Marine construction in Miami Beach

Manatee season in the bay

Miami Beach waters are inside Miami-Dade's manatee protection zones under rule 68C-22.025, and the aquatic preserve notes manatees moving into the bay for warmer water in cooler months. Winter pile driving and seawall jobs plan for more 50 ft shutdowns and keep turbidity curtains non-entangling.

Marine construction is mostly in-water work, so the manatee rules set daily routines.[1][2][3]

Bay-side lots and the aquatic preserve

Lots that face open Biscayne Bay rather than a dredged canal sit on the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, which counts as Outstanding Florida Waters. There the state dock exemption is 500 sq ft of over-water area, and the preserve says manatees move into the bay in the cooler months.

Grass beds decide where barges can anchor and where piles can go.[2][4][5]

What makes Miami Beach different

The city has about 55 miles of seawall, of which only about 5 miles are publicly owned, so most of it is the responsibility of private owners. Its seawall ordinance dates from Resolution R2016-4009 in May 2016, was strengthened in January 2021 and amended again in July 2025.[6][8]

Groundwater and flooding

The city notes that groundwater rises through the porous bedrock under Miami Beach, so a seawall alone cannot stop flooding. A raised wall stops tidal overtopping; drainage and flood protection handle the rest.[9]

Permits for marine construction in Miami Beach

• City of Miami Beach Building Department: Building permit with a site plan, structural plans and an elevation certification.
• Miami-Dade DERM, Coastal Resources Section: Class I permit or exemption for seawalls, docks and lifts on the island canals and the bay, issued alongside the City permit. Phone (305) 372-6575.
• Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: State review where a dock or wall reaches open Biscayne Bay, part of the aquatic preserve, where FDEP's free online self-certification is not available.
• US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Federal authorisation for work in Biscayne Bay and Indian Creek; we confirm the small-project route since SPGP VI's stated July 2026 expiry.

What is a marine contractor?

A marine contractor builds structures in, on or over the water: seawalls, bulkheads, docks, pilings and davits. In Florida, specialty contractors' scope is limited to a particular phase of construction, while a general contractor's scope is unlimited as to work requiring licensure under chapter 489. Always check a contractor's licence category on the DBPR licence search before you sign.[12][13]

Permits for work in the water

Most work needs a county environmental permit (in Miami-Dade, a DERM Class I permit), a city building permit, a state decision from FDEP or SFWMD and, where it applies, federal authorisation from the Army Corps of Engineers. Permits attach the state's manatee conditions to all in-water work.[10][14][3]

Frequently asked questions