Bulkhead and seawall services.
Match the guide to the problem.

Which guide fits what you see?

Most bulkhead trouble shows up as one of a few signs. Find yours in the first column. The second says what it often points to, and the third links the guide to read first.

A sign is a starting point, not a diagnosis. Two signs often share one cause, so read the assessment guide before you collect quotes.

Guides that help you find the cause

Start here when something has changed and you do not yet know why.

• Bulkhead inspection and assessment. An assessment names the part of the wall that is failing and why. It also lists what could not be seen, such as buried anchors. Book one before you compare repair prices.
• Cap and panel repair. The cap is the concrete beam along the top of the wall. Cracks, spalling (concrete flaking off) and rust stains often start with steel rusting inside. The guide covers patching, joint repair and when a new cap makes sense.
• Soil loss and drainage. A sinkhole behind the wall usually means sand is leaking through it. The guide explains filter fabric, weep holes and stormwater pipes, and why filling the hole is not the fix.
• Foam injection. Polyurethane foam can fill a confirmed void or seal a leaking joint. It does not hold up a wall that is moving. The guide covers uses, limits and product questions.
• Tiebacks and anchors. Many bulkheads are held at the top by steel rods tied to buried anchors. When a wall leans, this system is the first thing an engineer checks.

Guides for bigger projects

• Bulkhead replacement. When repair no longer makes sense, the questions become material, alignment and permits. Local and state rules limit new vertical walls on much of Choctawhatchee Bay, so read this before design.
• Riprap and shoreline stabilization. Riprap is large loose rock placed on a slope or at the base of a wall. It protects the toe, the bottom of the wall, and it is often what the bay rules ask for.
• Docks and boat lifts. Docks often bolt to the cap or stand on piles a few feet off the wall. Plan dock and bulkhead work together, and watch the six-month rebuild deadline after storm damage.
• Living shorelines. Marsh plants behind a low rock or shell sill can calm small waves on sheltered shores. They fit some bay and bayou lots, not busy harbor fronts.

Why the same job follows different rules in Destin, Okaloosa and Walton

Where your lot sits decides which rules apply. Neighbors across one bayou can file with different governments.

• City of Destin bay and bayous: inside the 100-foot bay shoreline zone on Choctawhatchee Bay, Joe’s Bayou, Marler Bayou and Indian Bayou, new bulkheads are allowed for redevelopment only, with riprap on the water side. Destin LDC 11.01.10
• South Walton bay: new vertical walls are banned unless the lot fills a gap of 150 feet or less between walled neighbors. Walton LDC 4.03.03.B.4
• 30A dune lakes: no seawalls, bulkheads, revetments or riprap within 300 feet of the lake. Walton LDC 4.02.03
• Okaloosa Island: single-family docks and seawalls go to the Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association review committee and county staff before a permit. Okaloosa LDC 3.01.04
• Shalimar and Cinco Bayou: the town signs off first, then Okaloosa County issues the building permit. Cinco Bayou permits page Shalimar permit guide

The Okaloosa County guide and Walton County guide cover each path in more detail.

Planning repairs after Hurricane Isaias

The city called it Destin’s first hurricane in about 20 years. City of Destin update Many owners are dealing with wall and dock damage for the first time. Two dates matter now.

• 60-day dock exemption: announced October 13, 2026, it covers only board-for-board repair of docks first built with a permit. It does not mention seawalls. City of Destin notice
• Six-month rebuild window: Destin lets owners rebuild a damaged dock at the same or smaller size if they apply within six months of the damage. Destin LDC 11.05.10

The storm guide covers photos, insurance and emergency work.

Turn a guide into a plan

1. Read the guide that fits what you see, and write down the questions it raises.
2. Pull your past permits and surveys. The permit guide shows where to look.
3. Build a budget with the cost guide, including permit fees and access.
4. Check the contractor with the contractor check guide.
5. Tell us what your bulkhead needs, and we will help you plan the next step.