Bonita Springs, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Sec. 24-107 of the Bonita Springs Code is narrow. It says retaining walls and sidewalks and driveways that involve the placement of fill in regulated floodways shall meet the limitations of Sec. 24-87. It prints no wall height limit, no fee and no building permit threshold, so this record does not describe retaining walls outside a regulated floodway.

The work is done by the sections it points to. Sec. 24-87 says no development, including site improvements and land disturbing activity involving fill or regrading, shall be authorized in the regulatory floodway unless the floodway encroachment analysis required in Sec. 24-46(1) demonstrates that the proposed work will not result in any increase in the base flood elevation. Sec. 24-46(1) requires that analysis to be signed and sealed by a Florida licensed engineer and submitted with the site plan and construction documents. Where the applicant proposes work that does increase base flood elevations, the analysis goes to FEMA under Sec. 24-47, and any conditional letter of map revision that FEMA issues must accompany the site plan.

Sec. 24-64 closes the variance door: a variance shall not be issued for development in a floodway if any increase in base flood elevations would result. Sec. 24-88 adds that fill must be designed to be stable under conditions of flooding, including rapid rise and rapid drawdown, prolonged inundation, and protection against flood-related erosion and scour. Sec. 24-33 requires the owner or agent to apply to the floodplain administrator, the building official, before any development in a flood hazard area. Sec. 24-106 applies the same Sec. 24-87 limits to fences that have the potential to block floodwaters.