Service Area · Broward County
Dredging in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale's 165+ miles of navigable waterways are the city's defining feature.
Local context
Fort Lauderdale's 165+ miles of navigable waterways are the city's defining feature. Most of them are private residential canals threading through Las Olas Isles, Bay Colony, Harbor Beach, Rio Vista, and other waterfront neighborhoods. Permit logistics here are uniquely complex because nearly every canal connects to the Intracoastal, which makes them USACE-jurisdictional in addition to FDEP and Broward County environmental oversight.
The city's permit office at the Building Department coordinates with Broward County DPEP for environmental review. For canals connected to the Intracoastal — which is most of them — federal Section 10/404 review applies regardless of project size.
Waterways we work in Fort Lauderdale
- Intracoastal Waterway
- New River
- Middle River
- Las Olas canals
- Tarpon River
- Stranahan River
Neighborhoods served
- Las Olas Isles
- Bay Colony
- Harbor Beach
- Rio Vista
- Coral Ridge
- Idlewyld
- Seven Isles
- Sunrise Key
- Nurmi Isles
- Lauderdale Harbours
Permitting in Fort Lauderdale
- Broward County DPEP Environmental License
- City of Fort Lauderdale Building Department
- FDEP environmental resource permit
- USACE Section 10/404 (most canals jurisdictional)
Common dredging projects in Fort Lauderdale
- Residential canal and dock dredging
- Las Olas Isles boat slip restoration
- Marina maintenance dredging
- Pre-construction dredging for new docks and seawalls
Frequently asked
- How long does dredging take in Fort Lauderdale?
- Most residential dredging projects run 2-5 days in the field once mobilized. The full timeline from first call to closeout survey is typically 4-7 months, with most of that being permit review. Fort Lauderdale permits flow through Broward County DPEP Environmental License alongside the state and federal reviews.
- Do I need a permit to dredge in Fort Lauderdale?
- Yes. Dredging in Fort Lauderdale requires authorization from FDEP and, in most cases, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Broward County environmental review applies as well. We handle the full permit application as part of every project.
- What does residential dredging cost in Fort Lauderdale?
- Residential projects in Fort Lauderdale start around $4,000 for small dock-side clear-outs and scale up based on volume removed, spoil disposal distance, and site access. We provide a fixed-price quote after an on-site depth survey at no cost.
Request a site visit in Fort Lauderdale
Free on-site depth assessment. We respond within one business day.