Seawall Contractors in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County: How to Find and Vet One

Seawall contractors in Fort Lauderdale and Broward

We are not a seawall contractor, we hold no contractor license, and we do not build or repair seawalls. Fort Lauderdale Seawall Repair is an assessment and referral service. We look at your wall on site, document what we find, and connect you with licensed, insured local seawall contractors who give you a written quote. This page explains how to vet any seawall contractor in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, including the ones we connect you with, so you can check us too.

What a seawall contractor does

A seawall contractor repairs or replaces the structure that holds your shoreline: the cap, panels or sheet piles, tiebacks and anchors, drainage and toe protection. On a permitted job the contractor usually coordinates a Florida licensed engineer for sealed plans, orders the survey, files the city and county permits, builds the work and calls for inspections. Our guide to seawall repair in Broward County lists the usual steps, and seawall repair in Fort Lauderdale covers the city in more detail.

Which license should a seawall contractor hold?

Ask for the license number and the exact license category, then check it yourself. Florida's Construction Industry Licensing Board certifies general contractors and also defines marine specialty categories that cover seawalls, including marine specialty and marine seawall work (Rule 61G4-15.100). Certified specialty categories are voluntary statewide licensing categories (Sec. 489.113(6)), so a contractor may hold a general or other license for the work. That is why you ask which license covers your job instead of assuming one.

• State license: look up the number on MyFloridaLicense.com and confirm the status is active and the name matches the company on the contract.
• Broward County: Broward County's Building Code Division licenses contractors and handles unlicensed activity. Use the county contractor license search, or call 954-765-4400 (county Building Code Division).
• Who pulls the permit: some cities expect the application from a licensed general contractor. Hollywood's checklist is one example (Hollywood checklist).
• Why it matters: the state's Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund only covers contracts with licensed contractors, and only after a judgment, award or restitution order (DBPR claim form). It is a last resort, not a plan.

Permits and approvals the contractor should handle

• City building permit with building, zoning and engineering review. Fort Lauderdale's checklist lists sealed seawall and pile plans, sealed surveys with existing and proposed elevations and a final survey (Fort Lauderdale checklist).
• Broward County license for any work in, on, over or under county waters (Broward 311). Repairs to an existing functional seawall within one foot of its original location can qualify for the General License (county form), and larger scopes need the full Environmental Resource License (county ePermits page).
• State or federal review where the scope calls for it, such as dredge or fill.
• Notice of commencement on larger jobs, and a final inspection before you make final payment.

Ask for the permit numbers once they exist, and ask each bidder to price permits, engineering and surveys as separate lines. A quote that says "permits included" with no detail is hard to compare. If the finished wall will be a substantial repair, it also has to meet the height rule, so ask how the contractor will confirm the elevation.

Insurance

Florida's rule for certified specialty contractors requires applicable workers' compensation and general liability insurance, including Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act coverage for marine specialty work (Rule 61G4-15.100(4)). Lighthouse Point's permit checklist also asks for Longshore insurance where required (city checklist). Ask for a certificate of insurance from the insurer or agent, check that the policy dates cover your job, and ask to be named as the certificate holder.

What belongs in the contract

• A written scope with the repair method, linear feet, materials, who pulls permits and who pays for engineering and surveys.
• The lien notice. A direct contract over $2,500 for a single-family or small multi-family home must carry the construction lien notice in capital bold type (Sec. 713.015). Ask for lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors before each payment.
• A payment schedule tied to milestones, with final payment after the final inspection and any final survey.
• The 10 percent rule. If a contractor takes more than 10 percent of a residential contract price up front, the contractor must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days after the permits issue, unless you agree otherwise in writing (Sec. 489.126). Know that deadline before you pay a deposit.
• Change orders in writing and a written warranty that says what is covered and for how long.

References and work history

Ask for three recent Broward jobs of a similar size and, if possible, visit one. A seawall's weak points show after a few king tide seasons, so ask about a job that is at least a year old. Compare reviews across more than one site, ask for dated photos of finished work, and ask whether the contractor has completed final inspections with your city. We do not post reviews we have not earned and we do not rate contractors on this page.

Red flags

• No license number, or a number that does not match the company name on MyFloridaLicense.com.
• A request for a large deposit before permits are filed.
• No permit mentioned for structural work, or a suggestion that you pull the permit yourself.
• One lump-sum price with no scope, no linear feet and no permit or engineering lines.
• Pressure to sign the same day, or a price that is far below every other bid.
• No certificate of insurance sent directly by the insurer or agent.

Questions to ask every seawall contractor

1. What license number and category cover this job?
2. Who pulls the city and county permits, and what are the permit numbers?
3. Who is the engineer, and are sealed plans and a survey in the price?
4. What is your insurance, including workers' compensation and Longshore coverage, and when does it expire?
5. What exactly will you repair, in how many linear feet, with what materials?
6. Does the repair trigger the substantial repair rule, and what would a compliant rebuild cost?
7. What is the payment schedule and the deposit?
8. When can you start, and how long does the job take after permits?
9. Who will be on site and who supervises?
10. What does the written warranty cover and for how long?
11. Can I talk to a customer from a similar job in Broward?
12. Will you provide lien releases with each payment?

Seawall contractors, repair contractors and dock builders

Several kinds of companies advertise seawall work. A marine or seawall contractor does the structural work and usually handles the marine permits. A general contractor may take on seawall work as part of a larger project. A dock or boat lift builder may only do work on the dock, and our dock repair page covers that side. An engineer designs and seals plans but does not build. If your wall just needs a look, start with seawall inspection in Fort Lauderdale instead of a repair quote.

How we fit in

• We assess the wall on site and document what we find.
• We connect you with licensed, insured local seawall contractors who serve your town.
• The contractor inspects, gives you a written quote and, if you hire them, contracts with you directly. Requesting a quote through us is free and creates no obligation (Terms).
• We do not perform seawall work, hold a contractor license or guarantee any contractor's work, price or schedule.

If something goes wrong

For a state licensed contractor, complaints go to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. For unlicensed activity or county licensed contractors in Broward County, contact the Building Code Division at 954-765-4400 or [email protected] (county Building Code Division).

Sources

1. Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G4-15.100: Certified Specialty Contractors (marine and seawall categories)
2. Florida Statutes Sec. 489.113(6): certified specialty contractor categories, including marine seawall work, are voluntary statewide licensing categories
3. Florida DBPR license search (MyFloridaLicense.com)
4. Broward County Building Code Division: Search for Contractor License
5. Broward County Building Code Division: contractor licensing, unlicensed activity and complaints (954-765-4400, [email protected])
6. City of Hollywood Building Division: Seawall Checklist (updated May 29, 2023)
7. Florida DBPR: Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund claim form and eligibility (the contract must be with a licensed contractor)
8. City of Fort Lauderdale Building Division: Sea Wall Permit Checklist (rev. 2016)
9. Broward County 311: Do I need a license to replace or repair my dock or seawall?
10. Broward County Environmental Permitting Division: Application for an Environmental Resource General License
11. Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License (any activity in, on or under water or wetlands requires a license)
12. City of Lighthouse Point Building Department: Permit Application Checklist for Docks and Seawalls
13. Florida Statutes Sec. 713.015: Mandatory provisions for direct contracts (construction lien notice in contracts over $2,500)
14. Florida Statutes Sec. 489.126: Moneys received by contractors (initial payments over 10 percent of the price, permit and start deadlines)

General information, not legal advice. Statutes, rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the Florida DBPR, Broward County and your city.