Boat Dock Permit Drawing Free Download (Sample PDF)

Planning a roof over your boat lift, a new dock or a covered slip and not sure what your county expects to see? Download our free sample boat dock permit drawing below. It comes from a real set we prepared for a past project in Florida: new roofs over two existing boat lifts. Client details are removed, so you can see how the sheets are organized and what plan reviewers usually ask for.

Before and after: the existing docks, and the roofs we drew over both lifts.

What's in the free sample

The PDF has three sheets taken from a real permit set we drew for a past client:

• Proposed boat docks plan with new pilings and the roof outline
• Front and side elevations with roof height above the deck and water
• Structural details: piling embedment, rafter and post connections, diaphragm, and the Florida Product Approval table

Client names, addresses and parcel details have been removed, and every sheet is marked "Free sample – not for construction". The structural calculations, general notes and the remaining sheets are not included. This file is for reference only: it shows the level of detail a plan reviewer expects, but it cannot be submitted for a permit.

Get the free sample PDF by email

What your building department will check

• Dock and roof location on the lot and over the water, matching any approved water permit
• Piling size, spacing and embedment depth
• Beam, rafter and post sizes for the roof span
• Wind design: speed, exposure category (usually D over open water) and uplift connections
• Roof height and how much of each boat the roof covers
• Product approval numbers for roofing and connectors, where your state requires them

How to use this sample

Use it to see what a complete dock submittal looks like, to gather the information we will ask for, and to talk through options with your marine contractor. Your own set must be drawn for your dock, your lifts and your local code.

Tips before you start

• Measure the existing dock and each lift, and note the boat lengths you want covered.
• Take photos of the dock from the shore, from the water and from each side.
• Find any water, dredging or dock permit already approved for the property.
• Ask your county which agencies review structures over the water.

When you need custom drawings

If you are adding a roof to a boat lift, building a new dock or replacing an old one, you will need drawings for your exact site, and many counties also require a professional engineer's stamp. We prepare permit drawings for projects in all 50 states and send a fixed quote within 24 hours. If your county requires a stamp, it comes from an independent licensed PE under a separate arrangement.

See our boat dock & lift cover drawings

Frequently asked questions