Marine engineering for canal-front dock development in the Florida Keys

Services · Florida Keys

Marine Engineering Design & Permitting
in the Florida Keys

Docks, seawalls, boat lifts, dredging, wetland clear/fill projects and shoreline work — coordinated through ACOE, FDEP, SFWMD, and FKNMS review in a single coordinated submittal.

6,500+Keys projects
11+Years Keys experience
PE #79269Florida license
4.9 ★Client rating
Schedule a consultation →Or call 305.735.4626

Overview

Marine projects in the Florida Keys trigger review by multiple state and federal agencies in addition to the local building department. We design docks, seawalls, boat lifts, dredging, wetland clear/fill projects and shoreline work engineered to meet the standards and requirements of those reviewing agencies.

What We Deliver

Marine Engineering Capabilities

Dock design and engineering

New dock design, dock replacement, fixed piers, floating dock systems, and boat lift platforms — engineered for Monroe County, FDEP, and Army Corps review.

Seawall engineering

New seawall design, seawall replacement, cap replacement, tieback repair, rock revetment, etc. — engineered for Monroe County, FDEP, and Army Corps review.

Wetland Mitigation Design

Mitigation plans for wetland and submerged-resource impacts for projects including corals, sea grasses, mangrove trees and marine life impact designed to meet FDEP and Army Corps mitigation requirements.

Dredging plans

Channel, basin and maintenance dredging designed to restore the projects area to navigable water depths to improve vessel navigation and access.

Riprap and shoreline armoring

Shoreline stabilization, riprap revetments, and hybrid erosion control — engineered to withstand storm surge and daily wave loads along Keys canals and open water.

Commercial Marina & Waterfront Planning/Engineering

Comprehensive Marina and Waterfront design with operational planning. Including structural design and multi-agency planning.

Marine restoration and spalling repair

Concrete repair engineering for aging marine structures — pilings, caps and seawalls etc. where saltwater exposure has compromised the rebar, promoting rust and expansion which leads to cracking/spalling of the encompassing concrete.

Agency coordination

ACOE, FDEP, SFWMD, and FKNMS permit support built into every marine engagement.

Selected Work

Recent projects in the Keys

  • Marine engineering for a seawall project in the Florida Keys

    Florida Keys

    Seawall project underway

    Seawall reinforcement under construction — engineered cap, tieback layout, and shoreline protection for a canal-front lot.

  • Marine engineering for a custom dock in the Florida Keys

    Florida Keys

    Custom dock design

    Long-run residential pier over shallow flats — dock geometry, piling schedule, and multi-agency permit package before construction starts.

  • Marine engineering for canal docks and shoreline work in the Florida Keys

    Florida Keys

    Canal docks and shoreline work

    Site development and marine permitting for a multi-lot canal build-out — dock packages, shoreline work, and agency coordination with Ikon Builders from early plans through construction.

Our Process

How the work moves

  1. 01

    Consultation

    We review the waterfront project — dock, seawall, lift, dredging, mitigation — and flag the four-agency permit path from the start: ACOE, FDEP, SFWMD, and FKNMS.

  2. 02

    Site Visit & Proposal

    After completion of the site visit, a detailed estimate will be sent to the client outlining the scope of work to be provided by Campbell Engineering, along with a project delivery schedule. Upon acceptance of the proposal and receipt of a mutually agreed retainer payment, the project will be scheduled to commence the design and engineering.

  3. 03

    Engineering & Architectural Design

    We send a proposed marine structural layout for your review and approval. Once approved, we complete the full PE-stamped drawing set for final review. Our services include comments from your contractor and Monroe County or city building department officials.

Related Services

What pairs with this

Most Florida Keys projects pull on more than one discipline. These related services are the ones marine engineering clients engage alongside the primary scope.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an engineer to build or repair a dock in the Florida Keys?
Yes. Building departments require a licensed engineer to design and certify the plans for all marine projects, including docks, in the Florida Keys. That covers new docks, replacements, major repairs, and boat-lift or davit-adjacent work that changes structural loads. Sealed PE drawings are what Monroe County and the incorporated Keys cities expect before a marine building permit releases.
What permits are required for seawall construction in Monroe County?
For residential seawalls, you'll typically need permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). If the seawall falls within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary zone, you'll also need authorization from the Sanctuary. Commercial or multifamily projects additionally require a permit from the South Florida Water Management District. Once those agency permits are secured, the final permit comes from the local Monroe County building department — or the city building department if the lot is inside Marathon, Key West, Islamorada, or Key Colony Beach.
Can you provide structural assessments for boat lifts and davit systems?
Yes. We provide structural assessments for boat lifts and davit systems throughout the Florida Keys. We evaluate existing supports, pads, and pilings, then issue sealed findings or repair design when the lift or davit needs reinforcement. That documentation supports building-department review, insurance requests, and contractor scopes for marine work.
What environmental regulations affect marine construction in the Florida Keys?
Marine construction in the Florida Keys is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the FDEP, SFWMD, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Their review focuses on protecting sensitive resources — impacts to wetlands, mangrove vegetation, seagrasses, and coral are all factors that can affect what's permitted. We design marine structures and format agency packages so those resource constraints are addressed up front instead of after a rejection cycle.
How do I get engineered, stamped drawings for a dock or pier project?
We provide engineered, stamped drawings for dock and pier projects across the Florida Keys. Contact us with your property address and project goals — we prepare and certify the plans under our Florida PE seal (#79269), formatted for local building departments and the marine agencies that review in-water work.

Start your marine engineering project

Ready to put a licensed engineer on your Keys project?

Sealed under our Florida PE license (PE #79269). Site visits scheduled inside a week across the Keys.

Schedule a consultation →Or call 305.735.4626