This paper reviews the process of determining the design working life of port engineering structure in China at present,compares and analyzes the regulations for the design working life of the domestic engineering structure and foreign port engineering structure,summarizes the design regulations of domestic and foreign structures with a design service life of 100 years,analyzes the factors to be considered in increasing the design working life of the port engineering structure,and discusses the work to be carried out to improve the design working life.The research shows that it is technically feasible to improve the design working life,but it is necessary to carry out research work on the value of action,structural reliability analysis,durability design method,etc.Referring to the regulations on the design working life of other domestic industries and foreign port engineering structures,and considering the current situation of port use in China,it is proposed that the design working life of permanent port buildings should still be 50 years,while it can be more than 50 years according to the requirements of owners for particularly important port projects.