Marine pile driving in Fort Lauderdale
Marine pile driving in Fort Lauderdale, started only once the Broward County license is in hand.
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Barge-mounted pile driving and jetting for new docks, lift slips, mooring piles and seawall support piles.
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The short answer
Marine pile driving sets timber or concrete piles into the bottom for docks, lifts and marine structures, and Florida now has a state Marine Pile Driving Specialty Contractor licence category (DBPR). Any Fort Lauderdale dock, piling or seawall work in the water needs a Broward County license before it starts.
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Who needs pile driving
Owners building a new dock or lift slip, adding mooring piles, or replacing failed pilings.
The Broward County license comes first
Broward County requires its own license before any work in, on, over or under county waters, and that includes repairing or replacing a dock or seawall. Pile replacement, lift repairs that touch the pilings and seawall work all need that county license before work starts, on top of the City permit.
Pile driving cannot start before that approval.[1]
Broward manatee zones
Broward County's manatee protection zones are set in state rule 68C-22.010, with boating restricted areas in 68D-24.008. In-water crews on the Intracoastal and the New River follow the slow-speed zones and stop work whenever a manatee comes within 50 ft.
Pile driving stops whenever a manatee comes within 50 ft, so watchers are posted.[2][3]
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.[1][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.
Rules that shape pile work
Under SPGP VI, impact-hammer installation of metal pipe or metal sheet piles was not authorised, so steel piles needed a separate federal review. All in-water work stops when a manatee comes within 50 ft and restarts once it has moved beyond 50 ft or 30 minutes pass without it reappearing; project vessels run at idle speed and no wake.[11][3]
| Item | Figure | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing an individual piling | $300 to $1,600 | Fixr, national, 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a county license to repair my dock in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Broward County requires a license before any work in, on, over or under its waters, including repair or replacement of a dock or seawall.
Do manatee rules apply in Fort Lauderdale canals?
Yes. Broward's zones under rule 68C-22.010 set boat speeds, and the state conditions stop in-water work while a manatee is within 50 ft.
Sources
- 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.
- Manatee Data and Maps (county manatee protection zone and boating restricted area maps), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Construction Industry Licensing Board: Archives (HB 1383 / SB 1142 specialty licensing changes), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Cost to Build a Dock (updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr.com (secondary national cost guide). 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.
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