WallDockDeck
Hallandale Beach · Broward County

How big a dock can I build in Hallandale Beach?

5 ft from the seawalllots over 40 ft wide; 20 ft on lots 40 ft or narrower

Hallandale Beach ties dock length to lot width. On a lot more than 40 ft wide at the water a dock may project only 5 ft from the seawall and must stay 10 ft from residential neighbours; on a lot 40 ft wide or less it may project 20 ft with a 2 ft side setback. Nothing - dock, piles or docked boat - may take more than 25% of the distance across the waterway.

Source: Hallandale Beach Code Ch. 32 (Zoning and Land Development Code) Sec. 32-291 (Ord. 2004-19) as published on Gridics CodeHub; 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

Lots over 40 ft wideNo dock may project more than 5 ft from the seawall or come closer than 10 ft to the lot line of residentially zoned property; dolphin piles no more than 20 ft out and 10 ft from adjacent lot lines; davits 10 ft from adjacent lot lines - Zoning and Land Development Code 32-291
Lots 40 ft wide or lessDocks may project up to 20 ft from the seawall and must stay 2 ft from residentially zoned lot lines; dolphin piles up to 20 ft, 2 ft from lot lines; davits 2 ft from lot lines - 32-291
Golden Isles Lake and Venetian MarinaDocks, piers, dolphins and other mooring facilities may project up to 50 ft from the seawall if a clear width of 25 ft from the waterway centerline is kept (the published sentence opens 'No docks... may project up to 50 feet', an apparent drafting error); these are also the only places perpendicular mooring is allowed - 32-291
Overall capNo docked boat, dock or dolphin piling may project more than 25% of the distance across the waterway - 32-291
HeightNo dock higher than the seawall - 32-291
BoatsBoats may not encroach into the water in front of adjacent property; no living aboard; reflectors on docks and piles extending more than 5 ft - 32-291
Commercial districtsDocks are accessory only and may not be used for any commercial purpose such as fee docking, charters, training or selling fuel or gear - 32-291
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

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Broward CountySeawall requirements county-wide

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Twelve signs a seawall is failing

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