Citrus County, FL Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base rule
- No dock on a lot without a principal structure
- Undevelopable-lot exception
- Wetlands/infrastructure barrier, access-controlled dock only
- Conditional Use path
- PDC approval with strict site conditions
- Boat storage cap (CU path)
- One boat maximum
- Boat cover rule
- No enclosed sides, no roof railings
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Citrus County only
Summary
In unincorporated Citrus County, a boat dock can't go on a vacant lot lacking a principal use or structure unless the owner proves the lot is undevelopable, or wins a Conditional Use approval from the Planning and Development Commission under strict conditions, including no electric service and no more than one stored boat.
1. Boat docks may not be installed on lots of record which do not contain a principal use or structure unless the owners can demonstrate one of the following: a. that the lot of record is undevelopable due to the presence of wetlands that cannot be mitigated or the lack or inability to provide required infrastructure such as potable water or sewage disposal; the proposed dock has access control and can only be utilized as a boat dock; and the proposed dock complies with all other applicable LDC standards; OR b. approval of a Conditional Use application, as outlined in the LDC, is granted by the PDC with the additional findings that: i. Applicant/owner has a primary residence on a lot within 100 feet, measured at a straight-line distance, from any portion of the Conditional Use vacant lot; ii. No electrical service is allowed to the site (solar lighting allowed); iii. No other accessory uses allowed, including onsite storage of petroleum products/hazardous wastes; ... v. No vehicle/RV storage or use.
Full Breakdown
1 of the Citrus County Land Development Code treats a boat dock as an accessory use that generally must follow a principal structure onto a lot, stating that "boat docks may not be installed on lots of record which do not contain a principal use or structure" unless the owner meets one of two paths. The first lets a vacant, undevelopable lot qualify if wetlands can't be mitigated or infrastructure like potable water or sewage can't be provided, so long as the dock has access control, is used only as a boat dock, and meets all other LDC standards.
The second path requires a Conditional Use application to the Planning and Development Commission (PDC), which can grant the dock only if the applicant owns a primary residence within 100 feet in a straight line of the vacant lot, no electrical service reaches the site (solar lighting is allowed), no other accessory uses such as onsite storage of petroleum products or hazardous waste are permitted, and no more than one boat may be stored, with any dock-related driveway or vehicle access shown on the site plan and possibly needing a separate driveway apron permit.
H separately bars enclosing a boat cover on any side or adding roof railings or roof-access devices to it. Manatee protection in Crystal River's spring system is handled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the federal Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, not by this county accessory-use provision.
Violations & Fines
An unpermitted or noncompliant dock is an LDC violation under Section 1800: the county can refer it to the Citrus County Code Compliance Special Master under F.S. Chapter 162 and Code of Ordinances Chapter 19, issue a citation, and withhold or revoke the dock permit and any related building or Conditional Use approval until the dock is removed or brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a dock on a vacant lot I own in Citrus County?
Do I need a permit for a boat dock in unincorporated Citrus County?
Who handles manatee protection around Crystal River's docks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Citrus County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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