Marine construction in South Florida
Pile driving, bulkheads, davits and living shorelines, from the water side.
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Barge-based marine construction for homes, HOAs and small commercial waterfronts: pilings, bulkheads, davits and nature-based shorelines.
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- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
Marine construction covers work built in or over the water, such as pilings, bulkheads, davits and shorelines. Florida created state specialty licence categories for Marine Seawall Work, Marine Bulkhead Work, Marine Dock Work and Marine Pile Driving under HB 1383 (2023) and SB 1142 (2024), and since 1 July 2025 local governments may only license specialty types that match the state's (DBPR).
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Who we work for
Homeowners, condo and HOA boards, and small marinas and commercial waterfronts that need work done from the water.
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.[1][2]
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.[3][4][5]
Marine construction services
Frequently asked questions
What is a marine contractor?
A contractor who builds in, on or over the water: seawalls, bulkheads, docks, pilings, lifts and davits. Florida has state specialty licence categories for marine seawall, bulkhead, dock and pile driving work.
What are some examples of marine structures?
Seawalls, bulkheads, docks, piers, pilings, boat lifts, davits, riprap revetments and living shorelines.
Is marine construction harder than building on land?
It adds steps: work from a barge, tides, turbidity barriers, manatee watches and more permit layers. That is why planning and permits take as long as the build on many jobs.
Sources
- Construction Industry Licensing Board: Archives (HB 1383 / SB 1142 specialty licensing changes), Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 2026, Section 489.105 Definitions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). 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.
- Environmental Resource Permitting: Coordination, Assistance, Portals, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Accessed October 27, 2026.
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