Boat lift permits in Broward and Fort Lauderdale: what the code says

By the Broward Waterfront Guide editorial team · Updated Oct 31, 2026 · How we verify

Lift permits in Broward are layered: your city, the county's environmental license, and sometimes state or federal agencies. This page covers the Fort Lauderdale code text and the county license, and tells you where to confirm the rest.

Short answerIn Fort Lauderdale, a permit from the development services department is required before building boat lifts, davits, hoists, mooring piles or docks.^[1] Broward County's environmental permitting division separately lists boatlifts among projects covered by its general license.^[3] Other agencies may also apply depending on scope.^[5]

What Fort Lauderdale Sec. 8-91 says

Permit first. A permit must be obtained before construction. If work is on or in navigable waters, the approval of all governmental authorities that regulate it must be secured, and the applicant certifies ownership of the abutting land or produces the owner's written consent.^[1]
Guide pole. Any part of a mooring device that can be submerged must have a permanently attached vertical guide pole at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter that extends at least 6 feet above the water at all times, with a reflective color. An alternative may be allowed if the city's manager of marine facilities finds it equally safe.^[6]
Vessel projection. Boats moored to mooring structures may not extend more than 30 percent of the width of the canal or waterway, measured from the recorded property line.^[7]
Inspection and cure period. Mooring structures are inspected under the development services director; an owner notified in writing of an unsafe or unsatisfactory structure has 30 days to correct it.^[8]

The current code text we verified sets no separate maximum reach for the lift itself. An older copy of the ordinance that still circulates did include a 15 percent lift extension test.^[9] If a contractor quotes you that rule, ask which version of the code they mean, and confirm projection limits for your canal with Development Services.

30 percent vessel projection check

Waterway width (ft)Measured as the code describes, from the recorded property line

Assumptions and sources. Arithmetic: width x 0.30. The 30 percent figure is Sec. 8-91(e) of the Fort Lauderdale code.^[7] Your survey and the city determine the width to use.

The county layer

Broward County's Environmental Permitting Division lists boatlifts and floating vessel platforms among projects eligible for its general license, issued within 10 days of a complete application, and says any activity in, on or under the water of the county requires a license.^[3]^[4] Contact: AWRLicense@broward.org, 954-519-1454.^[10]

A general license does not authorize mangrove alteration or impacts to seagrass.^[11] Permits or verifications from FDEP, SFWMD or the Army Corps may also be needed depending on scope.^[5]

Electrical

A lift needs a dedicated circuit. Electrical work is licensed trade work, and a separate electrical permit applies in most jurisdictions.^[12] A lift repair company advises that faults upstream of the dock disconnect are electrician work.^[13]

Printable order of operations

Confirm you own the waterfront land, or get the owner's written consent (Sec. 8-91(b)).
Ask your city building or development services department which permit applies and what plans they need.
Email or call the county Environmental Permitting Division about the general license (954-519-1454).
Ask whether FDEP, SFWMD or the Army Corps also needs to review the work.
Plan the guide pole and check the 30 percent projection against your canal width.
Get a separate electrical permit and licensed electrician for the dock circuit.
Keep the approvals and final inspection records with your property papers.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to install a boat lift in Fort Lauderdale?

The city code says a permit for docks, slips, boat davits, hoists, mooring piles or similar boat mooring structures must be obtained from the development services department before construction.^[1] Boat lifts are within the code's definition of mooring devices.^[2]

Does Broward County also license boat lifts?

The county's general license page lists the installation of boatlifts among the projects it covers, with applications reviewed within 10 days when complete.^[3]^[4] Confirm your project with the county's Environmental Permitting Division.

What about other cities in Broward?

This page quotes Fort Lauderdale's code only. Other cities have their own permit rules, and we have not published them. Ask your city building department which permits apply.

Ask for help with a lift project

Sources and verified dates

Statements marked [n] come from these sources. Seller pages are listed as ranges they publish, not as quotes. If a rule or fee matters to a decision, confirm it with the agency before you act.

City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
Before construction, a permit for docks, slips, boat davits, hoists, mooring piles or similar boat mooring structures must be obtained from the development services department; work on or in navigable waters also needs approval of all governmental authorities that regulate it; the applicant certifies ownership of the abutting land or produces the owner's written consent (Sec. 8-91(b)).
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
Mooring devices include boat davits, hoists, boat lifts and similar items attached to mooring structures; mooring structures include a dock, marginal dock, seawall, mooring pile or finger pier (Sec. 8-91(a)).
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Broward County Environmental Permitting Division (Primary: county agency page)
County general license page lists boatlifts and floating vessel platforms, docks of 500 sq ft or less over water measured from the seawall wet face, and dredging or filling of less than 20 cubic yards among projects it covers.
Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License and General License pages
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Broward County (Primary: county code (Municode text))
A general license is issued within 10 days after receipt of a complete application (Sec. 27-336(a)(1)).
Broward County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 27, Art. XI, Sec. 27-336 (General licenses) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Broward County Environmental Permitting Division (Primary: county agency page)
Permits or exemption verifications may also be required from FDEP, SFWMD and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers depending on scope; Broward has delegation agreements with FDEP and SFWMD for some Environmental Resource Permits and with the Corps for State Programmatic General Permit VI-R1 projects not on sovereign submerged lands.
Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License and General License pages
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
Any portion of a mooring device that can be submerged must have a permanently attached, vertical guide pole at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter, extending at least 6 feet above the water at all times with a reflective color; an alternative may be allowed if the city's manager of marine facilities finds it equally safe (Sec. 8-91(d)).
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
Boats moored to mooring structures may not extend more than 30 percent of the width of the canal or waterway, measured from the recorded property line (Sec. 8-91(e)).
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
Mooring structures are inspected under the development services director; an owner notified in writing that a structure is unsafe or unsatisfactory has 30 days to correct the condition (Sec. 8-91(c)).
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
City of Fort Lauderdale (Primary: city code (Municode and elaws text agree))
An older copy of Sec. 8-91 (a city PDF) limited submerged-capable lift extension to 15 percent of the waterway width unless a guide pole was attached; the current Municode and elaws text requires a guide pole on any submerged-capable mooring device and contains no 15 percent test.
City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 8, Art. IV, Sec. 8-91 (Mooring structures) · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Broward County Environmental Permitting Division (Primary: county agency page)
Environmental Permitting Division contact for general licenses: AWRLicense@broward.org, 954-519-1454.
Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License and General License pages
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Broward County (Primary: county application form)
A general license does not authorize mangrove alteration or impacts to submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrasses) or other natural resources.
Broward County Application for an Environmental Resource General License (form)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Souffront Contractors (contractor) (Seller published range (contractor bias))
Dock electrical systems (shore power, lighting) need a licensed marine electrician and, in most jurisdictions, a separate electrical permit (vendor statement; confirm with your building department).
Souffront Contractors: Dock Repair Cost in South Florida
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.
Bernerepair (repair company) (Seller published range (company bias))
Cables are replaced as a set; the company says makers allow five years on stainless cable and three years is sensible on a salt canal; grease fittings want marine grease twice a year; electrical problems upstream of the dock disconnect are electrician work.
Bernerepair: Boat Lift Repair pricing table (South Florida)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.