Dock, Seawall & Marine Construction Permit (Water & Navigation) in Pinellas County
Docks, seawalls, riprap, tie poles, boat lifts, marinas, and all dredging or filling in Pinellas County waters require a Water and Navigation permit from Pinellas County. The county's Water and Navigation section reviews projects for environmental impacts, navigational impacts, and construction requirements, and it permits projects in both unincorporated areas and within municipal limits. Most projects also need a state authorization from FDEP (an Environmental Resource Permit, general permit, or exemption, plus state-owned submerged lands authorization) and a federal Army Corps authorization, which for minor work in Pinellas County waters is often covered by a general permit such as PGP SAJ-96.
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Who needs this
Any property owner or contractor building, replacing, or repairing a private single-family dock, multi-use or commercial dock, marina, seawall, riprap, tie poles, or performing any dredging or filling in the waters of Pinellas County. County Water and Navigation permitting applies inside city limits as well as unincorporated areas, though some cities run their own additional dock review.
Steps
- 1
Confirm your project needs a Water and Navigation permit
Private single-family docks, multi-use docks, commercial docks, marinas, seawalls, riprap, tie poles, and all dredging or filling in county waters require a permit. Questions: Water & Navigation permit intake, (727) 464-4170, [email protected].
pinellas.gov/docks-dredge-fill/ - 2
Apply online through the Pinellas County Access Portal
As of July 1, 2024, dock and dredge/fill applications may only be submitted online through the Pinellas County Access Portal (select Dock/Dredge & Fill Permit). To request the current paper application, call (727) 464-4170 or email [email protected].
aca-prod.accela.com/PINELLAS/Cap/CapApplyDisclaimer.aspx?mod - 3
Obtain state authorization from FDEP
Florida's Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) program regulates activities in, on, or over surface waters or wetlands. Depending on the project you may qualify for an exemption (single-family docks can use FDEP's free online self-certification for new docks, dock repair/replacement, or adding a boat lift), a general permit, or need an individual ERP. Activities on state-owned submerged lands also need submerged lands authorization, which ranges from no authorization required, to consent by rule, letter of consent, or a lease with annual fees for commercial facilities. Apply through the DEP Business Portal.
floridadep.gov/water/submerged-lands-environmental-resources - 4
Confirm federal (USACE) coverage
The Army Corps Jacksonville District has reissued Programmatic General Permit SAJ-96 for minor activities in navigable waters of the United States in Pinellas County (including living shorelines, oyster reefs, and boat ramp repair/replacement). Statewide, minor work may fall under State Programmatic General Permit VI (effective July 26, 2021) or Regional General Permit SAJ-20 for docks (effective March 28, 2023). Work not covered by a general permit needs an individual Department of the Army permit.
saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/Articl - 5
Track your county permit and schedule construction
Check review status via the Water & Navigation Permit Times Dashboard or contact (727) 453-3385 / [email protected].
pinellas.gov/water-navigation-permit-times-dashboard/
Requirements
- Project must be consistent with the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Code (environmental, navigational, and construction review)
- Online application through the Pinellas County Access Portal (mandatory since July 1, 2024)
- State authorization: FDEP ERP exemption/self-certification, general permit, or individual permit as applicable
- State-owned submerged lands authorization where the project is on sovereign submerged lands
- Federal authorization: coverage under a USACE general permit (e.g. PGP SAJ-96 in Pinellas County) or an individual Corps permit
Documents
- Project plans/drawings of the proposed dock, seawall, or dredge/fill work
- Application details submitted via the Pinellas County Access Portal
Fees
Previous fiscal-year fee amounts are shown below for a rough cost reference. They are not current quotes or guaranteed estimates, and actual fees may have changed. Confirm today's charge with the issuing building department or official payment portal.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private dock (poles, lifts & lower landings, no piling) | $600.00 | County Water and Navigation fee, effective Oct. 1, 2025 |
| Private dock (less than 250 sq ft) | $800.00Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule (Public Works, Water and Navigation II-A), effective Oct 1 2025, accessed 2026-09-01Historical source |
| Private dock (250 to 499 sq ft of new deck) | $870.00Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule (Public Works, Water and Navigation II-A), effective Oct 1 2025, accessed 2026-09-01Historical source |
| Private dock (500 to 999 sq ft of new deck) | $915.00Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule (Public Works, Water and Navigation II-A), effective Oct 1 2025, accessed 2026-09-01Historical source |
| Private dock (1,000+ sq ft of new deck) | $980.00Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule (Public Works, Water and Navigation II-A), effective Oct 1 2025, accessed 2026-09-01Historical source |
| Dock roof | $650.00Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule (Public Works, Water and Navigation II-A), effective Oct 1 2025, accessed 2026-09-01Historical source |
| Commercial dock | $950.00 plus $100 per slip (max $3,000) | Multi-use private docks $885 plus $100/slip; multi-use no-piling $620 plus $100/slip |
| Dock repair permit | $400.00 | Dock roof $650; permit extension $60; revisions within one year $135; permit transfer $115 |
| Dredge/fill permit | $755 under 101 cubic yards; $1,090 (101-500); $1,750 (501-1,000); $2,080 over 1,000 cubic yardsHistorical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. | Historical FY26 rate. Current permit fee not verified. This earlier amount is shown for ballpark context, not as today's payable charge. FY26 Adopted User Fees Schedule, effective Oct 1 2025 (accessed 2026-09-01). FY27 is proposed, not yet effective. NOTE: the county's public Building/Transportation/Zoning Fees page still links the superseded FY25 schedule.Historical source |
| After-the-fact permits | 2.5x to 5x the normal fee plus fines | 2.5x for up to 90 sq ft non-piling work; 5x for over 90 sq ft or piling work |
| FDEP single-family dock exemption self-certification | Free | FDEP dock permit application fees otherwise vary by permit type; see FDEP's dock permitting fee schedule |
Good to know
County Water and Navigation permitting covers projects inside city limits too, but some cities layer their own dock review on top, so check with your city as well. Since July 1, 2024 the county only accepts online applications (paper by request). Mangrove trimming is a separate county permit ($575 single-family, $1,150 multi-family/commercial). After-the-fact work is expensive: 2.5x to 5x fees plus fines. County pages cite the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Code but do not state a chapter number, and they do not walk you through the FDEP/USACE layers, so budget time for all three approvals. A Coastal Environmental Resource Zone map is available at https://pinellas-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=7b6aa34799274b92a0fb066f09b41c22.