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Delray Beach Boat Lifts, Docks & Seawalls, Planned To The Foot.
Delray Beach allows a boat lift to reach up to 20 ft into the waterway, measured raised, and keeps docks tight to the seawall. We lay out the lift, the dock and the boat together, confirm the side clearances and build it with our own crew.
5.0- 35+ Years
- Licensed & Insured
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Max lift reach, raised
Min. side clearance for the boat
Docks, dolphins and boat lifts
Code summary last verified
Rated 5.0 On Google.
“Marc always does a great job making sure my lift is at peak performance!”
“Always ready / fast quote/ fast execution… I have good service with Mark, He do my maintenance periodically, I ‘m very happy with him!!”
“Marc and his team did a great job installing a 15KLB lift for me within the schedule I gave him and on budget. I'm very happy with the work they provided and would highly recommend if you're in the market for a new lift.”
“Marc and his team were communicative, professional, and informative throughout the whole process for my lift. The price was great, and the whole process was surprisingly seamless and stress free. I would recommend to anyone looking for a boat lift or dock.”
“Would recommend Boat Lift Installers LLC. 10/10 times. Very professional and knowledgeable with lots of experience in the boat lift industry. Recently had a 50,000 lb hurricane lift installed for a large center console and it has worked flawlessly. Mark and his team are punctual, precise, and always available to help and answer questions.”
“It is a pleasure to write this review. Marc is an excellent professional who is knowledgeable, dedicated, and highly focused. He is a pleasure to work with, and you will be very pleased with your decision to choose him and his company.”
“Marc came through with an excellent job on this lift. It’s hard to find a boss who works with his crew. Great service and quick install. Definitely will be dealing again in the future. Thanks guys.”
“Boat lift installers did a phenomenal job at a great and fair price. And delivered on all of their promises. Marc and crew are high quality , high integrity guys for sure”
“They did my lift in Ft. Lauderdale I wouldn’t recommend anyone else! Very respectful when I was asking him questions too!”
Built Around Delray's 20 Ft Lift Rule.
Delray Beach measures a boat lift in its raised position and keeps docks close to the seawall. We plan the lift, the dock and the boat as one layout from the first site visit, so nothing has to be redesigned at permitting.
Lifts sized to your loaded boat and kept within the 20 ft raised-lift limit.
Docks designed around Delray’s 5 or 7 ft dock limit, with room for the lift.
Seawall repair and replacement, with the requirement for your address confirmed.
Six-month service for cables, motors, bunks, pilings and electrical, documented every visit.
“Marc and his team were communicative, professional, and informative throughout the whole process for my lift. The price was great, and the whole process was surprisingly seamless and stress free. I would recommend to anyone looking for a boat lift or dock.”
Jon K. · Boat lift customer
Delray Beach Boat Lift & Dock Rules, In Plain English
Delray Beach regulates docks, dolphins and boat lifts under Land Development Regulations Article 7.9. A boat lift is measured in its raised position, and the side clearance is measured to the raised boat.
How to read the table below
| Your situation | The rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| How far out the lift can reach | Up to 20 ft, measured with the lift raised | Measured from your property line or seawall, whichever is closer to the water. |
| Space from your neighbors | 10 ft, or your building side setback if that is greater | With the boat raised on the lift, it must stay this far from the neighboring property line. |
| How many lifts | One boat lift per waterfront property | One lift and one dock per lot along the water. |
| How far a dock can reach | 5 ft from the seawall, or 7 ft with batter piles | With no seawall, 5 ft from the water’s edge at mean low tide. |
| Dock space from your neighbors | 10 ft, or your side yard setback if that is greater | The dock cannot come closer to the neighboring property line. |
| Dolphin (mooring) piles | Not allowed on canals under 80 ft | On 80 to 100 ft canals, up to 20 ft out with 50 ft of channel kept clear. On wider canals, up to 25 ft out. |
The Raised Lift Is What Gets Measured
Delray Beach measures the boat lift in its raised position, from your property line or seawall, whichever is closer to the water, and the side clearance is measured to the raised boat. A layout that fits with the boat lowered may not fit once it is up.
