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

Under Sec. 6-34 of the Code, it is unlawful to build, construct, alter, raze or move any seawall, bulkhead, groin, jetty, pier or dock, or any part of one, without following Article III of Chapter 6. Sec. 6-35 requires the owner to submit an application to the building inspector with detailed specifications, plans, and a plat showing the structure's location relative to adjoining lands, waters and channels. The application must list the owner's name and address, the property's legal description, the estimated cost of the work, and the contractor's name.

Except for residential piers and seawalls, all plans and specifications must be prepared and sealed by a Florida-registered engineer. A permit fee is required with the application, and once the building inspector confirms the work conforms to Chapter 6, a permit issues subject to a schedule of inspections; it must be posted at the job site while work is underway. Sec. 6-37 caps permit life at six months from issuance, extendable only while work continues diligently, with an absolute one-year outer limit. Sec. 6-39(e) requires piers to otherwise meet the minimum specifications of the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority.

Sec. 6-36 gives the permit holder fifteen days after completion to clear debris, tools and equipment from lots, alleys or streets. Appeals from a building inspector's order go to the planning and zoning board of appeals under Sec. 6-42, which may grant exceptions if the article's general purpose is not defeated.