Duval County seawall guide.
Find the right office first.

Which office covers your address

Zoning FAQs · Online/Electronic Permit Submission · One or Two-Family Residential Construction Application Submittal Checklist · Atlantic Beach Chapter 24 Land Development Regulations (adopted 07/08/2019), s. 24-271 · Building Permit Application

Records every Duval owner can pull

• Past permits and inspections: the JaxEPICS online property search (guest sign-in), or BID Archives at 904-255-8387 for plan copies.
• Parcel and RE number: the Duval County Property Appraiser search (904-255-5900). Aerial imagery does not show true boundaries; use a survey.
• Zoning and land use: Duval Maps (maps.coj.net/jaxgis), searchable by address or RE number.
• Flood zone determinations and elevation certificates: the city’s floodplain coordinator at 904-255-8366.
• Anything else: public records requests through the city’s GovQA portal, or 630-CITY (904-630-2489).

Services Provided: Violation or Permit Record Search · Zoning FAQs · Duval County Property Appraiser · Floodplain Management · City of Jacksonville Public Records Request Center · Zoning FAQs and site footer

Who looks after the waterways

The Jacksonville Waterways Commission, established in 1984, advises City Council on the St. Johns River and all tidal waters in Duval County and reviews waterway legislation; it does not issue private seawall permits. The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve covers 46,000 acres within city limits, but only 18% is federally owned and more than 300 private owners hold land inside it. Its waters are Outstanding Florida Waters and it is excluded from the state programmatic federal permit, so owners there often need a separate Corps permit.

Jacksonville Waterways Commission · Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve · Rule 62-302.700, F.A.C. – Special Protection, Outstanding Florida Waters · State Programmatic General Permit Excluded Areas

The city’s resilience plans

Resilient Jacksonville, launched October 13, 2023 by Mayor Donna Deegan and Chief Resilience Officer Anne Coglianese, is a 50-year strategy with 45 actions. It notes the city owns only 4.4 of Jacksonville’s roughly 100 miles of hardened shoreline, commits to height standards for public and private bulkheads, and says the city will provide material resources for private bulkheads where needed for continuous protection. The comprehensive plan’s Adaptation Action Area covers the Category 3 storm-surge zone and connected flood zones and promotes repair of private seawalls critical to protecting property.

City of Jacksonville Launches Resilient Jacksonville Strategy · Resilient Jacksonville, Action 16 'Invest strategically in hardened shorelines' · Resilient Jacksonville, Action 16 · Ordinance 2021-732, Revised Exhibit 1 (CCME Goal 14)

Public bulkhead projects downtown

• Northbank bulkhead: about 7,070 feet from the Acosta Bridge through the former Metropolitan Park, replaced in phases; full replacement estimated at over $31 million, with an $11.4 million DEP grant appropriated in 2024.
• Southbank Riverwalk bulkhead: about 1,000 feet between the boat ramp and the Main Street Bridge, $14.5 million in capital funding after cost escalation.
• Shipyards marina, bulkhead and pier: estimated city cost of $28.9 million.

Ordinance 2024-30 Bill Summary (Northbank Bulkhead Resilience Improvements) · Ordinance 2024-33 Exhibit 2 (CIP sheets) · Ordinance 2022-871-E (Legistar record)

Flood insurance discounts in Duval

FEMA’s October 2026 list puts the City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach at Community Rating System class 6 (20% NFIP discount) and Atlantic Beach at class 5 (25%). Baldwin is not listed.

CRS Eligible Communities, October 1, 2026 Effective Date