Dock construction in Fort Lauderdale
We build new docks in Fort Lauderdale within the 25% rule.
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From survey and drawings to pilings, framing and decking, we build fixed docks on canals, the Intracoastal and open bay water.
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- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
A new dock in Fort Lauderdale must stay within 25% of the waterway width or 25 ft of the property line, whichever is less, unless the City Commission grants a waiver after a Marine Advisory Board recommendation; the waiver application fee is $1,500 (City of Fort Lauderdale, 2026). Fixr's 2025 national range for a new dock is $7,000 to $25,000.
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Who this is for
Owners adding a first dock, replacing a dock that is beyond repair, or redesigning a dock for a new boat or lift.
Typical project sizes
Most single-family docks are small enough for the state exemption: up to 1,000 sq ft of over-water area outside Outstanding Florida Waters. Larger docks of up to 2,000 sq ft and no more than two vessels can go through an FDEP general permit.
Designing to the limit
On a 60 ft wide canal, 25% is 15 ft, so the dock and any mooring structures must stay within 15 ft of the property line. On wider water, the 25 ft cap applies instead.[1]
Licenses before building
Broward County's license comes before any work over the water. State and federal approvals follow where they apply.[2]
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.[4][5]
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][4]
Permits 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 a new dock gets built
- Survey of the shoreline, water depth and any seagrass
- Design and engineered drawings
- County, city and state approvals
- Pilings driven or jetted, with manatee precautions
- Framing, decking, cleats and lighting
- Final inspections
Seagrass and dock design
In Johnson's seagrass range, which runs from Palm Bay south to central Biscayne Bay, docks over seagrass must follow federal minor piling-supported structure guidelines. In aquatic preserves a single-family dock is limited to a 4 ft wide walkway and a 160 sq ft terminal platform, and may not extend more than 500 ft or 20% of the waterbody width.[10][11]
Neighbours and view lines
Miami-Dade uses a D-5 boundary to protect neighbours' view and access. A dock beyond it may need consent letters from adjacent owners.[8]
| Item | Figure | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Dock, built | $7,000 to $25,000, average $15,000 | Fixr, national, 2025 |
| Piling dock | $20 to $40 per sq ft installed | Fixr, national, 2025 |
| Removing an old dock first | $250 to $1,000 | Fixr, national, 2025 |
| DERM application fee, $10,000 to $19,999 job | $470 plus $23 per $1,000 above $10,000 | Miami-Dade, 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a dock in Fort Lauderdale?
Fixr's 2025 national estimate is $7,000 to $25,000. A waiver, if needed, adds a $1,500 application fee.
Sources
- City Commission Agenda Memo #26-0535: Waiver of Limitations at 1614 Brickell Drive for one boat lift (16 Jun 2026), City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Do I need a license to replace or repair my dock / seawall?, Broward County (311 knowledge base, Environmental Protection and Growth Management). Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Cost to Build a Dock (updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr.com (secondary national cost guide). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Staff Report, Planning and Zoning Board, 16 Nov 2022, Case UDP-T22010 (Tidal barrier / seawall ordinance amendment, ULDR 47-19.3), City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- King Tides and High Tides, City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Community Rating System (Flood), City of Fort Lauderdale, Development Services. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Floodproofing (glossary), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 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.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 403.813: Permits issued at district centers; exceptions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). 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 Permitting in Florida: Permit Application Fee Schedule and Aquatic Preserve Design Criteria, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
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