Waterway-Width Examples
| Canal width | Boat lift reach (raised) | Dolphin (mooring) piles |
|---|---|---|
| 60 ft | Up to 20 ft | Not allowed |
| 80 ft | Up to 20 ft | Up to 20 ft out; keep 50 ft of channel clear |
| 100 ft | Up to 20 ft | Up to 20 ft out; keep 50 ft of channel clear |
| 120 ft | Up to 20 ft | Up to 25 ft out |
| 160 ft | Up to 20 ft | Up to 25 ft out |
Docks stay within 5 ft of the seawall, or 7 ft with batter piles, on every canal width.
What Your Site Plan Must Show.
Delray Beach reviewers look for these items on every lift plan. We put each one on paper during your consultation, so the design you approve is the design that gets permitted.
Frontage
Your waterfront frontage and both side property lines.
Raised Lift
The lift and boat drawn in the raised position.
Measuring Point
Property line or seawall face, whichever is nearer the water.
Side Clearance
10 ft or the building side setback, to the raised boat.
Dock Footprint
Dock reach from the seawall, with or without batter piles.
Dolphin Piles
Location and distance, if the plan includes them.
Canal Width
The measured width, which decides whether dolphins are allowed.
Every Agency, Handled In-House.
A waterfront project in Delray Beach may require approvals at the city, county, state and federal level, plus HOA or condominium sign-off where it applies. The path depends on your footprint and the environmental conditions at your shoreline. We map it before we quote, and we manage it through final inspection. The boat lift buyer FAQs explain each agency’s role.
City Of Delray Beach
Building, zoning, engineering and electrical approvals, as the project requires.
Palm Beach County
County review where your project requires it, depending on your site and shoreline.
Florida DEP
Authorization or exemption verification. A state exemption does not cancel local permits.
U.S. Army Corps
Work in navigable waters can require Section 10 authorization. Some minor lifts qualify for a general permit.
Measure First. Buy The Lift Second.
A lift can have the capacity and still be the wrong physical or legal fit. We confirm projection, side lines, water depth and the permit path before we recommend equipment.
Why Waterfront Owners Choose Us.
35+ Years On The Water
Family-owned and operated in South Florida.
Our Own Crews
In-house installation. No subcontractors, no hand-offs.
Lifetime Workmanship
Every installation backed by our Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee.
Neptune Boat Lifts
We install Neptune Boat Lifts, built for saltwater.
A Process Built On Precision & Principles.
The same four steps on every Delray Beach project, from the first site visit to the service calls that keep your lift running.
Consultation & Design
We review your boat, your waterfront, and the code for your address, then design the lift or dock around all three.
Permitting & Project Prep
We prepare the plans and handle the permit path end to end, so nothing gets built before it is approved.
Construction & Installation
Our own in-house crew builds it. No subcontractors, no hand-offs.
Support & Maintenance
Twice-yearly service keeps your lift running and your warranty records documented.
Your Lift Is Only As Solid As The Wall Behind It.
In Palm Beach County, seawall height and repair requirements can differ from city to city. We confirm the requirement that governs your Delray Beach address before we design a lift or dock that ties into the wall.
A new lift or dock does not automatically trigger a seawall upgrade. We check your wall’s condition and elevation while we are already on site, so there are no surprises after the permit is filed.
- 35+ years on South Florida water
- Licensed & insured
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Delray Beach Boat Lift, Dock & Seawall Questions
How far can a boat lift reach into the water in Delray Beach?
Up to 20 ft, measured with the lift raised, from your property line or seawall, whichever is closer to the water.
How close to my neighbor can the boat be?
With the boat raised on the lift, it must stay at least 10 ft from the neighboring property line, or your building side setback if that is greater.
How many boat lifts and docks can I have?
One boat lift and one dock per waterfront property.
Can the city approve something different?
Delray Beach allows the City Commission to approve a modification to these standards, on the Building Official’s recommendation, when the rules are not feasible or would cause a hardship and public safety is not affected. We tell you early if your site may need one.
Nearby Service Areas & Guides
Boca Raton
Dock limits of 6 or 8 ft, with lift placement confirmed for your address.
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Deerfield Beach
Dock, lift and vessel together: 25% of waterbody width.
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