Dock construction
We build new docks sized to your boat and your waterway's rules.
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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.
- Free, no-obligation quote
- Fast response from our team
- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
Building a new dock typically costs $7,000 to $25,000, with an average around $15,000, according to Fixr's 2025 national guide. In Miami-Dade a single-family dock that protrudes no more than 25% of the waterway width is a short-form DERM permit approved by staff, and drawings by a Florida-licensed engineer are required at submittal (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025).
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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.
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.[4][5]
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.[2]
| 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 much does a 30 foot dock cost to build?
At Fixr's national $20 to $40 per sq ft for piling docks, a 30 ft by 6 ft dock (180 sq ft) is about $3,600 to $7,200 for the structure alone, before permits, pilings in deep water and fittings. We quote after a site visit.
What wood is used to build a dock?
Most South Florida docks use pressure-treated pilings and framing, with treated timber, composite or other decking on top. In some aquatic preserve areas planks may be no more than 8 inches wide and spaced at least 1/2 inch apart.
How long does dock permitting take?
It varies by agency and season. A DERM short-form permit is approved by staff without a public hearing, and is valid for 2 years once issued.
Sources
- Cost to Build a Dock (updated 31 Jan 2025), Fixr.com (secondary national cost guide). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- 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.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 403.813: Permits issued at district centers; exceptions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). 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.
- Dock Permitting in Florida: Permit Application Fee Schedule and Aquatic Preserve Design Criteria, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
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