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Highland Beach · Palm Beach County

What are the boat lift rules in Highland Beach?

Special exception; max BFE + 8 ftlift height incl. machinery

Every boat lift in Highland Beach needs a special exception, normally decided by the planning board, which must find it protects neighbours and does not interfere with navigation. Lifting devices may be no taller than the FEMA base flood elevation plus 8 feet, measured to the top including machinery, and the town's definition says a boat's keel may not be hoisted more than one foot above the seawall. Lifts may not be enclosed or roofed.

Source: Town of Highland Beach Code Secs. 30-67, 30-68(g), 30-131 (Supp. 24); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

ApprovalBoat lifts are listed as a special exception needing planning board approval in every district; the planning board is the final authority unless the facility is part of a site plan that needs town commission approval - Code Sec. 30-67 (use table); Sec. 30-68(g)(1), (3)
Height of liftBase flood elevation on the FEMA FIRM plus 8 feet, measured to the top of the lift structure including mechanical equipment - Sec. 30-68(g)(3)
Boat when raisedThe bottom of the keel may not be hoisted more than one foot above the existing seawall elevation, and the lift may not be higher than the boat's superstructure except for jet skis - Sec. 30-131 (definition of boat lift)
CoversAccessory marine facilities may not be enclosed with walls, roofs or other structures - Sec. 30-68(g)(5)
Side setbackMarine facilities in single-family districts 25 feet from side lines, 15 feet on lots 50 to under 70 feet wide; under 50 feet of frontage, only a seawall-mounted davit by special exception - Sec. 30-68(g)(6)d.1
ReachIn Army Corps-regulated waterways other than the Intracoastal, docks and mooring facilities may extend 25 feet or 25% of the width, whichever is less - Sec. 30-68(g)(6)a
BoatsA moored boat may not extend beyond the property lines extended - Sec. 30-68(g)(4)
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).

Your city's height sheet

The elevation your city requires, the datum it is measured in, and the section of code that says so. One page.

Available for the cities whose rule we have verified and sourced.

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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.

Palm BeachBoca RatonPalm BeachDelray BeachPalm BeachJupiterPalm BeachWest Palm Beach

Other questions about Highland Beach

Seawall height requirementHow high does a seawall have to be in Highland Beach?Seawall permit processDo I need a permit to repair a seawall in Highland Beach?Dock permit & size limitsHow big a dock can I build in Highland Beach?Waterfront deck requirementsWhat are the deck setback and railing rules in Highland Beach?Checking a marine contractorHow do I check a marine contractor in Highland Beach?Storm prep & documentationWhat are the storm and debris rules in Highland Beach?

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.

A screening sheet for owners, not an engineering inspection.

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