Frequently Asked Questions

Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. In Sarasota County that includes Venice, Nokomis, Osprey, Englewood, North Port, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key and the surrounding waterways.

Yes. Ram Marine Services is a Florida Certified Marine Specialty Contractor, license SCC131151013, and we carry insurance for work over water. A copy of our insurance can be found here. You can verify the license with the Florida DBPR in about a minute, and you should do that with any contractor you are considering. By law, all licensed contractors in Florida must display their license number on all public-facing materials, business documents, and company vehicles (F.S. 489.119(3)(5)).

Almost certainly yes, and probably more than one. You will probably need a local environmental and building permit. You will want a state authorization (permit or verification of exemption) from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Federal approval from the Army Corps of Engineers is required as well. Owning waterfront property does not, by itself, give you the right to build any structure over the water, let alone the one you have in mind. Without these approvals the property owner could be issued fines or even the removal of the structure.

The simple answer is that usually yes, you do need a permit for a floating lift for personal watercraft. We have witnessed much controversy over this issue and have had many clients inform us of what they have heard they can do which usually contains some of the facts, but not all. So here is the truth behind the matter.

In 2002, the Florida Legislature implemented F.S. 403.813(1)(s) to the list of exemptions from permits, though there are several conditions that must be met to qualify for this exemption. In addition to these conditions, there is the fact that these are only the requirements for the State permit. It does NOT mean that these lifts are automatically exempt from Federal or Local Rules and Ordinances.

We have heard many stories of these lifts being sold to unsuspecting property owners telling them that no permits are required so they can make a quick sale and leave the owner on the hook for a violation. Please check with your local authorities before purchasing and installing one of these without a licensed local contractor.

There is no set time frame for permits. Each agency that reviews the permits has their own criteria. Most agencies also tend to be understaffed.

The length of time is usually dependent upon several factors. Rebuilding a structure in the same footprint is quicker than a new footprint or a brand new structure. Disturbance of mangroves, seagrasses, oyster beds, or other environmentally protected habitats lead to longer permit times. Situations that require specialized surveys (riparian, bathymetric, benthic, x-y coordinate, etc.) lead to longer permit times.

Permitting fees tend to run in the range of $550 to $1,500. That isn’t to say that they can’t run more. Depending on the type of project, the municipality it lies within, and sometimes the cost of the project, the fees can vary. We usually include the cost of engineering in our quotes though many contractors do not and those can be additional costs. Please note that these are only the costs for permitting, not the actual construction.

Yes. Different contractors can present fees after the contract is signed. Ram Marine tries to be as up front about costs as we can be but sometimes additional costs to a project can arise. Not all projects have additional costs, but here are some costs you should be looking for or be aware of. Be sure to ask your contractor before signing your agreement so that you don’t get too many surprises afterwards.

• Cost of actual construction
• Permitting fees (local and state, the Army Corps does not charge a fee)
• Recording fees (Notice of Commencement, affidavits, restrictive covenants, etc.)
• Engineering fees (required for most seawalls and roofs and for any multifamily or commercial structure)
• Surveying fees (riparian, bathymetric, benthic, x-y coordinate, structure location)
• Subsurface impediments (rock, clay, foreign objects)
• Yard damage
• Electrical fixtures and hookup
• Plumbing fixtures and hookup
• Excess permitting time

Due to the earth’s strata the subsurface can be different in different locations. Neighborhood to neighborhood. House to house. Or even at the same jobsite.

Pilings need to be installed to a proper depth in order to maintain a certain vertical and horizontal stability and also withstand the additional buoyancy to the wood substructure that storm tide can produce. Rock, clay, and subsurface obstructions can impede the proper penetration required. Therefore, it is important to penetrate that by punching or drilling the piling hole. Make sure your contractor has the ability to do that. Some do not, or avoid, doing that and will not set the piling deep enough. That may cause a lift to fall over or an entire dock to float down the creek in a storm event.

Unfortunately, this involves extra work and special machinery which, in turn, creates additional costs to a contract.

We do. Ram Marine will handle all of the design, permitting and construction in house. If a contractor asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for work they intend to perform, understand why before you agree to it. There is usually a reason for this and it may have to do with their licensing or insurance requirements not being up-to-date, which can put the owner at a very high risk.

Seagrass beds are protected habitats. They are a natural occurrence in our waters. They contribute to providing habitats for fish and shellfish. They are eaten by manatees, another protected species. And they contribute toward creating cleaner water in the bays and creeks.

There are special rules that are enforced about construction when grasses are present. These can impact the design and use of a structure. We help guide our customers through this process and present different design options to best match their needs.

No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. A well-built structure can still be destroyed by a large enough surge. But, you can do things to make the structure more resilient. We offer certain upgrades to provide more durability in the event of a storm.

These were shown to be effective during the storms of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Only months prior, we had designed and installed a section of the dock at Hart’s Landing in Sarasota that was damaged from a prior hurricane. Our design was even approved by FEMA. After the last two storms hit, the dock was totally destroyed. Except for the section that we rebuilt. Again, this doesn’t mean it cannot be destroyed, but it does show that it is much more durable.

Usually it means soil is escaping through or under the wall, and it does not stop on its own. Each heavy rain takes more of it. Twice a day with each tidal change, a little more earth will escape. An errant sprinkler head could be the cause.

But, regardless, it is a sign that your wall is not performing as it should. Maybe it can be repaired. Or maybe it should be replaced. One thing a homeowner should be aware of is that if it is ‘repaired’ improperly it could make the problem much worse and cause failure. So, beware of getting advice on what to do from someone who is not a professional at this.