West Palm Beach, FL Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)

City Code § 94-313 governs docks in every zoning district within West Palm Beach, but only for parcels holding contiguous or non-contiguous riparian rights. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and/or the South Florida Water Management District. Only one dock is allowed per lot, though two adjacent single-family lots with existing docks may keep two docks if combined, provided each original parcel is at least 75 feet wide. Dock length is measured from the mean high waterline or bulkhead to the furthest point and cannot exceed the minimum length the DEP, Corps, or SFWMD approve for water depth and sea grass clearance, up to a citywide cap of 100 feet; docks on the north bank of the West Palm Beach Canal east of Dixie Highway are capped at 40 feet.

Width cannot exceed 10 feet, though finger piers and terminal platforms may run wider if they stay within the middle third of the lot. Every dock needs a ladder reaching two feet below the mean low waterline, reflective street-address numerals visible from the water, and security-only lighting that cannot spill onto neighboring properties; blinking lights are barred. Docks cannot host any commercial activity, from fee-based mooring to dive lessons, cannot carry advertising signs, and cannot store gasoline. An owner who cannot meet the standards may apply for a Class A special use permit reviewed by the city commission, which can also authorize extra length to accommodate the allowed slip count or protect the marine environment.