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Boynton Beach · Palm Beach County

What are the boat lift rules in Boynton Beach?

No lift-specific rule; structures max one-quarter widthDevelopment Department permit

Boynton Beach's land development regulations do not mention boat lifts or davits. Docks and piers need a Development Department permit, docks, mooring piles and dolphins may not reach more than one-quarter of the waterway width, and no dock may be built before construction of the house has started.

Source: City of Boynton Beach Land Development Regulations Ch. 3, Art. V, Secs. 1 and 3.O (Gridics rev. 14 Sep 2026); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Not in the codeNo boat lift, davit, hoist or boathouse wording in the LDR (full-text search)
PermitSeawalls, bulkheads, piers and docks along waterways are installed under a permit from the Development Department; a dock in a waterway owned by someone else needs that owner's written consent first - LDR Ch. 3, Art. V, Sec. 3.O
ReachDocks, mooring piles, dolphins and similar structures may not extend more than one-quarter of the waterway width - Ch. 3, Art. V, Sec. 3.O
TimingNo accessory structure, including boat docks, before construction of the principal building has begun - Ch. 3, Art. V, Sec. 1
Bulkhead lineThe bulkhead line mapped under Ordinance No. 289 (map R-56-006, September 1956) is ratified; no bulkhead, seawall or other structure for land filling may extend eastward into Lake Worth beyond it - LDR Ch. 3, Art. V, Sec. 3.O
Fire protectionDocks and piers must also meet the fire protection requirements of Code Part II, Chapter 9, Article II - LDR Ch. 3, Art. V, Sec. 3.O
State and federalFloating boat lifts and floating vessel platforms that meet s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (they float at all times, hold the vessel out of the water, and either sit inside a previously permitted slip or total no more than 500 sq ft - 200 sq ft in Outstanding Florida Waters - beside a qualifying dock or bulkhead) need no state permit; a local government may then ask only for a one-time registration unless the platform is attached to a bulkhead with no dock. Structures in navigable waters otherwise need Army Corps authorization unless exempt or under a general permit - 33 CFR 322.3(a).

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The county rule behind this

What applies across Palm Beach County, and where each city departs from it.

Palm Beach CountySeawall requirements county-wide

The same question, nearby

The rule changes at the city line, not the county line.

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Twelve signs a seawall is failing

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