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Tequesta · Palm Beach County

What are the boat lift rules in Tequesta?

Allowed; no roofed or covered lifts20 ft out (raised); 10 ft from side lines

Tequesta defines davits, elevator, cradle and floating lifts as boatlifts and, since June 2026, prohibits roofed, covered or enclosed lifts unless the code expressly allows them. In canals a lift and the boat on it may reach no more than 20 feet from the platted property line when fully raised and must keep 10 feet from the neighbours' side lines extended; lifts on canal dead-end lots get 20-foot setbacks.

Source: Village of Tequesta Code Ch. 76, Secs. 76-2, 76-4, 76-20, 76-27 to 76-29 (Supp. 41; Ord. 7-12, 07-26); s. 403.813(1)(s), F.S. (2026); 33 CFR 322.3(a) · Verified 2026-10

The detail

Definition and coversBoatlifts include elevator lifts, cradle lifts, davits and floating lifts, are treated as mooring devices with the same location and protrusion rules as docks, serve only vessels of the upland property, and may not be roofed, covered or enclosed unless the code expressly permits it - Code Sec. 76-2 (Ord. 07-26, 6-11-2026)
Canal reachIn the fully raised position, no part of the device or boat beyond 20 feet from the landward side of the platted property line; overall protrusion no more than the lesser of 20 feet or 25% of the canal width - Secs. 76-27(h)(1), 76-28
Side setbackNo protrusion beyond ten feet from the waterward extension of the adjacent side property lines - Sec. 76-27(h)(2)
Mounting and markingsMay be built on or supported by the seawall cap or dock; reflective markings along the full length of the lift - Sec. 76-27(h)(3)-(4)
Dead-end canalsOn canal dead-end lots, lifts 20 feet from the side lines extended and no more than 20 feet from the rear platted line when raised - Sec. 76-29(c)
Loxahatchee River and IntracoastalBoat lifts, davits and whips are not counted in dock length, width or configuration limits there - Sec. 76-20(h)
Next to dead endsLots bordering a canal dead-end lot keep lifts 20 feet from the dead end and 5 feet from the opposite side line extended - Sec. 76-29(d)
DolphinsDolphin pilings are prohibited in any canal - Sec. 76-27(g)
BoathousesNo boathouse or enclosed boat shelter waterward of the seawall - Sec. 76-4
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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