Dock Builders in Jacksonville, FL
Build a new dock, fix a tired one or add a boat lift. Call or send a few details and a photo of your shoreline, and a local dock builder calls back, usually the same business day.
Around Mandarin, San Jose and the St. Johns River
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
How it works
- Call or send the formIt takes about a minute. Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
- Say what you needYour name, your number and the job. That's all it takes.
- A Jacksonville dock builder calls you backUsually the same business day, to ask a few questions and set a time to look.
- You get a price and decideThe price comes before any work starts. No pressure, and nothing to pay to call.
Start with the job you have in mind
Each page covers the choices, the state and county steps, and what to ask the builder.
A new dock
Walkway, platform, pilings and decking, sized for your boat and your water depth.
Dock repair
Loose pilings, soft planks, storm damage and when a repair turns into a rebuild.
Boat lifts
Lifting the boat out of the water, adding a lift to a dock you already have, and the roof question.
Seawalls and bulkheads
Repairing or replacing the wall that holds your yard back from the water.
Permits
The state exemption, the federal sign-off and the county building permit, in plain terms.
Your stretch of water
Docks on the St. Johns River differ from docks on the Intracoastal and the marshes.
What shapes a dock in Northeast Florida
The same dock plan does not fit every shoreline here. These are the things a builder looks at first.
Tides
At Mayport the average gap between high and low tide is about 4.5 feet, and at Fernandina Beach about 6 feet. On the river near downtown it is under 2 feet.
A river that flows north
The St. Johns flows north to the ocean and drops less than 30 feet over 310 miles, so the tide pushes far upriver and reverses the flow twice a day.
Marsh between the yard and the water
Many lots on the Intracoastal sit behind salt marsh, so the dock starts with a long walkway out to water deep enough for a boat.
Salt and brackish water
Salt water near the inlets is hard on bolts, brackets and lift parts. Ask what grade of hardware the builder uses.
Manatees
Manatees use these waters, and Duval County has a manatee protection plan that guides where new boat slips go.
Storms and wind
Pilings, connections and any roof over the boat have to hold up in strong wind and high water.
How a dock job usually goes
Most dock projects follow the same order, whether it is a new build or a rebuild.
- Look at the shoreline. The builder checks your water depth at low tide, the marsh or seawall, and where your property lines meet the water.
- Draw the dock. Walkway, platform, lift and roof are sized, and the total area over the water is added up.
- State and federal check. Many single-family docks qualify for a state exemption that can be certified online, often with the federal sign-off included. Larger or unusual docks go to DEP staff for review.
- County building permit. The city or county building department reviews the plans for your address.
- Pilings and framing. Pilings are driven or jetted into the bottom, then the frame and decking go on.
- Lift, power and inspection. A lift and any wiring are installed, the building inspector signs off, and the dock is ready for the boat.
Questions to ask before you hire
Dock quotes often differ because the scope differs. Get each builder to answer the same points in writing, then put the answers side by side.
- What is the total area over the water, including the roof, and does it fit the state exemption?
- Who handles the state self-certification, the federal sign-off and the county permit?
- How deep is the water at the end of the dock at low tide?
- What are the pilings and the decking made of, and what hardware is used near salt water?
- Is the boat lift sized for the weight of your boat, fuel and gear?
- Is electrical work included, and who pulls that permit?
- What does the builder put in writing about the work, and for how long?
Common questions
Do I need a permit to build a dock?
Almost always something. Many private docks are exempt from a state environmental permit if they meet size and design limits, but the county building permit still applies. The permits page walks through it.
How big can my dock be?
A private dock of 1,000 square feet or less over the water can qualify for the state exemption, or 500 square feet in Outstanding Florida Waters. Roofs and boat canopies count toward that area.
Can my old dock be rebuilt?
Often, yes. State law allows an existing dock to be repaired or replaced in about the same spot and no larger. See dock repair.
Can I add a boat lift to the dock I have?
Usually. Adding a boat lift to an existing dock is one of the projects that can be self-certified online with the state. The boat lifts page has the details.
My seawall is cracked. Is that a dock builder job?
Many marine builders do both. A seawall restored in its old spot, or set back from it, is treated more simply than a new one. Read seawalls and bulkheads.
Does the call cost anything?
No. This site charges you nothing. The builder who calls back looks at the job and gives you the price.
Ready to talk about your dock?
Call or send the form. A local dock builder calls back, usually the same business day, asks about your water and your boat, and prices the job.
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.