WallDockDeck
South Palm Beach · Palm Beach County

What are the boat lift rules in South Palm Beach?

No lift rule in the town codeparking exception for hoisted boats

South Palm Beach's code has no section regulating boat lifts, davits or docks. The only related wording is in its parking rules: the ban on keeping boats on residential property does not apply to boats docked in a canal or landed from a canal by a permanent hoist mechanism.

Source: Town of South Palm Beach Code Sec. 26-438 (Supp. 4); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Not in the codeNo boat lift, davit or dock standards found in the Code, including Ch. 26 Land Development (searched lift, davit, hoist, dock, boat)
Hoisted boatsThe residential boat-parking prohibitions do not apply to boats docked in a canal or landed from a canal by a permanent hoist mechanism - Code Sec. 26-438(d)(5)
Marine structures articleChapter 26, Article IX (Marine Structures) covers only the Lake Worth bulkhead line and bulkheads and seawalls; its general division (Secs. 26-786 to 26-808) is reserved - Code Ch. 26, Art. IX
Lake Worth fillNo creating or filling of land beyond the bulkhead line into Lake Worth - Sec. 26-810
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 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 South Palm Beach

Seawall height requirementHow high does a seawall have to be in South Palm Beach?Seawall permit processDo I need a permit to repair a seawall in South Palm Beach?Dock permit & size limitsHow big a dock can I build in South Palm Beach?Checking a marine contractorHow do I check a marine contractor in South Palm Beach?

Twelve signs a seawall is failing

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