Guide · Permits
Who Permits Docks, Seawalls and Dredging in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Manatee
Waterfront work in Florida usually needs more than one approval: the city or county building permit, an environmental review from the county (Miami-Dade DERM, Broward EPD, Palm Beach ERM, Manatee), and, because docks, seawalls and dredging touch state sovereign submerged lands and navigable waters, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE Jacksonville District). Some private single-family work qualifies for exemptions or general permits, which is why the paperwork is often lighter than owners expect. Below, by county, is what we verified.
Written by Langley Coastal Construction, Florida general contractor license CGC1538377. Facts are linked to their sources; this is general information, not legal advice.
Palm Beach County
- Docks and lifts (Jupiter): Town of Jupiter Building Department (Marine Structure permit) + FDEP + USACE (+ SFWMD when on submerged land or a natural waterway). [jupiter.fl.us]
- Docks and lifts (North Palm Beach): Village of North Palm Beach Building Division (Chapter 5, Boats, Docks and Waterways) + FDEP + USACE. Ord. 2019-07 requires all dock construction documents to be signed and sealed by an engineer and pollution-control plans to be submitted. [village-npb.org]
- Docks and lifts (Palm Beach): Town of Palm Beach Building Official (Ch. 62 Marine Structures) + FDEP + USACE. [library.municode.com]
- Seawalls (Jupiter): Town of Jupiter Building Department + FDEP + USACE (+ SFWMD). [jupiter.fl.us]
- Seawalls (North Palm Beach): Village of North Palm Beach (Village Engineer reviews every seawall permit) + FDEP + USACE. [library.municode.com]
- Seawalls (Palm Beach): Town of Palm Beach Building Official + Town Engineer + FDEP + USACE. [library.municode.com]
- Dredging (Jupiter): FDEP / USACE Jacksonville District (+ Jupiter Inlet District for the inlet and marked channels). FDEP: F.S. [leg.state.fl.us]
- Dredging (North Palm Beach): FDEP / USACE Jacksonville District / SFWMD (C-17 is an SFWMD canal). FDEP: F.S. [leg.state.fl.us]
- Dredging (Delray Beach): FDEP / USACE Jacksonville District (+ Palm Beach County ERM, FIND for the ICW). FDEP: F.S. [leg.state.fl.us]
Broward County
- Docks and lifts (Deerfield Beach): City of Deerfield Beach Building Department (150 NE 2 Ave, 954-250-4060) + Broward County EPD license. [deerfield-beach.com]
- Docks and lifts (Lighthouse Point): City of Lighthouse Point Building Department (3701 NE 22 Ave, 954-943-6509) + Broward County EPD. [lighthousepointfl.gov]
- Docks and lifts (Pompano Beach): City of Pompano Beach: Engineering permit (City Engineer) + Building permit (Building Inspections Division, 100 W Atlantic Blvd, 954-786-4669) + Broward County Environmental Resource General License. [pompanobeachfl.gov]
- Seawalls (Deerfield Beach): City of Deerfield Beach Building Department + Broward County EPD. City LDC 98-87 sets seawall cap width (18 to 42 in) and the 4 ft/5 ft NAVD88 elevation schedule; retaining walls and seawalls in waterfront yards must follow 98-87 standards. [ordinancewatch.com]
- Seawalls (Lighthouse Point): City of Lighthouse Point Building Department + Broward County EPD. Same city checklist applies to seawalls; city code Sec. 42-381 governs seawall height and raising or capping (text not retrieved). [lighthousepointfl.gov]
- Seawalls (Pompano Beach): City of Pompano Beach Engineering + Building permits; Broward County EPD. New walls must land between 5 ft and 5 ft 10 in NAVD88; after a citation, 60 days to show progress and 365 days to finish. [cdn.pompanobeachfl.gov]
- Dredging (Deerfield Beach): Broward County EPD + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District. The Hillsboro Canal dredging project is listed as completed in the city's Climate Resiliency Element. [deerfield-beach.com]
- Dredging (Lighthouse Point): Broward County EPD + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District. No city dredging program was found; canal dredging follows the county/state/federal path used by neighboring towns. [broward.org]
- Dredging (Pompano Beach): Broward County EPD + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District; SFWMD operates the Pompano and Cypress Creek canals. [cdn.pompanobeachfl.gov]
Miami-Dade County
- Docks and lifts (Golden Beach): Town of Golden Beach Building & Zoning + Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP / USACE. [goldenbeach.us]
