Seawall & Bulkhead Repair in St. Augustine Beach, FL
Anastasia Island is a barrier island with two waterfronts: the Atlantic, with a NOAA mean range of 4.61 ft at St. Augustine Beach, and the Matanzas River on its western side. The rules, the storm record and the right permit office depend on which side, and which jurisdiction, your lot is in.
Northeast Florida: Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Clay, Flagler, Putnam counties.
Who repairs seawalls in St. Augustine Beach and on Anastasia Island?
On Anastasia Island, the permit office depends on the parcel: the City of St. Augustine Beach issues its own permits, while Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and other unincorporated areas go to St. Johns County, and oceanfront work seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line also needs FDEP review. Barefoot Marine Construction, which owns Florida Bulk Head, serves the whole island directly.
How service works in St. Augustine Beach
Barefoot Marine Construction, the owner and operator of Florida Bulk Head, works directly with waterfront property owners in this region.
Call (904) 821-5744 or send your project details and photos. Barefoot Marine Construction reviews every Northeast Florida request itself and follows up to schedule a site visit when one is needed.
Anastasia Island: Ocean on One Side, River on the Other
The National Park Service describes the Matanzas River as a tidal estuary that links the St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets and, between them, forms the western boundary of Anastasia Island. The Atlantic forms the eastern side. A wall on the ocean side faces surf, moving sand and dune erosion. A wall on the river side faces a strong tidal channel with currents that NPS says can reach about four knots on spring tides near the inlets.
| Station (ID) | Water | Mean Range |
|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine Beach (8720587) | Atlantic Ocean | 4.61 ft |
| State Road 312 (8720582) | Matanzas River, north end of island | 4.28 ft |
| Crescent Beach (8720651) | Matanzas River | 4.06 ft |
| Matanzas Inlet, SR A1A Bridge (8720692) | Matanzas Inlet | 3.64 ft |
The ocean and river ranges are close, so both sides of the island put a tall band of wall face through wet and dry cycles twice a day. What differs is the energy and the rules: breaking waves and the CCCL program on one side, currents and estuary permitting on the other.
Who Permits What on the Island
Anastasia Island includes the City of St. Augustine Beach and unincorporated parts of St. Johns County, among them the communities of Butler Beach and Crescent Beach. Confirm from your property record which jurisdiction applies before anything else.
- City of St. Augustine Beach. The Building Department at City Hall, 2200 A1A South, issues permits and inspects work (904-471-8758). The City asks for applications and plans by email, as separately labeled PDF files, and uses its CPSS portal for inspection requests and permit records issued after April 15, 2019.
- Unincorporated St. Johns County. The County generally accepts building permit applications only after a Clearance Sheet is issued, and Development Review makes Coastal Building Zone and CCCL determinations before building permit review. Contractors must be licensed and registered with the County.
- Oceanfront, either jurisdiction. Construction seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line generally needs an FDEP CCCL permit, and FDEP says those permits also protect sea turtles and dune plants.
- River side, either jurisdiction. A Matanzas wall on a single-family lot is generally an FDEP Northeast District matter for state review, unless the lot is part of a larger development, and the Corps of Engineers may also need to authorize work in the river.
Storm and Erosion Record
| Storm | What Official Reports Recorded |
|---|---|
| Matthew, 2016 | Storm surge flooding at the sea walls in St. Augustine Beach and more than 2 ft of saltwater intrusion on Anastasia Island; inundation of 6 to 7 ft above ground near Matanzas Inlet (NHC). |
| Irma, 2017 | Major damage to 171 major structures in St. Johns County's Coastal Building Zone, compared with 86 in Matthew and 19 in Ian; Summer Haven saw major erosion and barrier breaches (FDEP). |
| Ian, 2022 | A peak storm tide of 7.43 ft NAVD88 at the St. Augustine Beach Fishing Pier; major dune and beach erosion along the developed part of Anastasia Island, including St. Augustine Beach, Crescent Beach and Matanzas Shores (FDEP). |
| Nicole, 2022 | Erosion on the developed island, already severe after Ian, worsened with significant dune retreat; about 2,000 ft of rock revetment at Summer Haven sustained major damage (FDEP). |
FDEP's armoring counts cover structures that front the Atlantic, not walls on interior tidal waters such as the Matanzas, so river-side damage is less well documented in these reports. NHC's Matthew account of flooding at the sea walls in St. Augustine Beach is a reminder that surge reaches both sides of the island.
Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and Summer Haven
South of the city, Butler Beach and Crescent Beach are unincorporated communities permitted by St. Johns County. NOAA's Crescent Beach station on the Matanzas lists a 4.06 ft mean range, and FDEP includes Crescent Beach in the developed stretch of the island that took major dune and beach erosion in Ian.
