Dock Builders in Gulf Stream, FL

Gulf Stream is a small residential and recreational town on the Atlantic coast, and dock builders working here deal with two layers of approval: the town's design review and the permit itself. Bessemer Properties, controlled by the Phipps family, bought land on both sides of the Intracoastal in the 1920s, and that Intracoastal frontage is where dock work in Gulf Stream takes place.

Design review comes first

The town adopted design guidelines, administered by its Architectural Review and Planning Board, to protect the character of each district and prevent oversized development. Docks, lifts and seawall caps are visible from the water and from neighbors, so we draw them with that review in mind: proportions that suit the house, materials that match, and lift equipment placed and finished so it does not dominate the view.

We prepare plan and elevation drawings and material details you can submit, and we make changes if the board asks for them.

How permits are handled

Gulf Stream keeps its zoning authority, but its permits page directs contractors to file permit applications digitally through the Highland Beach permit portal, which issues the permits. Paper applications are not accepted. Contractors are asked to sign and upload the first page of the Gulf Stream Construction Handbook with the application. All zoning requirements and fees must be met before Highland Beach issues a permit. Contractor registration is also listed on the town site.

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New docks and lifts

On the Intracoastal, docks face wakes and current, so we design pilings and framing for those loads. Composite or hardwood-look decking is popular because it stays neat with little upkeep. If you want a lift, we look at where it can sit so the raised boat is not in the neighbor's sight line and the motor and switch are tucked away.

Seawalls

Many Gulf Stream walls have been in place for decades. Before we tie a new dock into one, we check the cap, the panels and the soil behind it. Repairs can be done alongside the dock so the finished waterfront looks consistent.

A little history

In the early 1920s the canal through Gulf Stream was freshwater and used for farm irrigation. The Gulf Stream Golf Club opened in 1925 with a clubhouse by Addison Mizner and a course by Donald Ross, and polo spectators once anchored yachts in the Intracoastal to watch matches. Several original 1920s homes still stand, which is part of why the town cares so much about design.