- Docks and lifts (Bay Harbor Islands): Town of Bay Harbor Islands Building & Zoning + Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP / USACE. [bayharborislands-fl.gov]
- Docks and lifts (North Miami): City of North Miami Building Department (Boat Dock Permit) + Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP / USACE. [northmiamifl.gov]
- Seawalls (Golden Beach): Town of Golden Beach + Miami-Dade DERM (RER) Class I + FDEP. [miamidade.gov]
- Seawalls (Bay Harbor Islands): Town of Bay Harbor Islands + Miami-Dade DERM (RER) Class I + FDEP. [miamidade.gov]
- Seawalls (North Miami): City of North Miami Building Department + Miami-Dade DERM (RER) Class I + FDEP. [miamidade.gov]
- Dredging (Key Biscayne): Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District. Maintenance dredging of an existing man-made canal is exempt from a state ERP under F.S. [miamidade.gov]
- Dredging (Miami Beach): Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District. [miamibeachfl.gov]
- Dredging (Miami): Miami-Dade DERM Class I + FDEP + USACE Jacksonville District. Maintenance dredging of an existing man-made canal is exempt from a state ERP under F.S. [miamidade.gov]
Manatee County
- Docks and lifts (Palmetto): City of Palmetto Building Department (601 17th St W, 941-721-2166) + FDEP Southwest District + USACE Jacksonville District. City permits via AccessMyGov portal. [floridadep.gov]
- Docks and lifts (Bradenton): City of Bradenton Building and Permitting Division (101 12th St W, 941-932-9414; Accela online portal) + FDEP Southwest District + USACE Jacksonville District. City waterfront-structure permit fee $180. [cityofbradenton.com]
- Docks and lifts (Anna Maria): City of Anna Maria Building Department (10005 Gulf Dr; 941-708-6130 ext. 140; CitizenServe online portal only) + FDEP Southwest District + USACE Jacksonville District. [cityofannamaria.com]
- Seawalls (Palmetto): City of Palmetto (Ch. 10) or Manatee County Environmental Planning (LDC 511.17) for unincorporated Snead Island + FDEP + USACE. [mymanatee.org]
- Seawalls (Bradenton): City of Bradenton (in city) / Manatee County LDC 511.17 (unincorporated) + FDEP + USACE. [flrules.elaws.us]
- Seawalls (Anna Maria): City of Anna Maria (Ch. 110; 12-inch seaward projection limit) + FDEP + USACE. FDEP 62-330.051(12)(b) exempts restoring a seawall/riprap damaged in the last year no more than 18 inches waterward; the city's 12-inch cap is stricter. [amisun.com]
- Dredging (Palmetto): FDEP Southwest District (ERP, 813-470-5763) + USACE Jacksonville District (SPGP VI) + SWFWMD. Maintenance dredging of existing canals/channels is an ERP-exempt activity under 62-330.051(7)(a) / s. [flrules.elaws.us]
- Dredging (Bradenton): FDEP Southwest District ERP (Tampa; 813-470-5763) + USACE Jacksonville District + SWFWMD (62-330 F.A.C. [floridadep.gov]
- Dredging (Anna Maria): FDEP Southwest District ERP (813-470-5763) + USACE Jacksonville District + SWFWMD. Maintenance dredging of existing canals is exempt under 62-330.051(7)(a) / s. [flrules.elaws.us]
Questions we hear about this
Do I need a permit to build a private dock in Florida?
Yes, at least a local building permit, and usually a state authorization. FDEP's environmental resource permit rules (Chapter 62-330, F.A.C.) exempt some private single-family docks under size limits and provide general permits for others, but the exemption still has to be confirmed, and the county and city have their own reviews. The county entries above name the local authority.
Is maintenance dredging of my canal exempt?
Often, in part. Florida's rules exempt maintenance dredging of existing man-made canals to their original design depth, within limits, but county environmental agencies and the Army Corps may still require review, and spoil disposal needs a plan. Langley Coastal handles the permitting on dredging projects.
How long does permitting take?
It depends on the authority and the scope. Exempt or general-permit work moves fastest; anything in a manatee zone, near seagrass, or in an aquatic preserve takes longer. We do not publish timelines because they change; ask when you call and we will tell you what we are seeing that month.
What our customers say
My uncle needed a dock built for the end of summer. The Langley group not only got it done in time, but were able keep us within budget. If you ever need dock or sea wall work done, I’d definitely come to these guys first.
Talk to a licensed marine contractor
Call (954) 406-0696 or send the form. We serve Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Manatee counties.