Decks in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Elevating Marine Aesthetics with Form and Function — serving Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding waterfront communities.
Does a waterfront deck in Fort Lauderdale need a permit?
Yes. Decks attached to a dock or built over or adjacent to water in Fort Lauderdale require a city building permit, and elevation requirements tied to the property's flood zone — much of the waterfront sits in FEMA Zone AE or VE — factor into the design.
What should I consider for a deck in a Fort Lauderdale canal neighborhood?
Decks that tie into or sit near a seawall need to account for the top-of-bank and seawall cap elevations set by the city's March 2023 tidal-barrier ordinance, since those elevations were raised regionally to match Broward County's standard.
What decks looks like in Fort Lauderdale
Much of Fort Lauderdale's waterfront sits in FEMA Zone AE or VE, and in March 2023 the city adopted a tidal-barrier and seawall ordinance that raised minimum seawall and top-of-bank elevations to match Broward County's regional flood-resilience standard.
Fort Lauderdale has roughly 165 miles of navigable inland waterways within city limits, which is why the city is known as the "Venice of America."
Much of Fort Lauderdale's waterfront sits in FEMA Zone AE or VE, which affects elevation requirements for decks built near or over water.
The city's March 2023 tidal-barrier and seawall ordinance affects decks that tie into a seawall cap, since minimum elevations were raised regionally.
Constant humidity and saltwater exposure along Fort Lauderdale's roughly 165 miles of canals put a premium on decking materials suited to marine environments.
We regularly work in Las Olas Isles, Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, Coral Ridge and Seven Isles, and coordinate permitting with the City of Fort Lauderdale (waterway ordinance and building permits, with unusual dock configurations reviewed by the city's Marine Advisory Board), coordinated with Broward County's Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division (EPGMD) and, where applicable, FDEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For the complete breakdown of our decks process, materials, and options, see the full Decks page. Want to explore other cities we serve? Visit Areas Served.
Decks in Fort Lauderdale — Frequently Asked Questions
Watson Marine evaluates the existing dock or seawall connection point, confirms flood zone and elevation requirements for the property, submits the city permit, and builds to match current code once approved.
Ready to build on the water in Fort Lauderdale?
Tell us about your Fort Lauderdale property and what you need built — we'll follow up to schedule a site visit and put together a quote.