General information for boat and dock owners, not legal, engineering or insurance advice. Always follow your lift manufacturer’s instructions.
Two questions come up with almost every new boat lift on the Suncoast: “Do I need a permit?” and “What happens to my boat and lift in a hurricane?” This guide gives a high-level overview. It does not quote any ordinance or permit rule, because those change and differ from one jurisdiction to the next. Always confirm the specifics for your address with the offices listed below.
Which work usually involves permits
Routine repairs like replacing cables or bunks often don’t need a permit. Work that commonly does:
- Installing a new boat lift, or replacing a lift with a different type or size
- Driving new pilings or changing a dock or seawall
- New or changed electrical service to the dock or lift
Your contractor should tell you whether a permit is needed and who will pull it. Get that in writing as part of the estimate.
Who issues permits around Sarasota and Bradenton
Depending on where your dock is, more than one agency may be involved:
- Your county or city. Unincorporated areas go through Sarasota County or Manatee County. Cities and towns such as Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Palmetto, Longboat Key and the Anna Maria Island cities have their own building departments.
- The state. Work in or over Florida waters may need authorization or an exemption from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
- The federal government. Work in navigable waters may also need authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District.
Projects in the water may also come with environmental conditions, for example around seagrass and manatee protection. HOAs, condo associations and deed restrictions can add their own rules on top of government permits.
Before a new lift goes in
- Confirm which jurisdiction your property is in (city vs. unincorporated county).
- Ask your contractor which permits they expect and who handles them.
- Check HOA or association rules.
- Allow time in your schedule for permit review.
See boat lift installation for what to have ready for an estimate.
Getting a lift ready for hurricane season
There is no single right answer for every boat and lift. Whether to leave the boat on the lift, haul it out or move it depends on your lift, your location, the storm and your insurance policy. Start with your lift manufacturer’s storm guidance and your insurer’s named-storm requirements, and decide on a plan before the season starts, not when a storm is forecast.
Before the season:
- Book a pre-season service so cables, gearbox, electrical and hardware are in good shape.
- Replace worn cables and bunks now; parts and technicians get scarce once a storm is coming.
- Read your insurance policy and note any requirements for boats and lifts.
- Take dated photos of the boat, lift and dock for your records.
When a storm is approaching
General steps many owners and manufacturers suggest, to be checked against your own lift’s instructions:
- Remove canvas, biminis, enclosures and anything loose from the boat and dock.
- If the boat stays on the lift, secure it to the lift as the manufacturer directs, and consider removing the drain plug so rain doesn’t add weight.
- Switch off power to the lift at the breaker once it is in its storm position.
- Follow official guidance from the National Hurricane Center and local emergency management. Never stay on a boat or dock in a storm.
After the storm
- Don’t run a lift whose motor, gearbox or wiring was underwater or soaked until it has been inspected.
- Look for bent beams, shifted pilings, damaged cables and debris in the pulleys.
- Photograph damage before cleanup for insurance.
- Request an inspection or repair and mention storm damage in your notes.