The Application - Marine Improvement is the City of Cape Coral Building Division's permit application for marine improvements; the city lists it with its Boat-lift Only, Docks and Seawall permit documents. It is one of the Cape Coral permit applications on the city's Permit Document Center, and it combines contractor and property details, boat slip and manatee questions, a plot plan checklist and an applicant signature that must be notarized. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by the City of Cape Coral.
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What is Application - Marine Improvement – Cape Coral, FL?
The Application - Marine Improvement is the City of Cape Coral Building Division's permit application for marine improvements, used to request a permit for work such as docks, boat lifts and seawalls and to certify that work will meet construction and zoning laws.
The PDF prints the title "Marine Improvements" and the note "revised 8/07/2019" on its two pages. It collects the contractor's business, license and contact details; the property owner, site address, Block, Lot, Unit and Strap # (parcel number); and the waterfront details: corner lot, canal type, existing and proposed square footage, dock projection into the canal, right and left side measurements, river or Spreader Canal location, rip-rap and valuation. Yes/No questions cover changes to dock rights through the sale or transfer of boat slip credits, and review of the project and law enforcement mitigation under the Lee County Manatee Protection Plan.
The applicant certifies that no work has started before the permit is issued, that the owner or agent has been made aware of the Homebuyers Protection Act, and that a separate permit must be secured for electrical work, plumbing, signs, wells, pools, furnaces, boilers, heaters, tanks and air conditioners. The signature must be notarized.
The "For Office Use Only" block records the Building, Zoning, Species and Fire approvals, release by the Permit Tracker and issue by the Building Clerk. The city uses other applications, such as Application - Miscellaneous and Application - Trade, for other kinds of work.
Who needs to file Application - Marine Improvement – Cape Coral, FL?
The contractor and the property owner involved in a marine improvement on a Cape Coral property use this application to obtain the city's permit. The City of Cape Coral's Permit Document Center lists Application - Marine Improvement among the documents for:
- Boat-lift only work;
- Docks (concrete, wood and floating, with and without a boat lift);
- Seawalls (new, repair and alternative).
The form has a contractor section, which certifies a contract with the owner or agent of the property, and an applicant signature block, which must be notarized. The permit holder is responsible for compliance with the current Florida Building Code and for review, permit and impact fees.
Other marine items follow a different path in the city's listing: Captains Walk, Tiki / Chickee Hut and several other accessory structures are listed with Application - Miscellaneous, and Boat Canopy lists only a guideline and a Notice of Commencement. Check the city's guideline for your project type before choosing the application. The form does not cover electrical work, plumbing, signs, wells, pools, furnaces, boilers, heaters, tanks or air conditioners; each needs its own permit.
When to file Application - Marine Improvement – Cape Coral, FL
Submit the application before any work or installation begins: the applicant certifies on the form that no work or installation has commenced before the permit is issued. The form prints no deadline of its own.
Other timing points printed on the form and listed by the city:
- Before construction starts, additional permits may be required through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (239-334-1975); the form warns that building without that authorization may lead to enforcement action by that agency.
- A Notice of Commencement must be recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection. The city lists it with the marine documents as applicable above a project-value threshold shown on its Permit Document Center.
- For docks, wharves, mooring piles and watercraft moorings, the final signed and sealed survey must be submitted before the City's final inspection; an inspection hold stays on the permit until plan review staff receive and review it.
Documents you need
- Plot plan showing property lines, distance from structure to property line, square footage of existing and proposed structures, dock projection into the canal, and labeled ladders and reflectors; drawn to scale or with accurate, clearly labeled measurements.
- Final signed and sealed survey showing all construction complies with the Cape Coral Land Development Code, for docks, wharves, mooring piles and watercraft moorings; due before the City's final inspection.
- Notice of Commencement, recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection; the city lists it for projects at or above a value threshold shown on its Permit Document Center.
- Hold Harmless - Used Boat Lift, only if a used lift is being installed; the city lists it as required in lieu of lift specs.
- Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit, which the city lists among the documents for docks, boat-lift only work and seawalls; check the city's guideline for your project type.
- Additional U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization, where required for the project, before construction starts.
