WallDockDeck
Key Colony Beach · Monroe County

How big a dock can I build in Key Colony Beach?

5 ft into the canaldefault; 30-125 ft in named subdivisions

In most of Key Colony Beach a dock may extend only 5 ft into a canal or other waterway, though it may run the full length of the shoreline. Specific subdivisions get their own limits: 40 ft in Marina Subdivision No. 2, 35 ft in the Yacht Club Subdivision, 30 ft for listed lots on Key Colony Channel, and out to 5 ft of water depth in Coury No. Two and Vista Del Sol on Vaca Cut and Shelter Bay. One dock per lot, and no new boat slips at all.

Source: City of Key Colony Beach Code Ch. 5, Secs. 5-35 (through Ord. 429-2012), 5-37 to 5-45 (5-43 through Ord. 2023-484; 5-44 through Ord. 2025-502); 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

DefaultDocks may extend 5 ft into a canal or any other waterway and may run the full length of the mean high water line, except listed corner lots governed by the code's Figures 1 and 2 - City Code 5-35(10)
Marina Subdivision No. 2Up to 40 ft from mean high water, no wider than 6 ft - 5-35(3)
Key Colony Channel lotsKey Colony Beach Subdivision Block 1 Lots 1-12, Block 2 Lot 19 and Block 6 Lots 1 and 1A: up to 30 ft, no wider than 6 ft - 5-35(4)
Yacht Club SubdivisionUp to 35 ft, no wider than 6 ft - 5-35(5)
Atlantic piersIn Stevens Subdivision and KCB Block 6, piers up to 125 ft seaward and 20 ft wide; one per parcel, two with more than 500 ft of ocean frontage - 5-35(6)
Vaca Cut and Shelter BayCoury No. Two and Vista Del Sol docks may reach out to 5 ft of water at mean low water, no wider than 8 ft, with an L or T arm up to 50 ft; mooring piles up to 16 ft beyond the arm; lit at night - 5-35(7)
Coury No. Two canalsWith a seawall, docks may extend 5 ft; existing wooden T-docks may be extended in line, 5 ft wide, no more than 60 ft long parallel to shore, 10 ft from the extended side lines; on the westernmost canal T-docks may reach one-quarter of the canal width - 5-35(8)-(9)
One dockNo more than one dock per lot; building permits only after Army Corps and DEP approval - 5-35(1)-(2)
Posts and pilesMooring posts 5 to 10 ft above mean sea level; free-standing posts limited to four, with the boat's keel parallel to the dock except at closed canal ends - 5-38, 5-39
BoatsMay not obstruct more than one-fourth of the canal width - 5-40
LiftsElevator lifts up to 31,000 lb with forks reaching no more than 12 ft, forks no higher than the seawall cap, Commission approval where the waterway is under 60 ft wide, and no part of boat or lift across riparian lines; davit bases 5 ft from the property line; hydro or pontoon lifts prohibited - 5-42, 5-43, 5-44
Floating docks and slipsFloating docks need City Commission approval; no new boat slips may be built - 5-37, 5-45
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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Monroe CountySeawall requirements county-wide

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