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Fort Lauderdale Boat Lifts, Docks & Seawalls, Built For The Venice Of America.
Fort Lauderdale’s canals and Intracoastal frontage deserve a contractor who knows the water and the code. We design, permit and build lifts, docks and seawalls across Fort Lauderdale, then keep them running with six-month service.
5.0- 35+ Years
- Licensed & Insured
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Max projection, whichever is less
Side clearance, set by zoning
Primary boat lift rule
Code summary last verified
Rated 5.0 On Google.
“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.”
“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.”
“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”
“Always ready / fast quote/ fast execution… I have good service with Mark, He do my maintenance periodically, I ‘m very happy with him!!”
“Marc always does a great job making sure my lift is at peak performance!”
“They did my lift in Ft. Lauderdale I wouldn’t recommend anyone else! Very respectful when I was asking him questions too!”
One Shoreline. One Crew. One Point Of Contact.
From Las Olas Isles and Rio Vista to Coral Ridge and Harbor Beach, Fort Lauderdale waterfront is some of the most tightly regulated shoreline in South Florida. We plan the lift, the dock and the seawall as one project, and we check the code before we quote.
Four-post, elevator and PWC lifts sized to your boat’s loaded weight and your canal’s legal envelope.
New docks, redecks and piling work designed around your vessel, your lift and your utilities.
Repair, cap raising and replacement built to Fort Lauderdale’s elevation standard.
Six-month service for cables, motors, bunks, pilings and electrical, documented every visit.
“They did my lift in Ft. Lauderdale I wouldn’t recommend anyone else! Very respectful when I was asking him questions too!”
Brandon M. · Boat lift customer, Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Boat Lift Setbacks & Waterway Projection
Two numbers decide where a lift can go: how far it may project into the waterway, and how far it must stay from the side property lines. In Fort Lauderdale the primary rule is ULDR Section 47-19.3. Some annexed neighborhoods use retained rules in ULDR Section 47-39.
How to read the table below
| Your situation | The rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| How far out the lift can reach | 25% of the canal’s width, and never more than 25 ft | Measure the canal seawall to seawall. On a 60 ft canal your lift can reach 15 ft out. On a canal wider than 100 ft, the cap is 25 ft. |
| Space from your neighbors | Usually 5, 7.5 or 10 ft, set by your zoning | Picture your home’s side setback lines continuing straight out into the water. The boat must stay between those lines, not just the lift. |
| Zoning RS-4.4 lots | 10 ft | The boat stays at least 10 ft inside each extended side line. |
| Zoning RS-8 and RS-8A lots | 5 ft | The boat stays at least 5 ft inside each extended side line. |
| Zoning RD-15, RDs-15 and RC-15 lots | 5 ft | Usually 5 ft. We confirm the exact line in the zoning table for your property. |
| Older annexed lots that kept their original zoning | Usually a 7.5 ft space for the boat | The boat stays 7.5 ft inside the side lines, and a separate rule can require the lift itself to sit 10 ft away. |
| Annexed lots zoned RS-6.70 | The general city rule | Placement follows the citywide rule in the first row. |
The Side Setback Follows The Boat, Not Just The Lift
The general code does not give every lift component one universal side setback. It requires the boat to stay inside the principal-building side setback lines extended into the waterway, and the number comes from your parcel's zoning. Certain retained annexed-area rules separately require the lift itself to sit 10 ft from the side plot line.
Waterway-Width Examples
| Waterway width | General 25% rule | Retained 33% rule |
|---|---|---|
| 40 ft | 10 ft | 13.2 ft |
| 50 ft | 12.5 ft | 16.5 ft |
| 60 ft | 15 ft | 19.8 ft |
| 80 ft | 20 ft | 25-ft cap |
| 100 ft | 25-ft cap | 25-ft cap |
| 120 ft | 25-ft cap | 25-ft cap |
* The retained 33% / 25-ft rule applies only to specified annexed-area zoning. It is not the default citywide rule.
What Your Site Plan Must Show.
Fort Lauderdale 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.
Waterfront Line
Recorded waterfront property line or City-approved reference line.
Waterway Width
Measured by the code’s method, never estimated from an aerial.
Side Lines
Both side property lines and zoning setback lines extended into the water.
The Full Lift
Complete raised lift, supporting structure and every piling.
The Design Boat
Length and beam of the boat the lift is built for.
Every Agency, Handled In-House.
A waterfront project in Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale
Building, zoning, engineering and electrical approvals, as the project requires.
Broward County
Environmental review of work in, over and next to surface waters, including lifts and pilings.
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 Fort Lauderdale 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 Sits On Your Shoreline. Know Where Your Wall Stands.
In Fort Lauderdale, ULDR Section 47-19.13 sets a minimum tidal flood barrier elevation of 5 feet NAVD88 when a seawall is newly built or substantially repaired or rehabilitated, or 4 feet for applications filed before January 1, 2035 that are engineered to reach 5 feet by January 1, 2050.
Installing a lift does not automatically trigger a seawall upgrade. Fort Lauderdale’s ordinance treats docks and piles differently than the County’s model. It is a calculation, not a yes or no, and we run it while we are already on site.
- 35+ years on South Florida water
- Licensed & insured
- Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Fort Lauderdale Boat Lift, Dock & Seawall Questions
How far can a boat lift project into a Fort Lauderdale canal?
Under the general rule in ULDR Section 47-19.3, 25% of the waterway width or 25 feet, whichever is less. On a 60-foot canal that is 15 feet. Certain annexed-area zoning uses a retained 33% / 25-ft rule instead.
What side setback applies to my boat lift?
It depends on your parcel’s zoning. The boat must remain inside the principal-building side setback lines extended into the waterway: for example 10 ft in RS-4.4 and 5 ft in RS-8 / RS-8A. Some retained annexed-area rules also require the lift itself to be 10 ft from the side plot line.
Does the boat count, or just the lift?
The boat counts. The plan should show the complete raised lift with the design boat’s length and beam, and the boat must stay inside the extended side setback lines.
Will a new lift or dock force me to raise my seawall?
Not automatically. Whether work triggers Fort Lauderdale’s elevation standard depends on the scope, and the city’s ordinance treats docks, finger piers and piles differently than the County’s model. We check it during your consultation, before anything is ordered.
Do you build docks and repair seawalls too, or only lifts?
All three, with our own crews. Many Fort Lauderdale projects combine a new lift, a dock rebuild and seawall work, and planning them together avoids paying to open the same shoreline twice.
Nearby Service Areas & Guides
Oakland Park
25% lift and vessel envelope, 50% of the waterway kept open.
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Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
25% on canals to 100 ft; 20% or 20 ft on the Intracoastal.
Learn More →
Plantation
5-ft side setback; projection set during City review.
Learn More →
Setback Rules By City
Every city’s rules side by side in one table.
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What Does A Boat Lift Cost?
2026 planning ranges and what moves the final price.
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Boat Lift Buyer FAQs
26 answers on sizing, placement, permits and quotes.
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