WallDockDeck
Dania Beach · Broward County

How big a dock can I build in Dania Beach?

10% of waterway width or 20 ftwhichever is smaller; 5 ft on waterways 50 ft or narrower

In Dania Beach a dock may reach only 5 ft past the property line unless the waterway is wider than 50 ft; then it may reach 10% of the width or 20 ft, whichever is smaller. Mooring and dolphin piles follow the same limit, except on the Dania Cut-off Canal, where piles may match docks that existed on 22 September 1987. Submersible lifts get 25% of the width, capped at 15 ft.

Source: Dania Beach Land Development Code Sec. 240-20 (through Ord. 2012-025, 10-9-12); Broward County Code Secs. 27-332, 27-333, 27-336 (through Ord. 2026-16); Broward County Charter Sec. 11.01; Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b) (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Dock projectionNot more than 5 ft beyond the property line unless the waterway exceeds 50 ft in width; then up to 10% of the width or 20 ft, whichever is smaller, measured from the property line - Land Development Code 240-20(B)
Principal buildingDocks only on a waterfront lot where a principal building exists - 240-20(A)
Deck heightNo more than 3 ft above mean high tide, or level with the average ground abutting the seawall if that is higher - 240-20(D)
Mooring and dolphin pilesSame 5 ft / 10% / 20 ft limits - 240-20(F). On the Dania Cut-off Canal, piles may extend as far as docks existing on 22 September 1987 - 240-20(G)
LiftsA submersible boat-lift extension may not exceed 25% of the waterway width or 15 ft unless the Planning and Zoning Board grants a variance; a guide pole at least 1.5 inches in diameter and 6 ft above the water is required - 240-20(K)
RebuildingPreviously built residential docks with structural evidence remaining that sustained substantial damage may be rebuilt with all agency approvals - 240-20(C)
No coversNo boathouse or boat covering in the zoning setback or over a public waterway; no cooking, sleeping or business on a dock - 240-20(H),(L)
PermitBuilding department permit plus approval of every authority regulating navigable waters; owner certification or written owner consent - 240-20(I)
Broward County licenseWork in the county's regulated aquatic resources, which include canals and tidal waters, needs a Broward County Environmental Resource License - County Code 27-332, 27-333(a)(1). A new dock, floating dock or other over-water structure of 500 sq ft or less, measured from the seawall's wet face at mean high water, with no dredging or filling beyond the pilings, qualifies for a general license issued within 10 days of a complete application - 27-336(a)(1)e. A county ordinance that sets minimum environmental-protection standards prevails over city ordinances - Broward County Charter Sec. 11.01
State exemptionA private, non-commercial dock on pilings with 1,000 sq ft or less of over-water surface (500 sq ft in Outstanding Florida Waters), and the only exempt dock along 65 ft of shoreline (or one per lot if the lot is narrower), needs no state environmental permit - Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b). The exemption does not grant permission to use state-owned submerged lands and does not override city or county rules - 403.813(1)
FederalStructures in navigable waters need a Department of the Army permit, general or individual - 33 CFR 322.3(a)

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The county rule behind this

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

Broward CountySeawall requirements county-wide

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Twelve signs a seawall is failing

What to look for, where to look for it, and what it means when you find it. Walk your wall in twenty minutes.

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