Bulkhead Replacement Cost in South Jersey (2026)

The short answer

Most residential bulkheads on the Brigantine and South Jersey back bays run roughly $700–$1,200 per linear foot installed. For a typical 50-foot lagoon lot, that’s about $35,000–$60,000. Wall height, water depth, access, materials, and your town’s required bulkhead elevation are what move the price within that range.

How much does a bulkhead cost per foot?

We price residential bulkheads by the linear foot, and on the back bays most walls land between $700 and $1,200 per foot. That includes the sheeting or timber, the whaler and cap, the tie-backs, and the backfill behind the wall — the parts that actually make a bulkhead last.

You’ll see much lower national averages online. Those usually include small, low walls on calm freshwater lakes. A back-bay bulkhead has to hold tidal water, storm surge, and a full yard of soil, and it has to be built to your town’s minimum elevation — see our bulkhead height requirements by town.

What does a whole bulkhead project cost?

Here’s what that per-foot range works out to on common lot widths. Your firm number comes after a free on-site measure.

What makes a bulkhead cost more or less?

Two walls of the same length can price very differently. These are the biggest factors:

• Wall height — raising to a new town-required elevation means longer sheets and more backfill.
• Water depth and bottom conditions — deeper water and soft bottom need longer sheets and piles.
• Material — vinyl, timber, or composite (see vinyl vs. timber bulkheads).
• Removing the old wall — pulling a failed wall costs more than building in front of it, when that’s allowed.
• Access — whether we can work from land or need a barge, and how tight the lot is.
• Your dock — whether an existing dock has to come off and go back on, or be rebuilt.
• Returns and neighbors — tying into the bulkheads on either side of your property.

Is repair cheaper than replacement?

Sometimes. If the problem is local — one washed-out section, a broken tie-back, a rotted cap — a repair can buy years for a fraction of the cost. If the wall is leaning along its length or losing soil in many places, you’re usually paying to repair a wall that will need replacing anyway. Our guide to signs your bulkhead is failing walks through how to tell the difference.

In some towns, larger repairs also trigger the elevation rules. In Margate, for example, repairs of $10,000 or more (cumulative) have to meet the city’s minimum bulkhead height.

Do permits add to the cost?

Yes — plan for permit fees and, in many cases, engineered drawings. You obtain the permits as the property owner, and we help you through the process. Our NJ dock and bulkhead permit guide explains which approvals you’re likely to need and how long they take.

Common questions

How much does a new bulkhead cost in Brigantine?

Most residential bulkheads in the Brigantine back bays run roughly $700–$1,200 per linear foot, or about $35,000–$60,000 for a typical 50-foot lot. You get a firm written price after a free on-site measure.

Why are NJ bulkhead prices higher than national averages?

National averages usually include small freshwater walls. Back-bay bulkheads hold tidal water and storm surge, need marine-grade materials, and must meet local minimum elevations.

Does the price include removing my old bulkhead?

We quote it clearly either way. Pulling a failed wall adds cost; building just in front of it, where allowed, can save money.

How long does a bulkhead last?

A properly installed vinyl bulkhead typically lasts 30–50 years. Timber walls usually last 20–30 years depending on exposure.

Homeowner guides

• Vinyl vs. Timber Bulkheads: Which Is Right for Your Property?
• 7 Signs Your Bulkhead Is Failing (and When to Replace It)
• Bulkhead Height Requirements by Town: Brigantine to Ocean City
• NJ Dock & Bulkhead Permits: A Homeowner’s Guide