How Much Does a Dock Permit Cost in the Florida Keys?

One of the first questions waterfront property owners ask when planning a project is: What will dock permit costs in the Florida Keys actually be?

The answer involves far more than a single permit fee. Getting a dock permitted in Monroe County requires coordination with multiple agencies, engineering drawings prepared by a licensed professional engineer, and in many cases a benthic survey of the seafloor. Understanding what goes into the total cost helps you plan your project realistically before construction begins.

At Glen Boe & Associates, we have been managing dock permit applications in Monroe County since 1984. Here is a realistic breakdown of what you can expect.

Dock Permit Cost: Agency Filing Fees

Most dock permit applications in Monroe County involve both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), with additional coordination with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) depending on location.

ACOE filing fees for standard dock permits depend on project type and permit pathway. Projects that qualify for a Nationwide Permit are processed at lower cost than those requiring an Individual Permit, which involves a more extensive review. FDEP fees vary based on the Environmental Resource Permit category. Your local municipality — whether that is the City of Marathon, the Village of Islamorada, the City of Key Colony Beach, the City of Key West, or unincorporated Monroe County — may also assess a building permit fee for the construction phase.

Agency filing fees are generally not the largest cost component of the permitting process.

Engineering Drawings

All dock and seawall permit applications in Monroe County require construction drawings prepared and sealed by a Florida licensed Professional Engineer. These drawings document the proposed structure — pile locations, dimensions, materials, water depths, and proximity to seagrass, coral, or other sensitive resources.

The cost of engineering drawings depends on project complexity. A straightforward residential dock replacement differs significantly from a new dock on a property with shallow seagrass beds, protected shoreline, or proximity to sanctuary zones.

At Glen Boe & Associates, engineering drawings are prepared in-house by our licensed PE. This keeps costs lower than firms that subcontract their engineering work and eliminates coordination delays between the permit agent and the engineer.

Benthic Survey

Many dock permit applications in the Florida Keys require a benthic survey — an assessment of the seafloor resources in and around the proposed project area. ACOE, FDEP, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary routinely require benthic surveys for nearshore construction projects to document the presence or absence of seagrass, coral, sponges, and other protected resources.

Benthic survey costs vary based on the size of the survey area and the complexity of the resources present. Surveys conducted by outside contractors add time and cost to the permitting process. Glen Boe & Associates conducts benthic surveys in-house through our FKNMS-authorized biologist, which means the survey data feeds directly into your permit application without delays.

Benthic surveys are typically valid for approximately one year. If your project experiences significant delays, agencies may require an updated survey before issuing approvals.

Professional Permit Management

Managing a dock permit application in the Florida Keys means tracking submissions, responding to agency requests for additional information, coordinating between ACOE, FDEP, FKNMS, and your local municipality, and following up to keep your application moving. For property owners who have never gone through the process, this is the most time-consuming and unfamiliar part of the project.

A professional permit management firm handles all of this on your behalf. This includes preparing the complete application package, submitting to all required agencies, responding to Requests for Additional Information (RAIs), and communicating directly with agency reviewers.

The cost of professional permit management reflects the scope of the project, the number of agencies involved, and the complexity of the environmental conditions at your site.

What Affects Your Total Cost

Several factors influence the total cost of a dock permit in the Florida Keys:

Project type. A simple dock repair or replacement on an existing structure typically requires less documentation than a new dock on an undeveloped property. Seawall replacements, maintenance dredging, and boat lifts each have their own application requirements and associated costs.

Location. Properties in areas with dense seagrass, proximity to coral reefs, or within Special Protection Areas of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary require more thorough environmental documentation and typically take longer to permit.

Permit pathway. Projects that qualify for ACOE Nationwide Permits move faster and at lower cost than those requiring Individual Permits. Whether your project qualifies for a Nationwide Permit depends on project size, impact to waters of the United States, and site-specific conditions.

Application completeness. A complete, well-prepared application moves through agency review faster than one that generates Requests for Additional Information. Firms with deep experience in Monroe County permitting know what each agency expects and prepare applications accordingly.

