Aerial view of canal-front homes with docks and boat lifts along a green residential canal

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

Boat Lift Installation Fort Lauderdale

Boat lift installation in Fort Lauderdale is counted by lot width: one lift, davit or hoist for the first 100 feet of frontage, plus a personal watercraft lift.

Licensed Permits handled Florida waterfront

We put Fort Lauderdale owners in touch with licensed marine contractors who plan the lift around those limits.

Free consultation, a written scope, no obligation.

A second lift

On lots between 100 and 200 feet wide, a second mooring device needs Site Plan Level II approval from the Development Review Committee (ULDR Sec. 47-19.3).

Permits behind a new lift

Lift files in the city pair a Broward County general license with FDEP and Army Corps self-certifications before the city building permit. A request to go past the limits goes to the Marine Advisory Board, then the City Commission.

Palm-lined canal in Miami Beach with private docks and small boats

Why it matters

Bigger boats, wider water

Mooring piles can reach 30% of the waterway or 25 feet, whichever is less. In 2024 the city approved a 30,000 pound four-post lift on Bonita Bay, which is about 167 feet wide, through the waiver process.

On narrow canals, the waterway width decides the lift before the boat does.

A free inspection tells you which one you are looking at.

What a free inspection includes

A contractor comes to your property, looks at the structure above and below the waterline where needed, and tells you what is actually happening.

You get a written scope and estimate. No obligation, no trip fee.

  • On-site assessment of the structure and surrounding soil
  • Photos and a plain-English explanation of the problem
  • Written estimate with scope and materials
  • Repair versus replacement guidance where both are options
Contractor in a safety vest taking notes on a clipboard during an on-site assessment
Aerial view of the residential canal grid in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Serving waterfront Florida

Local waterways, permit offices, and conditions vary by region. Pick yours.

Get a free inspection

Free Inspection Request

No obligation, no trip fee. A licensed marine contractor in Broward County will call you to arrange a time.

Aerial view of waterfront homes along the Tarpon River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Find out what your waterfront needs

A licensed marine contractor in Broward County will inspect your seawall, dock, or lift at no cost and put it in writing.