Waterways and communities
Long Beach's bay side faces Reynolds Channel. The Canals neighborhood, West Bay Drive and the West End street ends all front the bay. The City's north shore bulkhead project, funded through HUD's disaster-recovery program, is replacing and raising public bulkheads in those areas.
- The Canals
- North Park
- West End (bayfront)
- Reynolds Channel bayfront
Local permits in Long Beach
City permit for bulkheads and docks
The City's Building Department lists installing bulkheading or docks among the work that requires a permit.
- Building Department: City Hall, Room 304, (516) 431-1005.
- Article IV, §§ 6-67 through 6-72 of the City Code governs bulkhead repair and replacement. A 2015 City request for proposals said the City intended to update those sections to create a uniform requirement for future construction, so check the current text.
Source: City of Long Beach — Building · 2015 North Shore Bulkheading RFP.
The City's north shore bulkhead project
The City is replacing and raising public bulkheads in the Canal Area (Doyle and Heron Streets), the West Bay Drive area and the West End street ends on Reynolds Channel, to the base flood elevation of generally 9.0 or 10.0 feet NAVD, about 3 to 4 feet higher than what's there now.
- The project is funded by HUD CDBG-DR money, which can't pay for private work. Owners must remove private structures that obstruct construction, or the City removes them at the owner's expense and adds the cost to their taxes.
- Project questions: Department of Public Works, (516) 431-1011.
Source: City of Long Beach — North Shore Bulkhead Project.
Villages: Long Beach is a city, not part of a town, so the City's Building Department and Department of Public Works are your local offices.
State layer: most replacements here can use DEC's bulkhead general permit (in place or landward, up to 18 in. higher, no application fee) unless the site is near vegetated tidal wetlands or eelgrass or in an erosion hazard area. Check if you qualify.
Flooding and wall height in Long Beach
The City's north-shore walls are going to the base flood elevation, generally 9.0 or 10.0 feet NAVD, about 3 to 4 feet above the existing walls. Patch reported in 2011 that new bulkheads in the Canals were built 10 feet high and then lowered a foot, to 9 feet, about 2 feet taller than the old wooden ones. If your private wall is lower than the public walls around it, tidal flooding finds the low spot.
What drives the price in Long Beach
Bayfront walls on Reynolds Channel face more wave energy than the sheltered Canals, which pushes toward heavier sections and steel. If your wall is next to a City project area, coordinating height and timing with the public work can avoid a low spot and an awkward return between the two walls.
Island-wide ranges: bulkhead cost guide & calculator.
Services in Long Beach
Long Beach bulkhead & dock FAQ
Does the City pay for private bulkheads?
No. The City's north shore project is funded by HUD disaster-recovery money, which the City says can't be used for private work. Private structures that obstruct the project must be removed at the owner's expense.
How high should my new bulkhead be?
The City is building its own bayfront walls to the base flood elevation (generally 9–10 feet NAVD in the project area). Matching your neighbors and the public walls matters more than any single number. Confirm the required elevation with the Building Department.
Who do I call with bulkhead questions?
Permits go through the Building Department at City Hall, (516) 431-1005. Questions about the City's north shore bulkhead project go to the Department of Public Works, (516) 431-1011.