Before building or undergoing construction on a dock in the Florida Keys, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). A DEP permit is necessary for regulating any work in, or over the water. In other words, all marine construction projects including the installation or renovation of a dock require a DEP permit.
Anybody can get a DEP permit, and doing so is fairly simple, as long as you abide by all rules and follow the necessary steps.
The 3 simple steps to getting a DEP permit in Florida are as follows.
1. Create a Drawing of Your Dock
When it comes to obtaining a DEP permit, it is not necessary to submit an engineered drawing for review. Any homeowner can submit a sketch of their dock as long as it includes necessary information, such as:
- Location
- Size
- Length
- Width
- Over water area
- Over land area
- Type of dock (wood, concrete, etc.)
- Number of pilings
- Piling locations
- Dock location
2. Submit Your Drawing
Submitting a drawing for approval to obtain a DEP permit is simple. Log on to FDEP.gov and create a login. From there, you can use the site’s user portal to submit your drawing. To avoid any complications and to ensure that this process is as efficient as possible, make sure that you have included all the necessary information in your drawing or revisions and extra fees will be required.
3. Prepare to Submit to the Municipality
While obtaining a DEP permit in the state of Florida is not difficult, it is not the only permit needed in order to undergo a construction project on your dock. After obtaining your DEP permit, you will need to submit an engineered drawing to your local municipality with your ACOE permit. This drawing should be more detailed than your previous sketch, and should include accurate Florida building code information. This will help streamline the inspection process and ensure that your dock meets regulations. Undergoing the process of obtaining this drawing as soon as possible will help you to ensure that you are able to obtain the necessary permits to begin your dock construction process as soon as possible. Obtaining marine construction permits in the state of Florida can be challenging. Rapid Permits is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how our team of experts can help you obtain DEP permits and others as efficiently as possible.
