WallDockDeck
Ocean Ridge · Palm Beach County

How big a dock can I build in Ocean Ridge?

5 ft into the waterwaymax dock projection; dolphins up to 20 ft

Ocean Ridge allows a dock to project no more than 5 ft into the waterway or past the established bulkhead line, measured to the edge of the walking surface, and to come no closer than 10 ft to a neighbouring lot line. Dolphin piles may reach 20 ft, and lifts and davits may swing only within the dolphin area. No superstructure is allowed on a dock beyond a railing up to 4 ft high.

Source: Town of Ocean Ridge Code Ch. 64 (Zoning) Sec. 64-77 (Ord. 540, 3-13-2003); Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b) (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Dock projectionNo dock may project more than 5 ft into any waterway line or established bulkhead line, measured to the edge of the flat walking surface; pilings are ignored if no more than a pile width sticks out - Town Code 64-77(b)
Side setbackAt least 10 ft from the lot line of any adjacent lot, and from that line extended perpendicular to the seawall - 64-77(b)
DolphinsSelf-supporting dolphin piles up to 20 ft into the waterway, 10 ft from adjacent lot lines, without interfering with navigation - 64-77(c)
HeightNo higher than 5 ft above mean low water or the cap of the abutting seawall or bulkhead, whichever is higher; no superstructure except a railing up to 4 ft - 64-77(d)
Floating platformsAllowed beside the seawall of a single-family home, moored between the seawall and the dolphins and meeting the same setbacks; no town permit is needed if no pilings are installed; multifamily platforms need a permit and a special exception - 64-77(e)
Lifts and davitsMay attach to the seawall, cap, dolphins or dock; the base meets the setbacks and the boom or lift may not extend beyond the area allowed for dolphins - 64-77(f)
Other agenciesDocks must conform to the requirements of the county environmental resources department and the state DEP - 64-77(a)
PermitBuilding permit for seawalls, docks, dolphins, floating docks, davits and lifts - 64-77(g)
Vacant lotsNo dock use on an adjacent vacant lot without unity of title - 64-77(a)
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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Palm Beach CountySeawall requirements county-wide

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