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Oakland Park · Broward County

What are the boat lift rules in Oakland Park?

Allowed as a listed mooring structure; no covers25% of waterway; none under 50 ft

Oakland Park lists boat davits, hoists, boat lifts and floating platforms as mooring structures, and davits must meet the zoning side setbacks. Boat landing structures may not have coverings, awnings or enclosures. The total mooring area may not exceed 25% of the waterway, half the waterway must stay open, and on waterways under 50 feet wide no docking structures are allowed at all.

Source: City of Oakland Park Code Ch. 14, Secs. 14-1 to 14-6 (Supp. 54; Ord. O-2022-015); Broward County Code Sec. 27-336 (Supp. 72); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

DefinitionMooring structures include a boat dock, slip, boat davit, hoist, boat lift, floating vessel platform and jet ski platform - Code Sec. 14-1(a)
CoversBoat landing structures exclude any coverings, boathouses, awnings, storage boxes or other enclosed or covered structures, and may not exceed the height of the adjacent seawall - Sec. 14-2
Side setbackDocks, davits or other mooring structures follow the zoning district side yard setbacks; no docked boat beyond them - Sec. 14-6
ReachWaterways under 50 feet - no docking structures; 50 feet and over - docks 10% or 15 feet, pilings and total mooring area 25%, and half the waterway kept open - Sec. 14-5
PermitBuilding official permit, Department of Planning and Environmental Protection plan approval and, on navigable waters, written agency approvals presented with a current survey - Sec. 14-3
Not listed, not allowedStructures not specifically mentioned in the chapter may not be built in waterways - Sec. 14-2
AttachmentDocks and other structures must be separate and independent from seawalls, unless sealed engineering documents certify the seawall can carry the added loads; a dock may be level with but not above the seawall - Sec. 14-7
VariancesThe city commission hears variance requests; the fee is $200, with newspaper notice 10 days ahead and mailed notice to owners within 300 feet two weeks ahead - Sec. 14-8
Broward CountyBoatlifts and davits are listed among the projects that qualify for a county general environmental resource license, which the code says is issued within ten days of a complete application - Broward County Code Sec. 27-336(a)(1)f.
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).

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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

The same question, nearby

The rule changes at the city line, not the county line.

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