Marine construction in St. Petersburg includes new docks, lifts, seawalls, and pilings. Most of it is permitted through Pinellas County Water & Navigation, and waterfront in an aquatic preserve also has to meet state dock limits.
866-398-9323Licensed seawall specialists — FL · GA · SC
Seawall Repairs by Solid Foundations provides marine construction in St. Petersburg, FL for waterfront homeowners, HOAs, and commercial properties. Typical projects include new docks and lifts on Snell Isle and Venetian Isles canals, replacement seawalls in Shore Acres, and helical-supported pilings on reclaimed fill. Call 866-398-9323 or use the quote form to book a free on-site inspection.
Some St. Petersburg shoreline faces Boca Ciega Bay or the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve, two of the four aquatic preserves in the Tampa Bay region, according to FDEP. Docks there must meet state rule 18-20.019:
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Dock length | No more than 500 ft or 25% of the waterbody's width, whichever is less |
| Decking | Boards no wider than 8 in, spaced at least ½ in apart |
| Height in Resource Protection Areas 1 or 2 | Main access dock at least 5 ft above mean sea level |
| Width of a single-family main access dock | 4 ft in RPA 1 or 2; 6 ft in RPA 3 |
Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 18-20.019. Canal lots outside the preserves follow the Pinellas County Water & Navigation Code instead. We confirm which set applies during design.
Plan the upland side too. If the project includes a new deck or screen enclosure at the dock landing, the city's encroachment rules set how far back from the seawall it must sit: 5 feet for a low uncovered deck, 8 feet for one 12 to 30 inches high, and 10 feet for covered structures. Getting that right in the design avoids a redesign at permit time.
Doing the dock and the wall together often saves money. See bulkhead replacement in St. Petersburg. On reclaimed fill, pilings may need deeper support; see marine foundation repair in St. Petersburg.
Marine construction in St. Petersburg 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 drive the final number.
We also build in Tampa and Bradenton. Our St. Petersburg seawall repair page covers repairs, or contact us to set up a site visit.
Inside the aquatic preserve, no longer than 500 feet or 25% of the waterbody's width at that spot, whichever is less. Other rules may shorten it further.
Pinellas County Water & Navigation permits docks countywide, including in St. Pete. The city may also require a building permit.
If the wall is near the end of its life, yes. Building on a failing wall means taking the dock apart later. We'll assess both.
Permits usually take longer than construction. Once approved, most home docks and lifts are finished in a few weeks.
Licensed, insured, NCFI-certified. Serving Florida, Georgia & South Carolina since 1996.
866-398-9323