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Coral Gables · Miami-Dade County

What are the boat lift rules in Coral Gables?

Allowed; up to 3 per house25 ft from bank; 75 ft channel kept

Coral Gables permits davits, watercraft lifts and floating watercraft lifts as residential accessories after an administrative site plan approval and certified engineering drawings. A single-family home or duplex may have any combination of one set of davits, one lift and one floating lift - three in total, or four with a second set of davits on 200 feet or more of waterfront. Lifts may not reach more than 25 feet from the bank and must leave at least 75 feet of navigable waterway.

Source: City of Coral Gables Zoning Code Sec. 3-705 and Appendix A Secs. A-48-1, A-67 (Gridics rev. 22 Sep 2026); Miami-Dade Code Secs. 24-48, 24-48.2 (Supp. 136); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

ApprovalThe location must be approved by administrative site plan approval, and certified engineering drawings must show the method of attachment - Zoning Code Sec. 3-705
How manyAny combination of one set of davits, a watercraft lift and a floating watercraft lift - three structures per single-family dwelling or duplex; one more set of davits (four total) on lots with 200 feet or more of waterfront width; multi-family buildings at least one but no more than one per ten units - Sec. 3-705
ReachWatercraft lifts and floating lifts may not extend beyond 25 feet from the waterway bank, and the remaining navigable waterway must be at least 75 feet wide - Sec. 3-705
Side setbackSame as the main structure's minimum side setbacks, extended - Sec. 3-705
SafetyLifts need safety light reflectors visible at night and guide poles showing the submerged portion - Sec. 3-705
Mahi CanalNo dock, davits or boat lift may permanently extend more than 5 feet from the bank, floating boatlifts are not permitted, and structures plus boats may not exceed 25% of the width or 25 feet - Zoning Code Appendix A, Sec. A-67
Gables EstatesTwo sets of davits allowed, the second only with 100 feet or more of water frontage - Appendix A, Sec. A-48-1
Hammock Oaks HarborAt the Section 2 private yacht basin, davits, watercraft lifts and floating watercraft lifts are on the list of prohibited uses - Zoning Code Appendix A, Sec. A-58
Miami-Dade CountyAny work in, on or over tidal waters needs a county permit from the Department (DERM). A single-family boat lift, davit or floating dock that protrudes no more than 25% of the waterway width may use the short-form application, as may installing a boat lift or davit on a dock, seawall or bulkhead - Miami-Dade Code Secs. 24-48(1)(d), 24-48.2(I)(A)(2), (8), (20).
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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