement.
- Show progress inside 60 days. The codes ask for progress, not a finished wall. A signed contract, engineering underway or a permit application on file is the kind of step to ask the city about, and keep copies of everything.
- Get permits moving. Most cities need a building permit with sealed plans and surveys, and Broward County requires a license for work in the water. See seawall permits and who to call.
- Talk to the city if the schedule slips. Call the code enforcement or building contact on your notice before a deadline passes, not after.
This is general information, not legal advice. What counts as progress, and how a city enforces its deadlines, is up to the city. Read your notice closely and ask the city or an attorney about your situation.
Fixes that often stop overtopping
Depending on the wall, options include sealing joints and cracks where water comes through, adding or raising a cap where the wall can carry it, tying into a neighbor's wall to close a gap, and replacing the wall when it is too weak or low to raise. Our cap repair vs. replacement guide covers the trade-offs, and the cost guide shows typical published prices. See seawall repair and seawall cap repair for what that work involves.
Cited and short on time? We connect Fort Lauderdale and South Broward owners with licensed, insured local seawall contractors. Request a free quote and mention the citation date.