Lee County, FL Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)

Section 26-45 of the Land Development Code requires a permit before starting any work covered by Chapter 26, Article II, which reaches docks, boardwalks, boathouses, seawalls, boat lifts, riprap and similar structures as defined in Section 26-41. The written application must go to the Department of Community Development and include the owners' names and contact information, the property's street address and STRAP number, a site plan showing the proposed work relative to riparian lines with dimensions and side setbacks, the location and quantity of watercraft slips, the width of the adjoining navigable channel, a watercraft-slip determination under the Manatee Protection Plan where applicable, and the required fee under the County Administrative Code.

Industrial, commercial or multifamily projects may additionally need a development order under Chapter 10 with construction drawings sealed by a professional engineer or architect. The Director can also demand sealed construction drawings, a boundary or riparian survey by a professional surveyor, and a post-construction as-built survey before a Certificate of Completion issues. A permit is likewise required to repair or replace an existing structure, though the Director has discretion to exempt minor repairs, and County approval never substitutes for the separate state and federal agency permits Section 26-44 says are still required.

Dimensional limits sit in the companion Section 26-71: single-family docks max out at 200 feet or 25 percent of the navigable channel width, and side setbacks range from 10 to 25 feet depending on shoreline length and waterbody type.