Floating docks in Coral Gables

Who a floating dock suits

Owners with deep water at the wall, frequent wakes, a small boat, kayaks or a jet ski, or a seawall too high for an easy step down.

A smaller tide in the south bay

NOAA's Cutler gauge on Biscayne Bay, south of the Gables shoreline, shows a 1.94 ft mean range and a 2.13 ft great diurnal range, with mean higher high water about 0.19 ft above NAVD 88 (1983 to 2001 epoch). That is about half a foot less swing than at Government Cut, which helps lift and floating dock design in Cocoplum and Gables Estates.

Floats, guide piles and gangway length are sized from that range so the gangway stays walkable at low water.[1][2]

Cocoplum's own dock plan

Properties in Cocoplum Section II must include a copy of the Cocoplum dock plan with their permit, and every Gables dock submittal shows the dimensions across the waterway. On the winding Gables canals that cross-section drawing is what proves a dock or lift leaves room for boats to pass.

Floating sections count toward the same size limit as a fixed dock.[3]

The bay off the Gables is preserve water

The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve runs the length of the bay outside Biscayne National Park, and its access list includes the Matheson Hammock Park boat ramp beside the Gables bayfront. Bay-facing docks there fall under the 500 sq ft Outstanding Florida Waters exemption and the preserve's seagrass protection, while Miami-Dade manatee zones (rule 68C-22.025) govern boat speeds.

Floats shade the bottom, so they are kept off seagrass.[4][5][6]

What makes Coral Gables different

Dock, mooring and wharf plans must show dimensions across the waterway, existing mangroves and the installation method, and carry DERM's preliminary approval; revised plans need a DERM stamp again. Properties in Cocoplum Section II must include a copy of the Cocoplum dock plan. The City also asks for a notarised Public Works permit application, colour photos of existing conditions and a survey.[3]

Fee incentives

Under Resolution 2025-342, living seawalls with pH-neutral cement or modular retrofit panels qualify for a 20% reduction in city permit fees, and a separate fee waiver applies to existing homes making seawall improvements to address sea level rise.[8]

Permits in Coral Gables

• Miami-Dade DERM, Coastal Resources Section: Class I permit, plus the preliminary approval the City asks to see before it looks at any dock or wall plans. Phone (305) 372-6575.
• City of Coral Gables Development Services and Public Works: Building and Public Works permits for seawalls, bulkheads and docks, after DERM preliminary approval.
• Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: State permit or exemption for docks and walls on the Gables canals and the bay, where aquatic preserve rules apply to open bay frontage.
• US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Federal authorisation for bayfront and canal work, confirmed for each job since SPGP VI's stated July 2026 expiry.

Do you need a permit for a floating dock?

Usually yes, at county and city level. Florida's exemptions cover private docks on pilings or floating up to 1,000 sq ft and floating vessel platforms up to 500 sq ft, but they do not remove county and municipal requirements. In Miami-Dade any structure over tidal water needs a DERM Class I permit.[5][9]

What goes into the install

• Float sections and decking
• Anchoring to pilings or the seawall
• Aluminium gangway with hinges for the tidal range
• Cleats, bumpers and lighting

Frequently asked questions