Cracks or cap damage
Note where the cap or panels are cracked, spalled or showing rust, and what an inspection should check.
Destin · Okaloosa · South Walton
Bulkhead or seawall
repair in Destin?
A cracked cap, a sinkhole behind the wall, or a dock lost to Isaias?
Find out what the damage means, which office issues your permit and what to ask before you sign. Then get help planning the next step.
Every answer here links to the public record behind it.
Start with what you see
What changed
at your bulkhead?
You do not need to know the repair yet. Pick the change you noticed, and we will help you sort out what to check next.
Sinkholes behind the wall
Mark where the yard is sinking or sand is washing out, and plan how the cause will be found.
Leaning or bulging wall
Describe how the bulkhead has moved and ask who should check the anchors and support.
Damage after a storm
Keep dated photos and records together before cleanup or emergency repairs.
A useful starting point
Who we help.
Choose the guide that fits your role.
Buying a waterfront home
Know which seawall questions to ask before you commit.
Selling a waterfront home
Gather the records and plan for buyers’ questions.
Real-estate agents
Prepare a clear seawall handoff within a transaction.
Home inspectors
Pass on observations and explain the agreed scope.
HOAs
Organize shared shoreline records and board decisions.
Condo associations
Coordinate records, access and professional review.
Property managers
Keep the next steps clear across waterfront properties.
Marinas & waterfront businesses
Plan around slips, utilities, access and operating needs.
How it works
From a bulkhead worry
to a clear plan.
Tell us what you see.
Share your address, the water you are on and what changed at the wall or dock.
Find your permit path.
Destin, Okaloosa County and Walton County each run their own permits. We help you sort out which rules fit your lot.
Plan the work.
Get help lining up an assessment, comparing proposals and finding a qualified marine contractor.
Your waterfront. Your project.
Tell us what
your bulkhead needs.
Tell us where your property is and what you have noticed. We will help you work out the next step.
Get help with your bulkhead, seawall or dock, from the first question to a qualified marine contractor.
Published by Destin Bulkhead. Editorial contact: contact@destinbulkhead.com.
Plan your budget
What could your bulkhead project cost?
Vinyl seawall, public bid
$648–$905per foot of wall
2019 Destin park bid, 325 LF; anchors, cap, backfill and old-wall removal included · Destin (City bid, 2019) City of Destin
Aluminum seawall, public bid
$716–$1,182per foot of wall
2019 Destin park bid, 325 LF; anchors, cap, backfill and old-wall removal included · Destin (City bid, 2019) City of Destin
These per-foot figures are 2019 City of Destin bids for a 325-foot public park seawall. They are not a residential quote or a 2026 market average; your written, itemized scope sets the real price.
Show sourcesHide sources
- City of Destin, January 6, 2020 City Council Meeting Packet, Item 2019-2043: Approval to award bid, RFB 19-17-REC Clement Taylor Park Replacement of Existing Seawall (bid comparison and bid forms)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- Okaloosa County BCC Agenda Request: Review of Due Diligence Requirements for the Waterfront Property in Shalimar (July 14, 2026), with attached Seawall Inspection Report dated April 15, 2026Source reviewed 2026-10-27
Make a starting plan for your wall.
Three questions. No contact details required.
Understand your options
Repair, replace or rebuild?
Start with the facts.
Read what an assessment checks, what drives cost, which permits apply and what changed after Hurricane Isaias.
GUIDE 01
Bulkhead inspection
Know what to photograph, record and ask a professional.
Explore the resourceGUIDE 02
Repair or replace
Understand your options before choosing a repair method.
Explore the resourceGUIDE 03
Costs
Understand seawall prices and what your budget should include.
Explore the resourceGUIDE 04
Permits
Find the right permit office and prepare your questions.
Explore the resourceGUIDE 05
After a storm
Gather photos and records to plan repairs after a storm.
Explore the resourceGUIDE 06
Living shorelines
Explore natural shoreline options for your property.
Explore the resourcePermit offices to call first
- City of Destin Building Division: (850) 654-1119, option 2. Destin Building Division
- Okaloosa County Growth Management, for unincorporated areas, Okaloosa Island, Shalimar and Cinco Bayou: (850) 651-7180. Okaloosa Growth Management Okaloosa permitting authority
- Walton County Planning: (850) 267-1955. Walton Planning Building: (850) 892-8160. Walton Building Division
- FDEP Northwest District: (850) 595-8300. DEP Northwest District
- Army Corps, Pensacola Permits Section: (850) 470-9824. USACE Pensacola Section
See the full permit route. The budget calculator, warning-sign check and height guidance are on the tools and resources page.
More ways to plan
Plan for what comes next.
Nearby owners
Explore a project with your neighbors.
Bring nearby owners into the conversation. Each property keeps its own choices.
Explore neighbor projectsOngoing care
Keep the next review in view.
Organize your wall’s records and discuss a review schedule with a qualified provider.
