Dock Builders in Pompano Beach, FL

Pompano Beach is where we are based, and much of our dock builders' work happens on its canals, the Intracoastal Waterway and the creek-side lots off Cypress Creek. The city runs about three miles along the ocean up to Hillsboro Inlet, which links the Atlantic to the Intracoastal. That inlet is the reason so many owners here keep center consoles and sportfishing boats behind the house, and it shapes almost every dock, lift and seawall decision we make in Pompano Beach.

Seawalls come first in this city

Before we design a new dock, we look at the wall it will sit on. Pompano Beach regulates seawalls as tidal flood barriers under Section 151.05 of its city code. Once work on an appurtenant structure such as a dock or lift costs more than half of what a barrier along the whole shoreline would cost, a barrier below five feet NAVD88 has to be brought up to that minimum. In plain terms, a big dock project can trigger a seawall upgrade, and it is far better to know that during planning than after the permit review comes back.

The same section caps how far a new cap can reach: no more than 36 inches seaward of the existing wall's wet face. A rebuilt barrier generally cannot sit more than 12 inches out from the old wet face or rip-rap unless the City Engineer approves otherwise. Those limits matter on narrow canals where every foot of water counts.

Docks and lifts for inlet boats

Owners who run the inlet regularly usually want a lift so the hull stays out of salt water between trips. We size lifts to the boat's loaded weight, check the water depth at low tide and confirm the seawall or pilings can carry the load. Where a full lift does not fit, a pair of davits on a strong cap can work for a smaller boat or a tender.

For the dock itself, we build on treated or concrete pilings with framing sized for the span, then finish with wood or composite decking. Composite is popular here because the surface holds up to sun and salt with less upkeep than lumber, though it still needs proper joist spacing underneath.

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Manatee zones on Pompano waters

State manatee rules for Broward County set year-round slow speed zones on Hillsboro Inlet and on Cypress Creek and the Pompano Canal. The Intracoastal across the county has a 25 mph cap with slow speed within 50 feet of shore. Construction near these waters can also involve turbidity barriers and in-water work precautions set by permitting agencies, so we build that time into the schedule.

Flooding and storms

A 2017 study cited by Wikipedia counted about 73,000 Pompano Beach residents inside FEMA's coastal floodplain. That is a large share of the city, and it explains why seawall height and condition come up on so many estimate visits. Hurricane Wilma in 2005 left more than 5,000 Broward County homes uninhabitable, and storm surge, king tides and heavy rain all test the same walls and docks. We look for cracked caps, leaning panels, voids behind the wall and loose pile connections before quoting any new work.

What to have ready

A recent survey of the lot, photos of the existing wall and dock, your boat's length, beam and weight, and any HOA or condo rules all help us give you a clear scope. Permits for seawall and dock work commonly involve the city plus county, state or federal reviews, and we explain which ones apply to your property.