Docks in Fort Lauderdale

The waiver route

The City Commission can waive the projection limit on a finding of extraordinary circumstances under ULDR 47-19.3(e). Applications go to the Marine Advisory Board for a recommendation first, and the $1,500 application fee is the only fee.[1]

County license

Broward County requires a license before any work in, on, over or under its waters, and that covers new docks and dock repairs.[2]

River tide and inlet tide

NOAA's South Port Everglades gauge shows a 2.79 ft great diurnal range, while the Andrews Avenue bridge gauge up the New River shows 2.28 ft, with mean higher high water about 0.45 to 0.57 ft above NAVD 88 (1983 to 2001 epoch). Lifts and floating docks near the inlet need more travel than those up the river.

The tide sets the deck height and how far a boat rises against the dock.[3][4]

What makes Fort Lauderdale different

The City treats seawalls as tidal barriers. It presumes a wall is in disrepair if it lets upland soil erode, lets material pass through it, or lets tidal water flow unimpeded onto neighbours or the street, and gives owners 60 days to show progress and 365 days to finish. The City also spends $1.5 million a year on its own seawalls.[5][6]

The county layer

Broward County requires a license before any work in, on, over or under its waters, including repairing or replacing a dock or seawall. Broward's regional policy is a consistent top elevation of 5 ft NAVD for seawalls, banks and berms.[2][5]

Permits for docks in Fort Lauderdale

• Broward County environmental licensing: A county license before any work in, on, over or under Broward County waters, including dock and seawall repair.
• City of Fort Lauderdale: Building permits; waivers of the dock and lift projection limit go to the City Commission with a Marine Advisory Board recommendation.
• Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: State permit or exemption for docks and walls on the New River and the Intracoastal, on top of the Broward County license.
• US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Federal authorisation for work in the Intracoastal Waterway and other navigable waters.

How big can my dock be?

It depends on where you are. Florida's statutory exemption covers private docks up to 1,000 sq ft of over-water area, or 500 sq ft in Outstanding Florida Waters, with one exempt dock per 65 ft of shoreline. Over-water area includes roofs, boat canopies, elevated platforms and decking. In Miami-Dade a single-family dock on the short-form permit may not protrude more than 25% of the waterway width.[10][11][12]

Docks over state-owned water

Most of Biscayne Bay and its natural tributaries, including the Miami River, Little River, Oleta River and Arch Creek, are state-owned submerged lands. A dock there needs the state's consent, which DERM can grant on the state's behalf for qualifying projects. FDEP requires structures to sit at least 25 ft inside riparian lines (10 ft for marginal docks), with exceptions.[12][11]

Frequently asked questions