Dock Permits in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida

Step 1: the state environmental check

Docks over Florida waters fall under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). State law exempts a private dock from a full environmental resource permit when it meets all of these:

• 1,000 square feet or less over the water, or 500 square feet or less in Outstanding Florida Waters.
• Built on pilings, or a floating dock, with no fill or dredging beyond setting the pilings.
• Does not block the flow of water or create a hazard for boats.
• Used for recreation and boat storage, not a business.
• The only exempt dock along 65 feet of shoreline, or on the platted lot if the lot is shorter.

The area over the water includes walkways, platforms, decking, roofs and boat canopies.

DEP offers free online self-certification for exempt single-family docks: a new dock with or without a boat lift, repair or replacement of an existing dock, and adding a boat lift. The exact location of the dock has to be marked correctly, or the certification is not valid. The online route is not offered in some places, such as manatee no-entry and motorboat-prohibited zones.

A dock that does not fit the exemption goes to DEP staff as a general permit or an individual permit, depending on its size and location.

Step 2: the federal sign-off

Docks are also regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In Florida, the Corps' Jacksonville District issued a State Programmatic General Permit (SPGP VI) in 2021 that covers docks, piers and shoreline work, so a project that passes the state review often does not need a separate Corps approval.

Step 3: the local building permit

The state exemption does not replace the local building permit. The city or county where the dock sits reviews the plans and inspects the work.

Jacksonville (Duval County): the City's Building Inspection Division requires a permit for each structure placed on a lot, and starting work without one can bring a $250 fine. Homeowners may pull a permit for work on their own primary home in person at 214 N. Hogan St., Room 280 (904-255-8500, option 4).

St. Johns County: you need the property's Parcel ID to start, and contractors must be licensed and registered with the county. Permitted projects over $5,000 need a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection. The county building department (904-827-6820) can confirm whether the person doing the work is licensed.

Clay, Nassau and Putnam counties, and separate towns: the building department for that address handles the permit.

Other things that can apply

Aquatic preserves. Parts of Northeast Florida's waters are state aquatic preserves, including the Nassau River-St. Johns River Marshes, Fort Clinch, Guana River Marsh and Pellicer Creek. Docks there face tighter design limits.

Manatee plans. Duval County's manatee protection plan guides where new boat slips can go, steering them toward areas with less risk to manatees.

Associations. Many waterfront neighborhoods have their own rules on dock size, roofs and colors. Get the association's approval before the permit is filed.

Questions to ask

• Does my dock fit the state exemption, and what is the total area over the water?
• Will you do the online self-certification, and does it include the federal sign-off for my location?
• Who pulls the local building permit, and is the fee in the price?
• Is my shoreline in an aquatic preserve or a manatee zone?