Coral Gables, FL Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max dock length
- 25 feet into Biscayne Bay
- Mooring pile limit
- 20 feet past dock line
- Side setback
- 25 feet from neighbor's lot line
- Permitting agency
- Development Services Department
- Also required
- U.S. government agency permit
Summary
Coral Gables caps private docks on Biscayne Bay at 25 feet and requires a development services permit before any dock, mooring pile, or dolphin goes in.
No dock shall extend more than 25 feet from the property line into Biscayne Bay.
(Code 1958, § 7-16; Code 1991, § 14-88; Code 2006, § 109-64; Ord. No. 760, § 2, 10-21-1952; Ord. No. 2023, § 1, 7-24-1973)
Sec. 109-65. - Same—Mooring piles. Mooring piles or dolphins shall be set not more than 20 feet into the bay from the dock line.
(Code 1958, § 7-19; Code 1991, § 14-89; Code 2006, § 109-65; Ord. No. 760, § 6, 10-21-1952; Ord. No. 2023, § 1, 7-24-1973)
Sec. 109-66. - Minimum setback. All mooring piles, dolphins or docks shall be set back a minimum distance of 25 feet from the adjacent property owner's lot line extended; nor shall any dock, piling, or dolphin be set until a permit is first granted from the appropriate U.S. government agency.
(Code 1958, § 7-17; Code 1991, § 14-90; Code 2006, § 109-66; Ord. No. 760, § 4, 10-21-1952; Ord. No. 2023, § 1, 7-24-1973)
Chapters 110—112 - RESERVED
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Fee Schedule: Supplement 2 | Zoning Code: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances Article III (Boat Landing Facilities), no dock, mooring pile, or dolphin may be installed on the bayfront without a permit from the development services department, and the permit will not issue unless the structure meets the article's dimensional limits. A dock cannot extend more than 25 feet from the property line into Biscayne Bay, and mooring piles or dolphins cannot be set more than 20 feet into the bay beyond the dock line. All docks, piles, and dolphins must sit back at least 25 feet from the adjoining property owner's lot line (extended into the water), and no pile or dolphin may be set until the appropriate U.S. government agency has also issued its permit. Separate Chapter 109 rules require an inspection and permit for fixed mooring structures generally, with re-certification by a licensed engineer every five years once a structure passes ten years old.
Violations & Fines
Building or extending a dock, mooring pile, or dolphin without a permit, or beyond the 25-foot bay/setback limits, is a code violation subject to the general penalty in Sec. 1-7 and can force removal or modification of the unpermitted structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far can my dock extend into the bay?
Do mooring piles need their own permit?
Sources & Official References
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