Marine construction in Miami

Old piles and wrecked docks

DERM exempts removing old piles and dilapidated docks, lifts and davits, and repairing dock decking or handrails to their original size. In older Miami neighbourhoods along the river many jobs start with that clean-out, so it can begin before the permit for the new structure is issued.

Piling rules apply to every structure we drive into the bottom.[1]

Riprap rules on Miami's bay and river edges

DERM treats limerock boulders on a 2:1 slope no more than 10 ft waterward of mean high water as an expedited job once its staff have inspected the site, with a $170 riprap inspection fee. Riprap tucked under an undercut wall no more than 2 ft out is exempt, which covers many first repairs.

Shoreline stabilisation follows that rock rule.[1]

Manatee zones in Miami-Dade waters

Miami-Dade's manatee protection zones are set in state rule 68C-22.025, with boating restricted areas under 68D-24.013. For in-water work that means slow-speed zones for work boats and the full state manatee conditions: everything stops if a manatee comes within 50 ft, and turbidity curtains must not trap one.

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

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][4][5]

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.[6]

Permits for marine construction 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.

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.[10][11]

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.[1][12][3]

Frequently asked questions