WallDockDeck
Palm Beach Gardens · Palm Beach County

What are the boat lift rules in Palm Beach Gardens?

No lift-specific rule; davits within side setbackdocks 50 ft or 10%

Palm Beach Gardens does not regulate boat lifts by name. Its residential dock standards keep docks, mooring pilings, davits, dolphins and other mooring facilities out of the district side setback, cap docks at 50 feet or 10% of the waterway, allow one dock or mooring per residential lot, and bar a building permit until every federal, state and regional approval is in hand.

Source: City of Palm Beach Gardens LDR Sec. 78-159(40) (Supp. 53); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

DavitsDocks, mooring pilings, davits, dolphins or other mooring facilities may not extend beyond the side setback of the zoning district - LDR Sec. 78-159(40)g.5
ReachDocks no more than 50 feet from the high-water shoreline or 10% of the waterway width, whichever is less; in canals wholly within residential areas, the greater of 5 feet or 10%; pilings up to 15 feet beyond a dock, total no more than 65 feet or 10% - Sec. 78-159(40)g.2-3, 7
How manyNot more than one dock or mooring per lot in a residential district, except in an approved PUD or PCD - Sec. 78-159(40)g.8
PermitNo building permit for a dock until all required federal, state, regional or other agency approvals are issued - Sec. 78-159(40)i
WaiversThe dimensional limits may be waived where other agencies allow greater projections, but boathouse standards may not - Sec. 78-159(40)g
Not in the codeNo boat lift height, canopy rule or lift count was found (the only lift-related hit is davits)
Dock shapeAny 'T' or 'L' projection may be no longer than 20 feet and may not extend into the side yard setback - Sec. 78-159(40)g.6
Dock widthDocks may not be wider than ten feet - Sec. 78-159(40)g.4
BoathousesProhibited when located on an upland area - Sec. 78-159(40)g.9
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.

Done — it is on the way to your inbox. Not there in a minute? Check your Promotions or Spam folder, and move it to your inbox so the next ones arrive.

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 Palm Beach Gardens

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

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.

Done — it is on the way to your inbox. Not there in a minute? Check your Promotions or Spam folder, and move it to your inbox so the next ones arrive.