Riprap is sloped rock placed at a seawall or bank to absorb wave energy, and in unincorporated Lee County it's required along at least half of every new or replacement seawall on a canal.
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Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides riprap installation in Fort Myers, FL for canal and riverfront homeowners, HOAs, and commercial owners. Typical projects include county-required rock with replacement walls in Whiskey Creek and Iona, toe protection for scoured Caloosahatchee walls, and rock revetments with mangrove plantings on natural shoreline. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
In unincorporated Lee County, often yes. The county's 2022 code update says riprap must be placed waterward along no less than 50% of the length of any new or replacement seawall on artificial waterbodies, unless it conflicts with state or federal rules or would block boat tie-up areas (Lee County Ord. 22-24).
The same section sets the minimum rock:
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Coverage | At least 50% of the new or replacement wall's length |
| Height | At least 3 ft above the bottom, or up to mean high water |
| Stone size | Minimum average 12 inches |
| Exception | Designated watercraft tie-up areas |
Inside City of Fort Myers limits, we confirm the city's requirements during permitting; its checklist requires an FDEP authorization letter for all marine work.
A vertical wall reflects wave energy downward, scouring its own base. Riprap:
On the Caloosahatchee, where Ian's surge reversed the river's flow and flooded downtown streets in 2022, a stone apron gives the wall a buffer against both waves and current.
It isn't only the big storms. Charley in 2004 was mostly a wind event here, yet NHC still measured 3.4 and 3.6 feet of surge on Caloosahatchee tide gauges near Fort Myers and 4.2 feet in Estero Bay (NHC Charley report). Moderate surges like that, repeated over the life of a wall, are exactly what scours an unprotected toe.
On natural waterbodies in unincorporated Lee County, new or expanded seawalls aren't allowed, so rock revetments are a common way to protect a bank. The code's revetment rules require stone averaging at least 12 inches on filter fabric, placement that doesn't damage wetland vegetation, and, in many cases, mangroves or approved wetland plants set 3 feet on center within the rock. See revetment maintenance in Fort Myers if you already have one.
Stone placement matters as much as stone size. Rock dumped against a wall with no fabric slowly sinks as the soil beneath it washes out, and gaps at the ends let water curl behind the apron. We build the rock as a layered slope, tie it into the neighboring shoreline, and leave your tie-up area open where the code allows. Doing rock and wall together is simplest. See bulkhead replacement in Fort Myers.
In Fort Myers, riprap runs $125–$350 per linear foot. A standard 75-foot residential installation is typically $10,000–$25,000, fully installed and permitted. Stone volume, depth, and access affect the price.
We also install riprap in Cape Coral and Naples. See the Fort Myers seawall repair hub.
On a canal in unincorporated Lee County, yes, along at least half the wall's length, unless it would block a designated tie-up area.
The code exempts designated tie-up areas, and we lay out the rock around your dock and lift.
Lee County requires a minimum average size of 12 inches, placed at least 3 feet high off the bottom or up to mean high water.
On many natural-shoreline revetments, the county requires mangroves or approved wetland plants 3 feet on center, with some exceptions.
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