Stock photo (Unsplash), not a job photo.
Why low walls flood
Many older walls are lower than today's flood standards and the walls next door. In Long Beach, for example, the City says its new north-shore bulkheads will be about 3 to 4 feet higher than the walls they replace. When one section is lower, water spills over it and spreads behind the higher walls around it.
What the rules allow
- DEC general permit: up to 18 inches higher than the existing bulkhead, or more where justified by FEMA elevations or Community Risk and Resiliency Act considerations.
- Public walls set the bar in some places: Long Beach is building its north shore public bulkheads to the base flood elevation, generally 9.0 or 10.0 feet NAVD in the project area, about 3 to 4 feet above the existing walls.
- Building standards are rising: in 2014 the New York State Code Council unanimously approved a 4-foot freeboard building standard for the Village of Freeport.
Do it with your neighbors
A raised wall next to a low one still floods at the seam. If several lots replace together you get one height, continuous returns and shared mobilization, which usually lowers the per-foot price. Start the conversation before anyone files permits.
See what a raised replacement might cost with the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much higher can I make my bulkhead?
Under DEC's bulkhead general permit, a replacement can be up to 18 inches higher than the existing wall, or higher where FEMA flood elevations or Community Risk and Resiliency Act considerations justify it. Your town or village may set its own limits or requirements.
Will raising my bulkhead stop flooding?
It stops water coming over your wall. But tidal water finds the lowest point, so if a neighbor's wall or a street-end is lower, water can still get in around it. That's why raising together with neighbors works best.
Does raising a bulkhead cost more?
Yes, somewhat: taller sheets or an extension, more backfill, and sometimes regrading the yard and adjusting a dock or ramp. It's usually far cheaper to do during a replacement than to add later.