SoFlo Marine Construction
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Boat davit installation

Davits that lift your tender or small boat clear of the water.

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We mount davits on seawalls and docks, check the wall can carry the load and handle the permit.

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  • Free, no-obligation quote
  • Fast response from our team
  • Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys

The short answer

In Miami-Dade, installing a davit is a short-form DERM Class I permit approved by staff without a public hearing, and a single-family davit may not protrude more than 25% of the waterway width; removing an old davit is exempt (Miami-Dade DERM, 2025). The seawall or dock must be sound enough to carry the boat's weight.

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Who davits suit

Owners of tenders, small boats and jet skis with a sound seawall or dock and limited room for a lift slip.

Before we mount a davit

  1. Check the seawall cap or dock framing can carry the load
  2. Confirm the reach against the 25% waterway rule
  3. Permit with DERM and the city
  4. Mount, wire and test
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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a boat davit?

Yes, in Miami-Dade a davit is a DERM short-form permit, plus your city's building permit.

Sources

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Florida Statutes 2026, Section 489.105 Definitions, The Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine). Accessed October 27, 2026.
  4. Environmental Resource Permitting: Coordination, Assistance, Portals, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
  5. Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Accessed October 27, 2026.

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