Doral, FL Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)

Section 74-285 requires anyone seeking to build a residential dock to submit plans and specifications to the city before construction, and those plans must show the dock's relationship to the property or seawall line as well as its relationship to adjoining properties, so staff can check setbacks against neighboring docks and lots before issuing a permit. Section 74-286 extends that permitting control to existing docks: no dock can be repaired or altered except in conformance with the article's requirements, unless it already qualifies as a legal nonconforming use under Chapter 53's nonconforming-use provisions.

The dimensional standards a permit application is checked against are detailed in Section 74-287: a lot gets up to two slips, the whole dock facility must fit within a 50-foot length from the seawall, and the total dock area excluding decking and catwalks tops out at 1,000 square feet for docks up to 35 feet from the seawall, rising to 1,500 square feet for docks between 35 and 50 feet. No part of the facility can sit closer than five feet to the side property line as extended into the water, except for shared-property-line docks or docks on inverse-curve lots.

Section 74-288 further limits length to 35 feet from the property line unless a sealed affidavit shows that 36 inches of water depth at mean low water requires reaching out to a maximum of 50 feet, and Section 74-290 caps dock and tie-piling height at six feet above the adjoining seawall.