Below Matanzas Inlet, Summer Haven has the most volatile record. FDEP reports that the area experienced major beach and dune erosion and barrier breaches during Matthew, Irma and Dorian, that Ian's washover deposits blocked flow in the Summer Haven branch of the Matanzas at three locations, and that a breach opened beneath a pile-supported home. After Nicole, FDEP observed displaced rocks that left parts of the revetment deflated. Walls and revetments here deserve a careful assessment after every significant storm.
Beach Projects and Sea Turtles
St. Johns County's February 2024 project list included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Augustine Beach Shoreline Protection Project, scheduled for construction from February to September 2024 and placing about 2.5 million cubic yards of sand along about 3 miles. The County says St. Johns County has 42 miles of Atlantic coastline, 17.1 of which FDEP designates as critically eroded, and that the St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets have historically been the primary causes of erosion, with hurricanes, nor'easters, overwashes and seawalls also contributing today.
Oceanfront projects also have to account for sea turtles. The City of St. Augustine Beach says improper exterior lighting is one of the most significant human-related impacts on sea turtles, that lighting in regulated coastal areas must meet turtle-friendly standards, and that nesting season typically runs from May through October. CCCL permit conditions add their own protections for turtles and dune plants.
Working With Barefoot on Anastasia Island
Anastasia Island, Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and Summer Haven all fall inside St. Johns County, which Barefoot Marine Construction serves directly from Jacksonville. Seawalls and bulkheads on the Matanzas side, whether repaired, replaced or newly built, are the company's main work here. Oceanfront armoring is permitted under the separate CCCL program, and Barefoot tells you at the estimate whether it handles that specific scope itself.
Work runs through Request a Quote, Site Assessment, Plan & Permit, Build or Repair, and Protect Your Property. When you call (904) 821-5744 or send photos and project details, say whether the parcel is in the City or the County, which side of the island the wall faces, and what changed after the last storm. For sloped or soft options on the river side, see erosion control.
Shorelines and waterways in St. Augustine Beach
Atlantic Ocean at St. Augustine Beach
NOAA's St. Augustine Beach station lists a 4.61 ft mean range. In Ian, FDEP recorded a peak storm tide of 7.43 ft NAVD88 at the St. Augustine Beach Fishing Pier and major dune and beach erosion along the developed part of the island.
Matanzas River
The National Park Service says the Matanzas forms the western boundary of Anastasia Island and is an estuary rather than a true river. NOAA lists a 4.06 ft mean range at Crescent Beach and 4.28 ft at the State Road 312 bridge.
Matanzas Inlet
NPS calls it the only remaining un-dredged inlet on Florida's east coast, with spring-tide currents of about four knots. NOAA's mean range at the SR A1A bridge is 3.64 ft. FDEP reports that USGS measured Ian's storm tide near the inlet at 7.62 ft NAVD88.
Summer Haven River
South of Matanzas Inlet, FDEP reports that Ian's washover deposits completely blocked flow in this branch of the Matanzas at three locations, and that the area saw barrier breaches in Matthew, Irma and Dorian.
Local construction considerations
Two Sides of a Barrier Island
The ocean side deals with waves, dune loss and the CCCL program. The river side deals with a 4 ft tide, strong currents near the inlets and state Environmental Resource Permit review. Most design and permit decisions start with which side the wall is on.
City or County: Check the Jurisdiction
The City of St. Augustine Beach has its own Building and Zoning Department at 2200 A1A South. Butler Beach and Crescent Beach are unincorporated communities, so their building permits go through St. Johns County.
CCCL on the Oceanfront
In either jurisdiction, oceanfront work seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line generally needs an FDEP CCCL permit. In the unincorporated county, Development Review also makes Coastal Building Zone and CCCL determinations before the building permit is reviewed.
Sea Turtle Season
The City of St. Augustine Beach says nesting season typically runs from May through October and that lighting in regulated coastal areas must meet turtle-friendly standards. FDEP says CCCL permits also protect sea turtles and dune plants, so plan oceanfront schedules and site lighting around those conditions.
Past Permits Are Searchable in the City
The City of St. Augustine Beach says permits issued after April 15, 2019, can be viewed by the public through guest access on its CPSS portal. Earlier permits on a wall or revetment can help an assessment, so look them up before the site visit.
