Every in-water project permitted in South Florida carries the state's Standard Manatee Conditions: all work, including vessels, stops if a manatee comes within 50 ft, and resumes once it moves beyond 50 ft or 30 minutes pass without it reappearing (FWC, 2011). Seagrass rules apply in Johnson's seagrass range, from Palm Bay south to central Biscayne Bay.
The manatee conditions
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Manatee within 50 ft | All in-water work, including vessels, stops |
| Restart | When the manatee moves beyond 50 ft, or after 30 minutes without it reappearing |
| Vessel speed | Idle speed or no wake in the work area and where clearance is under 4 ft |
| Turbidity barriers | Non-entangling, secured, monitored, and must not block manatees |
| Signs | FWC-approved manatee signs posted before and during work |
| Reporting | Collisions or injuries to the FWC hotline, 1-888-404-3922 |
These conditions are attached to permits, including federal authorisations under SPGP VI.[2]
Where seagrass rules apply
Johnson's seagrass range runs from Turkey Creek and Palm Bay south to central Biscayne Bay, which covers Palm Beach County and north and central Miami-Dade waters. Docks over seagrass follow the federal minor piling-supported structure guidelines from November 2017.[2] Under SPGP VI, no seagrass survey was needed for seawall work within 18 inches of the existing wall, or for boat lifts placed in existing slips.[2]
In the Keys
Projects inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary needed prior Sanctuary approval under SPGP VI. In Monroe County, boat lifts and minor structures could go into existing slips without a seagrass survey.[2] Monroe County's dock length exception asks owners to describe the sand, seagrass or coral the dock crosses.[3]
Manatee Protection Plan in Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade's plan puts no extra restriction on single-family docks in Essential Habitat Areas; multifamily facilities with more than five slips are limited to one powerboat slip per 100 ft of shoreline.[4]
Related services: marine pile driving, bulkheads and living shorelines, plus docks in Key Largo.
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Frequently asked questions
What happens if a manatee comes near a work site?
All in-water work, including vessels, stops if a manatee comes within 50 ft, and resumes when it moves beyond 50 ft or after 30 minutes without it reappearing.
Do I need a seagrass survey for a seawall repair?
Under SPGP VI, not for work within 18 inches of the existing wall.
Sources
- Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Department of the Army State Programmatic General Permit VI (SPGP VI), SAJ-2015-2575, State of Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (document hosted by Florida DEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Dock Length Special Exception Application (Last revised August 2026), Monroe County Planning and Environmental Resources Department. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Class I Permit Application for Coastal Construction and Mangrove Trimming within Miami-Dade County (Revised May 2025), Miami-Dade County RER, Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), Coastal Resources Section. Accessed October 27, 2026.
