Seawalls, docks and boat lifts in Miami
Seawall, dock and lift work on Biscayne Bay and the Miami River.
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We work along Biscayne Bay, the Miami River and Little River, where county, city and state permits all apply to waterfront work.
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- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
In the City of Miami, any seawall, dock or boat lift work in or over tidal water needs a Miami-Dade DERM Class I permit plus City of Miami structural and zoning approval. Biscayne Bay, the Miami River and Little River are state-owned submerged lands, so a new dock there also needs the state's consent, which DERM can grant on the state's behalf (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025).
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What makes Miami waterfront work different
Most of Biscayne Bay and its natural tributaries, including the Miami River and Little River, are state-owned submerged lands, so docks over them need the state's consent alongside the DERM permit. The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve is listed by DERM as a permitting contact, and FDEP's free online dock self-certification is not available in aquatic preserves. The federal seagrass range used in dock design reaches central Biscayne Bay.[1][2][3]
City of Miami seawall height
In 2020 the City considered an ordinance (File 7338) to set a 6 ft NAVD 88 minimum for new and rebuilt seawalls east of US-1, outside the Miami River. We have not confirmed that it was adopted, so for every Miami seawall job we confirm the current height rule with the City before design.[4]
Areas we cover around Miami
- Coconut Grove
- Brickell
- Edgewater
- Morningside
- Upper East Side
- Miami River
Who issues permits in Miami
- Miami-Dade DERM, Coastal Resources Section: Class I permit for any work in, on or over tidal water, the Miami River included, with exempt, expedited and short-form routes for small jobs. Phone (305) 372-6575.
- City of Miami Building Department: Structural and zoning approval for seawalls, docks and lifts inside city limits.
- Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: State permit or exemption, and consent to use the state-owned bottom of Biscayne Bay, the Miami River and Little River, which DERM grants for most of the bay on the state's behalf.
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Federal sign-off for work in the bay and the river. SPGP VI, the small-project route, passed its stated 27 July 2026 expiry, so we confirm the current route for each job.
Services in Miami
Seawalls in Miami
Seawall repair, replacement, new caps, raising, riprap toe protection and inspections.
Docks in Miami
New docks, dock repair, floating docks, pilings and composite decking.
Boat lifts in Miami
Boat lift installation, repair, motors and cables, jet ski lifts and servicing.
Marine construction in Miami
Pile driving, bulkheads, boat davits and living shorelines.
Flood protection in Miami
Flood barriers and panels for doors and garages, and flood vents.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a DERM permit for a dock in Miami?
Yes. DERM's Class I permit covers all work in, on or over tidal water in Miami-Dade, including inside the City of Miami. A single-family dock that protrudes no more than 25% of the waterway width is a short-form permit.
What is the seawall height requirement in the City of Miami?
A 2020 proposal set 6 ft NAVD 88 east of US-1, but we have not confirmed it was adopted. We check the current rule with the City for each project.
Who owns the water under my dock on Biscayne Bay?
Usually the State of Florida. Most of Biscayne Bay and its natural tributaries are state-owned submerged lands, and DERM can grant consent on the state's behalf for qualifying projects.
Sources
- 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.
- Dock Permitting in Florida: Permit Application Fee Schedule and Aquatic Preserve Design Criteria, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). 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.
- City of Miami File ID 7338 (Revision A): Ordinance amending Chapters 20, 29 and 54 to set seawall minimum heights (Second Reading, printed 5/19/2020), City of Miami. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 403.813: Permits issued at district centers; exceptions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Letter to the Miami City Manager on Community Rating System verification (12 May 2022), with CRS verification report, FEMA, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (hosted by the City of Miami). Accessed October 28, 2026.
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