WallDockDeck
Islamorada · Monroe County

How big a dock can I build in Islamorada?

10% of waterbody widthmax; pier docks no longer than 100 ft

Islamorada allows only T-shaped and similar docks perpendicular to the shore, and no dock may exceed 10% of the water body's width, measured mean low water to mean low water. A pier dock may be no longer than twice the parcel's shoreline frontage or 100 ft, whichever is less, with a terminal platform of up to 160 sq ft. On manmade waters, dock plus boat, lift and piles may not block more than 25% of the navigable channel.

Source: Village of Islamorada Code Ch. 30 Div. 30-VII-2, Secs. 30-1542 (amended by Ord. 24-15, 11-18-2024), 30-1543, 30-1547 (through Ord. 11-11), 30-1548 to 30-1550, municipalcodeonline.com; F.A.C. 62-302.700(9)(i)13 (rule effective 11-25-2025); Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b) (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Design and width shareOnly T-designs and similar designs perpendicular to the shoreline, unless they would block lawful navigation; docks may not exceed 10% of the width of the water body measured from mean low water to the opposite mean low water - Village Code 30-1547
ChannelA dock with a moored vessel, lift or piles may not obstruct more than 25% of the navigable portion of a manmade water body - 30-1547
DepthAt least 4 ft at mean low water at the end with continuous access to open water; minus 5 ft if the dock ends over seagrass unless a state DEP exemption applies; no dock may end over hardbottom regardless of depth (DEP exemptions aside); a dock at the full 10% may end shallower if 4 ft is reached within 5 ft of the end - 30-1547
Pier docksNo longer than twice the parcel's shoreline frontage or 100 ft, whichever is less, measured from mean low water; terminal platform no wider than 8 ft and no more than 160 sq ft, with an optional open gazebo up to 100 sq ft; reflective markers every 50 ft - 30-1550
Long-dock varianceExcept on Lower Matecumbe Key, the director may grant the minimum extra length needed to reach adequate depth; adjacent owners within 300 ft may request a hearing within 35 days of the notice - 30-1550
Seawalled canalsDocks may run the full shoreline; no wider than 8 ft (10 ft for commercial, public or more than three units); one 13 ft-wide section up to 35 ft long between davits per lot or per 100 ft - 30-1548
Mangrove shorelinesT or L dock with a parallel section up to 100 ft long and 5 ft wide and walkways no wider than 4 ft, one per 100 ft - 30-1549
One dockOne dock per single-family or duplex use - 30-1547
Covered liftsOpen-sided covered lifts only over a cut-in slip on a manmade canal, not past its mouth or over mangroves, seagrass or hardbottom, roof no higher than 12 ft above grade - 30-1542
PermitAll development waterward of mean high water needs Army Corps and state DEP approval; open-water projects need a benthic survey unless waived - 30-1543
Outstanding Florida WatersThe Florida Keys waters, out to three leagues around Key West and the Keys, are designated Outstanding Florida Waters, except the Key West sewage outfall, the Stock Island power plant mixing zone and artificial waterbodies such as dredged canals - F.A.C. 62-302.700(9)(i)13. A dock in an Outstanding Florida Water qualifies for the state permit exemption only up to 500 sq ft over water - Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b)1
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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