Marine construction in Fort Lauderdale includes new docks, boat lifts, seawalls, and pilings, all designed to the city's dock-extension limits and, for new seawalls, the 5-foot elevation standard.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides marine construction in Fort Lauderdale, FL for canal-front homeowners, HOAs, and commercial owners. Typical projects include new docks and lifts on Las Olas Isles and Isle of Venice canals, new seawalls built to the 5-foot standard, and mooring piles placed within the city's extension limits. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
Most jobs combine two or more of these, and we plan them as one project.
Settle this first, because it drives the layout. Fort Lauderdale's Unified Land Development Code sets the limits (ULDC §47-19.3):
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Docks and mooring structures | 25% of waterway width or 25 ft, whichever is less |
| Mooring piles | 30% of width or 25 ft beyond the property line, whichever is less |
| Docked boats | Must stay within side setback lines extended into the water |
| Isle of Venice and Hendricks Isle | Standing waiver lets boats extend past side setback lines |
| Beyond these limits | City Commission waiver after a public hearing, capped at 30% of width |
We design inside the standard limits whenever possible. Waivers take longer and aren't guaranteed.
New walls in Fort Lauderdale must meet the city's 5-foot standard, adopted in 2023 and matching Broward County's 5 feet NAVD88 baseline. If your dock project includes a new or substantially rebuilt wall, the cap height becomes part of the design, along with how it meets your neighbors' walls.
We prepare the drawings and handle the filings. Timing varies with agency workload, and it usually stretches after an active storm season. Getting the layout right before the first submittal is the best way to avoid a round of revisions, so we measure your canal width carefully at the start.
Pairing dock and seawall work saves money because crews and permits overlap. See bulkhead replacement in Fort Lauderdale.
Marine construction in Fort Lauderdale typically costs $400–$800 per linear foot for new dock construction and $250–$600 per linear foot for new seawall or bulkhead construction. Lift size, piling depth, access, and engineering all affect the final number.
Soft fill can call for deeper pile support; see marine foundation repair in Fort Lauderdale. We also build in Miami and West Palm Beach. Ready to plan your project? Contact us for a site visit.
Docks and mooring structures are limited to 25% of the waterway width or 25 feet, whichever is less. Mooring piles can reach 30% or 25 feet beyond the property line, whichever is less.
Isle of Venice and Hendricks Isle have a long-standing waiver that lets boats extend beyond side setback lines. Extension limits into the waterway still apply.
The City Commission can grant a waiver after a public hearing in extraordinary circumstances, but not beyond 30% of the waterway width.
Not always. If the wall is near the end of its life, it's usually smarter to replace it first, and a new wall must meet the 5-foot standard.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323