Dock construction in Miami
We build new docks in Miami, from survey to final inspection.
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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
Building a dock in Miami starts with plans prepared by a Florida-licensed engineer for DERM, then signed and sealed plans after preliminary approval; a single-family dock within 25% of the waterway width is a short-form permit valid for 2 years (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025). 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.
The Miami permit path
1. DERM Class I short form with engineer's plans. 2. State consent for state-owned submerged land, which DERM can grant for qualifying projects. 3. City of Miami structural and zoning approval. 4. Federal authorisation where it applies.[1]
Designing around seagrass
Johnson's seagrass range reaches central Biscayne Bay, so a dock over seagrass follows the federal minor piling-supported structure guidelines. A biological assessment for a single-family project costs $400 at DERM.[2][1]
Bayfront lots sit on Outstanding Florida Waters
The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve covers 64,607 acres from the Oleta River to Card Sound and is treated as Outstanding Florida Waters. On open bay frontage that halves the state dock exemption to 500 sq ft of over-water area, against 1,000 sq ft on an artificial canal, and seagrass damage in the preserve can bring a fine of up to $1,000.
A bottom survey comes before the layout so the dock clears any grass.[4][5][6]
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][6][2]
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.[7]
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.
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.[2][6]
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.[1]
| 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 long is a Miami dock permit valid?
Most DERM short-form permits are valid for 2 years, with extensions possible up to 10 years in total.
What does a dock cost to build in Miami?
Fixr's 2025 national estimate is $7,000 to $25,000, average $15,000. Bay docks with long walkways, seagrass design limits or deep water cost more.
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.
- 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.
- Cost to Build a Dock (updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr.com (secondary national cost guide). 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.
- Dock Permitting in Florida: Permit Application Fee Schedule and Aquatic Preserve Design Criteria, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). 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.
- 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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