Mitigation requirements. Projects that result in unavoidable impacts to wetlands, seagrass, or coral may require the purchase of mitigation credits from an approved mitigation bank. Mitigation is often the most significant and most variable cost component of a dock permit in the Florida Keys, and it is frequently overlooked by property owners budgeting for a project.

Mitigation — A Significant and Often Overlooked Cost

Mitigation is often the most significant and most variable dock permit cost in the Florida Keys, and it is frequently overlooked by property owners budgeting for a project. Projects that result in unavoidable impacts to wetlands, seagrass, or coral may require the purchase of mitigation credits from an approved mitigation bank.

DEP Exemptions and Mitigation

Projects that qualify for a FDEP exemption — which is common for seawall repairs and smaller dock projects — do not require DEP mitigation. However, projects that require a formal FDEP Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) are typically required to purchase mitigation credits from an approved DEP mitigation bank. For Monroe County projects, the Everglades Mitigation Bank (EMB), owned and operated by Florida Power & Light, is the primary DEP-approved mitigation bank serving the Florida Keys service area.

ACOE Mitigation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has its own mitigation requirement, separate from DEP. For projects in the Florida Keys requiring ACOE mitigation, the Keys Restoration Fund (KRF) has historically been the preferred bank. KRF recently added a significant number of new credits, which has improved availability — particularly in the Lower Keys where both mangrove and saltmarsh credits are more readily available.

However, KRF has experienced limited availability of mangrove and saltmarsh credits north of the Seven Mile Bridge. For projects in the Upper Keys requiring ACOE mitigation, the Corps has been directing applicants to the Everglades Mitigation Bank (EMB) as an alternative when KRF credits are unavailable in the applicable credit category.

Paying to Both Banks

When a project requires both a formal FDEP ERP permit and an ACOE permit — and mitigation is required under both — the applicant may be required to purchase credits from both the DEP bank and the ACOE bank separately. This can occur on projects in areas where KRF credits are available for ACOE purposes while EMB serves the DEP requirement. In these cases, mitigation costs are assessed by two agencies independently and paid to two separate banks.

FKNMS Coral Mitigation

For projects that result in impacts to coral within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, FKNMS may require separate coral mitigation. The sanctuary evaluates coral impacts on a project-by-project basis, and the mitigation requirements depend on the species affected, the extent of the impact, and the location within the sanctuary.

What Mitigation Costs

Mitigation credit prices in the Florida Keys vary by bank, credit type, and location within Monroe County. Credit requirements are determined by the permitting agencies based on the acreage and quality of the resources impacted, assessed using the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM).

For DEP mitigation, the Everglades Mitigation Bank currently prices saltmarsh and mangrove credits at $150,000 per credit.

For ACOE mitigation, the Keys Restoration Fund updated its credit prices in March 2026 — the first price adjustment in 13 years. Current KRF prices are:

• Tidal credits: $1,500,000 per credit (previously $217,800)
• Seagrass credits: $2,620,404 per credit (previously $1,089,000)

These prices are regulated and approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Credit availability changes as credits are sold — contact Glen Boe & Associates for current availability in your specific project area.

For projects requiring mitigation from both DEP and ACOE — which can occur when a project requires a formal FDEP ERP permit and an ACOE permit simultaneously — credit costs are assessed independently by each agency and paid to each bank separately. On larger projects or projects with significant seagrass or tidal wetland impacts, mitigation can represent the single largest cost component of the entire permitting process.

Glen Boe & Associates has extensive experience working with both the Keys Restoration Fund and the Everglades Mitigation Bank, and we identify mitigation requirements and estimated costs as part of our initial project evaluation — before you commit to anything.

Getting a Realistic Dock Permit Cost Estimate

The most accurate way to understand your total dock permit cost in the Florida Keys is to have a professional review your property and proposed project before you commit to anything. At Glen Boe & Associates, we offer a free initial consultation to assess your site, identify the agencies involved, and give you a realistic picture of the permitting requirements, mitigation obligations, and timeline.

Contact Glen Boe & Associates at (305) 743-9121 or visit our Dock & Seawall Permitting page to learn more about our services throughout Monroe County.