Common seawall concerns
- Dune retreat that undermines oceanfront structures, which FDEP says worsened on the developed island during Nicole
- Surge flooding at seawalls on the island, which NHC reported in St. Augustine Beach during Matthew
- Toe scour from strong currents near Matanzas Inlet
- Fill escaping behind river-side walls, which can surface as soil washout or sinkholes in the yard
- Displaced rock in revetments, which FDEP observed at Summer Haven after Nicole
- Cracked caps on walls exposed to salt spray
Regional cost factors
- Oceanfront versus river-side location, which sets whether CCCL engineering and permit conditions apply
- Jurisdiction: City of St. Augustine Beach or St. Johns County requirements
- Sea turtle nesting season conditions and lighting rules on oceanfront jobs
- Tide range and currents on the Matanzas, which shape scheduling and toe protection
- Wall type, including riprap facing where estuary rules require it
- Resetting or adding revetment stone where storms have displaced it
Permitting agencies and local rules
- City of St. Augustine Beach: The Building Department issues permits and inspects work. The City asks that applications and plans be emailed to onlinepermitting@cityofsab.org as separately labeled PDF attachments; inspections can be requested through the CPSS portal, by phone or by email. Official source
- City of St. Augustine Beach: Lighting in regulated coastal areas must meet turtle-friendly standards. The City cites St. Johns County's marine turtle lighting rules (Article IV, Sec. 4.01.09) and says nesting season typically runs May through October. Official source
- St. Johns County Development Review: Makes Coastal Building Zone and CCCL determinations prior to review of building permits in the unincorporated county. Official source
- City of St. Augustine Beach Building & Zoning2200 A1A South · 904-471-8758
- City of St. Augustine Beach Responsible Coastal BuildingSea turtle lighting and dune protection
- St. Johns County Building PermitsButler Beach, Crescent Beach and other unincorporated areas
- St. Johns County Development ReviewCoastal Building Zone and CCCL determinations
- FDEP Coastal Construction Control Line Program
- FDEP Northeast DistrictGenerally reviews river-side work on single-family lots not part of a larger development
Requirements depend on your exact property, waterway and scope. Confirm with each agency. See the Florida seawall permit guide.
More communities in Northeast Florida
Bulkhead and seawall services from Barefoot Marine Construction
St. Augustine Beach seawall and bulkhead questions
Is my Anastasia Island property in the City of St. Augustine Beach or the County?
It depends on the parcel. The island includes the City of St. Augustine Beach and unincorporated parts of St. Johns County, where Butler Beach and Crescent Beach are communities rather than cities. Your property record shows the jurisdiction, and it decides which building office handles your permit.
Does the CCCL apply on the Matanzas River side of the island?
Generally not. The CCCL program covers oceanfront work on the Atlantic beach, where construction seaward of the line generally needs an FDEP CCCL permit. Walls on the Matanzas go through the City or County building office, state ERP review and, where required, the Corps of Engineers.
Are the tides on the Matanzas River side as big as the ocean's?
Close. NOAA lists a 4.61 ft mean range at the St. Augustine Beach ocean station, 4.06 ft at Crescent Beach on the Matanzas and 4.28 ft at the State Road 312 bridge. The river side adds strong currents near the inlets, which NPS puts at about four knots on spring tides.
Why does sea turtle season matter for an oceanfront project?
FDEP says CCCL permits also protect sea turtles and dune plants, and the City of St. Augustine Beach requires turtle-friendly lighting in regulated coastal areas. The City says nesting season typically runs from May through October. Permit conditions set the specifics for each project.
How do I find past permits for a wall in St. Augustine Beach?
For parcels inside the City, the City says permits issued after April 15, 2019, can be viewed through guest access on its CPSS portal, and its Building Department keeps records and plans for structures within the city. For older records, ask the Building Department at 904-471-8758. Parcels in unincorporated Butler Beach or Crescent Beach are St. Johns County records instead.
Sources and references
- Station datums, St. Augustine Beach 8720587 — NOAA Tides and Currents. Accessed November 2, 2026. Same datum page format used for Crescent Beach (8720651), State Road 312 (8720582) and the SR A1A bridge at Matanzas Inlet (8720692)
- Matanzas River — National Park Service, Fort Matanzas National Monument. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew — National Hurricane Center. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Hurricane Ian & Hurricane Nicole Post-Storm Beach Conditions and Coastal Impact Report — Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Ponte Vedra Beach Restoration Project Begins — St. Johns County. Accessed November 2, 2026. County release dated February 21, 2024, with the countywide coastal project list
- Building & Zoning — City of St. Augustine Beach. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Habitat Conservation & Responsible Coastal Building — City of St. Augustine Beach. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Coastal Construction Control Line Program — Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Regulations, programs and conditions change. Always confirm requirements with the agency that has jurisdiction over your property.