The regional baseline
Broward County's tidal flood barrier standard requires new and substantially repaired seawalls, caps, berms and similar barriers in tidally influenced areas to reach 5 feet NAVD88. Applications submitted before January 1, 2035 may be permitted at 4 feet NAVD88 if the barrier is designed to reach 5 feet by January 1, 2050 (regional standard summary, City of Dania Beach). In January 2020 the county amended its land use plan (Policy 2.21.7) to require tidally influenced cities to adopt regionally consistent elevations within two years (as summarized by the City of Hollywood).
City by city
| City | Minimum top elevation | Local details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | 5 ft NAVD88 (4 ft for applications before 2035 if built to reach 5 ft) | ULDR Sec. 47-19.13, adopted March 23, 2023. Substantial repair is more than 50% of shoreline length or of replacement cost. Waiver possible for homes with floors below 4.0 ft. Maximum tied to base flood elevation. | City ordinance |
| Hollywood | 5 ft NAVD88 (4 ft before 2035 if built to reach 5 ft) | Ordinance O-2022-01, adopted February 2, 2022, created Sec. 150.30. Also permits living shorelines. Seawall permits need a Broward County Environmental Resource General License. | City page, Sec. 150.30, permit checklist |
| Dania Beach | 5 ft NAVD88 by 2050 (4 ft allowance before 2035) | The city publishes the regional standard to owners in its "Build It High, Keep It Dry" notice. The regional rule it describes treats tidal flooding as a public nuisance. | City notice, City code |
| Hallandale Beach | 5 ft NAVD88 (4 ft before 2035 if built to reach 5 ft) | Adopted November 18, 2020 as Sections 8-88 to 8-91 of the city code, including a required disclosure in real estate sale contracts. | City ordinance file |
| Wilton Manors | 5 ft for new construction or substantial renovation | Ordinance 2020-002. Walls must also be raised if tidal flooding or erosion is reaching neighboring property or roadways, even without renovation. | City page |
| Lighthouse Point | 4.0 ft NAVD88 cap minimum; may be raised to 5.0 ft | Ordinance 2023-0998 (Sec. 42-381). Caps between 3 ft 8 in and 5 ft 4 in NAVD are treated as conforming. New or substantially rehabilitated walls must be designed to accommodate a 5.0 ft cap. Return walls are required where a new wall is higher than the neighbor's. | City ordinance |
| Oakland Park | 5 ft NAVD88 (4 ft before 2035 if built to reach 5 ft) | Chapter 14 of the city code covers seawalls and docks, including the tidal flood barrier standard adopted in 2022. | City code, Ch. 14 |
| Pompano Beach | 5 ft NAVD88 minimum, 5 ft 10 in maximum | Sec. 151.05 requires engineer-prepared plans showing your wall and adjacent walls in NAVD88, approved by the City Engineer. A cap may extend no more than 36 inches seaward of the existing wet face. Repairs are due within 365 days of a citation. | Sec. 151.05 |
This is a plain-English summary for planning, not legal or engineering advice. Codes change and each city interprets its own rules. Confirm the requirement for your address with the city's building or engineering department, or have your contractor confirm it, before you design, buy or sell.
What is the same everywhere
- The trigger is usually a new wall or a substantial repair, not the mere age of a wall.
- Overtopping is enforceable. Codes based on the county model treat a barrier that lets tidal water onto a neighbor or the right-of-way as in disrepair, typically with 60 days to show progress and 365 days to finish after a citation (Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach).
- Work in the water needs a county license. Broward County requires a license before any work in, on, over or under county waters (Broward 311).
- Elevation is measured in NAVD88, so you need a survey or engineer's number, not a tape measure from the water.
Planning work? Read the Fort Lauderdale ordinance explainer and the cost guide, or request a free quote and we will connect you with a licensed, insured contractor who works in your city.