- Dated photos and past repair records
- Questions for the next condition review
- Provider availability, scope and price
Show sourcesHide sources
- Building DivisionSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Growth ManagementSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Okaloosa County Storm Post-storm Permitting Guide/PlanSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Planning and Development ServicesSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Building DivisionSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Northwest DistrictSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Jacksonville District Regulatory Office LocationsSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- City of Destin, January 6, 2020 City Council Meeting Packet, Item 2019-2043: Approval to award bid, RFB 19-17-REC Clement Taylor Park Replacement of Existing Seawall (bid comparison and bid forms)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- Resolution 25-10, Schedule of Fees, Section 2: Building Permits and Developer FeesSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- 2026 Florida Statutes section 403.813Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- USACE South Atlantic Division Florida regulatory guidanceSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Okaloosa County GIS: city limits and county zoningSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Post Tropical Cyclone Report - Isaias - NWS Mobile/Pensacola (updated 10/23/2026)Source reviewed 2026-11-05
- Building Permit Exemption for fence and dock repairs (News Flash)Source reviewed 2026-11-05
- Destin LDC Sec. 11.05.10 Reconstruction of existing facilitiesSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Land Development Code, City of Mary Esther (Municode, Supp. No. 11, codified through Ord. No. 2025-06, adopted October 6, 2025), Secs. 11.05.08 and 11.05.10Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- Code of Ordinances, Town of Cinco Bayou (Municode, Supp. No. 8, codified through Ord. No. 248, enacted September 9, 2021), Land Development Code Secs. 12.05.06 and 12.05.09Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- Valparaiso Code Sec. 83-28 Reconstruction of existing facilitiesSource reviewed 2026-10-27
- Walton County LDC Chapter IV Resource Protection Standards, Sec. 4.03.03 (Municode, Supp. 70 Update 1)Source reviewed 2026-10-27
- 2026 Florida Statutes s. 373.414Source reviewed 2026-10-27
Help for your waterfront
Know the problem.
Plan the fix.
Bring your photos, permit history and questions together. We help you turn them into a clear plan and find a qualified marine contractor for the work.
About our team · Role and referral disclosure · Editorial standards
Find your waterfront
Find your waterfront.
Start with the right local guide.
From Mary Esther to the 30A dune lakes, each guide covers who issues permits, what the water does there and what to check on your wall.
Full local guide
Choose a label to open local resources →Tap a community on the map or below ↗
Questions Destin owners ask
Straight answers
before you sign.
What does bulkhead repair cost in Destin?
It depends on the length of wall, what has failed and how crews reach it. The clearest local benchmark is public. In 2019, Destin took bids to replace 325 feet of seawall at Clement Taylor Park. The low bids were $210,752 in vinyl and $232,852 in aluminum. Each included tiebacks, cap, backfill and removal. Destin RFB 19-17-REC bids That is about $648 and $716 per foot, for a city job, before Isaias. Destin’s permit fee adds $16.30 per $1,000 of construction cost, plus $33 and $77 flat fees. Destin Resolution 25-10 Build your own budget with the cost guide.
Do I need a permit to fix my bulkhead?
In Destin, yes. The Building Division requires a permit to build, alter or repair bulkheads, seawalls and docks. Destin permit rule Florida exempts restoring a seawall on its old line, or up to 18 inches waterward, from a state environmental permit. s. 403.813(1)(e) That exemption does not replace the local permit, and federal review is separate. USACE guidance The permit guide shows the full route.
Who issues the permit for my address?
The parcel decides, not the mailing address. The City of Destin issues its own permits. Okaloosa County issues them for unincorporated areas and for Shalimar, Cinco Bayou and Laurel Hill. Okaloosa permitting guide Kelly Plantation and Regatta Bay have Destin addresses but sit in unincorporated Okaloosa County. Okaloosa County GIS South Walton permits come from Walton County. Walton Building Division
Hurricane Isaias damaged my wall. What should I do first?
Photograph everything before cleanup, and keep people off ground that has sunk or cracked. Isaias made landfall near Destin on October 9, 2026, and water at Old Pass Lagoon peaked at about 4 feet above mean higher high water. NWS Isaias report Destin’s 60-day storm exemption covers board-for-board dock and fence repairs only. It does not mention seawalls. City of Destin notice The storm guide covers the next steps.
Is there a deadline to rebuild a storm-damaged dock?
Yes, in several cities. Destin, Mary Esther, Cinco Bayou and Valparaiso let you rebuild a damaged dock at the same or smaller size. To qualify, apply for the permit within six months of the damage. Destin LDC 11.05.10 Mary Esther LDC 11.05.10 Cinco Bayou LDC 12.05.09 Valparaiso Code 83-28 For damage on October 9, 2026, that runs to about April 9, 2027. Confirm the start date with your city, and see docks and boat lifts.
Can I build a new vertical seawall on the bay in South Walton?
Usually not. Walton County bans new vertical seawalls and bulkheads on Choctawhatchee Bay. The exception is a lot between two walled lots, when the new wall is 150 feet or less. Elsewhere it requires riprap, revetments or native plants. Walton LDC 4.03.03.B.4 On the coastal dune lakes, seawalls, bulkheads, revetments and riprap are not allowed at all. Walton LDC 4.02.03 See the Walton County guide.
Should I repair or replace my bulkhead?
Start with what is failing. One cracked cap section or one open joint is often a repair. A wall that leans or loses soil along most of its length may not be. If replacing a vertical wall on an estuary needs a state permit, DEP will generally require riprap facing or an all-riprap shoreline. s. 373.414(5) Compare both paths in the repair-or-replace guide.