WallDockDeck
Palm Beach · Palm Beach County

How big a dock can I build in Palm Beach?

150 ft from landmax, and no more than 6 ft west of the U.S. Pierhead Line

On Lake Worth, the Town of Palm Beach allows one pier or landing dock per lot, reaching no more than 150 ft from land or the mean high water line and no more than 6 ft west of the U.S. Pierhead Line, whichever comes first. Gangways and terminal platforms are capped at 10 ft wide, and the whole structure must stay 25 ft from the side property lines extended into the water.

Source: Town of Palm Beach Code Ch. 62, Secs. 62-74 (through Ord. 009-2024, 4-10-24) and 62-74.1; Fla. Stat. 403.813(1)(b) (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

ProjectionA dock or marine structure may project no more than 150 ft from land or the mean high water line (whichever is more landward), and no more than 6 ft west of the U.S. Pierhead Line - Town Code 62-74(2)b-c; piers and landing docks in Lake Worth must be within 6 ft of the pierhead line shown on the official plats - 62-74
NumberOne pier or landing dock with its appurtenances per lot - 62-74(2)
Marginal docksA dock parallel to the seawall may cover no more than 30% of the parcel's width along the seawall and project up to 6 ft from the seawall or mean high water line - 62-74(2)a
WidthsGangway no wider than 10 ft; terminal no wider than 10 ft, plus 2 ft between pilings at boat lifts for loading (lifts and storage components excluded) - 62-74(2)d-e
Side setbackAt least 25 ft from a continuous line extending the side property lines into the water; no docked or moored boat may cross that line - 62-74(2)f-g
Everglades Island and Ibis IsleOn the north, south and west sides, marginal docks only, with boat-storage appurtenances up to 25 ft from the bulkhead or mean high water line - 62-74(2)i
LightingOnly the minimum lighting needed for pedestrians on the dock - 62-74(2)h
WaiverThe public works director may waive batter piles west of the bulkhead line for hardship; that decision can be appealed to the Town Council within 30 days - 62-74(1), 62-74.1
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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The county rule behind this

What applies across Palm Beach County, and where each city departs from it.

Palm Beach CountySeawall requirements county-wide

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