Marine construction in Beaufort covers new docks, lifts, bulkheads, and pilings. Projects on tidal water are designed around South Carolina's dock and critical area rules and permitted through the SCDES Bureau of Coastal Management, plus city or county review.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides marine construction in Beaufort, SC for homeowners, associations, and commercial waterfronts. Typical projects include new private docks crossing the marsh on Lady's Island, bulkheads on Beaufort River lots, and pilings on helical foundations where pluff mud runs deep. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection. Licensed to perform marine construction in Georgia and South Carolina.
SC Regulation 30-12 sets the framework for private docks statewide (SC Reg. 30-12). The limits we design around most often:
| Item | SC standard |
|---|---|
| Walkway height | 3 ft or more above mean high water |
| Private walkway width | 4 ft maximum |
| Handrails | 36 in. maximum above the deck |
| Dock storage | One bench-style locker, up to 3 × 3 × 8 ft |
| Setback | 20 ft from extended property lines (joint-use excepted) |
| Pierhead area, creeks 51–150 ft wide | 160 sq ft |
| Pierhead area, creeks over 150 ft wide | 600 sq ft |
| Enclosures | Docks can't be enclosed by walls or screens |
| Length | 1,000 ft maximum over critical area |
Smaller creeks allow less, and creeks under 10 feet allow no dock at all. Lots subdivided after May 23, 1993 need 75 feet of marsh-edge frontage for a private dock. We measure creek width and frontage at the first visit.
Two more rules often come up on Beaufort lots. Docks have to reach the first navigable creek within your extended property lines, which decides how far your walkway crosses the marsh. And each lot gets one dock. If you and a neighbor both want water access on narrow lots, a joint-use dock may be the answer. It needs at least 50 feet of marsh-edge frontage per lot and can be larger than a single private dock.
Doing dock and bulkhead work together can save money. See bulkhead replacement in Beaufort.
Marine construction in Beaufort typically costs $400–$800 per linear foot for new dock construction and $250–$600 per linear foot for new seawall or bulkhead construction. Walkway length, piling depth, access, and buffer requirements shape the price.
Where pluff mud runs deep, pilings may need extra support. See marine foundation repair in Beaufort. Our Beaufort seawall repair page covers wall work. We also build in Hilton Head and Charleston. Ready to start? Contact us.
No. South Carolina rules don't allow docks to be enclosed by walls or screens.
Private and joint-use docks are limited to a single bench-style locker up to 3 feet high, 3 feet deep, and 8 feet long.
Yes, for local review. State rules are the same, but the city and county each have their own process. We confirm which applies to your lot.
Approvals usually take longer than construction. Once they're in hand, most residential docks are built in a few weeks.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323