How to fill out Application - Marine Improvement – Cape Coral, FL
Start with payment method
At the top of page 1, under Marine Improvements, enter the Payment method. Leave the PERMIT #, DATE and CLERK boxes to the city.
Enter contractor and license details
Fill in Contractor Business Name, License Holder's Name, City License # and State License # exactly as they appear on the licenses.
Add contractor contact information
Complete the Mailing Address, City, State, Zip, Phone #, Fax #, Contact Person and Email. In To Construct, describe the marine work, such as the dock, boat lift or seawall.
Identify the owner and property
Enter the Property Owner, Block, Lot, Unit, Site Address, Strap #, City, State, Zip, and the owner's phone and fax.
Describe the waterfront and project
Mark Corner Lot and enter Canal Type, Existing Sq. Ft and Proposed Sq. Ft. Add the Dock projection into Canal, Right Side and Left Side, whether the property is on the river or the Spreader Canal, whether rip-rap will be used, and the Valuation.
Answer the boat slip rights questions
Check Yes or No on whether you changed your allowable dock rights through the sale or transfer of boat slip credits, and on the two questions confirming you understand the transfer is perpetual and that a new owner must be informed.
Answer the manatee protection questions
Check Yes or No on whether the project was reviewed and found consistent with the Lee County Manatee Protection Plan, and whether the required law enforcement mitigation is complete.
Read the notices and prepare the plot plan
Read the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and manatee notices and the survey note for docks, wharves, mooring piles and watercraft moorings. Prepare a plot plan with every item in the PLOT PLAN MUST SHOW list.
Complete the applicant block on page 2
Enter the day, month and year of the acknowledgment, type or print the applicant name, and sign. Do not sign until you are before a notary, who completes the state, county, date and notary lines.
Review and download the completed PDF
Leave the FOR OFFICE USE ONLY block blank. Check every field, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Application - Marine Improvement – Cape Coral, FL
The form names no mailing address, portal or counter of its own. It is a City of Cape Coral Building Division application, and the city publishes it, with the related guidelines and affidavits, on its Permit Document Center: https://www.capecoral.gov/departments/development_services/permitting_services_division/permit_document_center.php.
- Before you submit: have the applicant's signature notarized on page 2, attach the plot plan, and add any supporting document the city's guideline for your project type calls for.
- Payment: the top of page 1 has a line for the payment method. The applicant accepts responsibility for review fees, permit fees and impact fees; the form states no amounts, so ask the Building Division for current figures.
- After submission: the "For Office Use Only" block shows the route: Building, Zoning, Species and Fire approvals, release by the Permit Tracker, and issue by the Building Clerk.
Confirm the current way to deliver the application with the City of Cape Coral Building Division. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting work or installation before the permit is issued, when the applicant certifies on the form that nothing has commenced.
- Signing without a notary; the form states the applicant's signature must be notarized and includes a notary block.
- Submitting a plot plan that omits required items such as property lines, distance to the property line, dock projection into the canal, or labeled ladders and reflectors.
- Skipping the final signed and sealed survey for a dock, wharf, mooring pile or watercraft mooring, which leaves an inspection hold on the permit.
- Not recording and posting the Notice of Commencement before the first inspection; the form warns the owner may end up paying twice for improvements.
- Assuming this permit covers electrical work, plumbing, signs, wells, pools, heaters or air conditioners; each needs a separate permit.
- Overlooking the need for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization before construction, which may bring enforcement action by that agency.
- Not telling a buyer that boat slip rights have been compromised after selling or transferring the property, or after a transfer of slip credits.
- Using this application for a Captains Walk or Tiki / Chickee Hut, which the city lists with Application - Miscellaneous.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cape Coral Application - Marine Improvement?
It is the City of Cape Coral Building Division's permit application for marine improvements. The city lists it with its boat-lift only, dock and seawall permit documents. It collects contractor and property details, boat slip and manatee answers, and a notarized applicant signature.
Is this the Cape Coral permit application for a dock or seawall?
Yes, for the categories where the city lists it: boat-lift only work, docks (concrete, wood and floating) and seawalls (new, repair and alternative). Other marine items, such as a Captains Walk or Tiki / Chickee Hut, are listed with Application - Miscellaneous.
Does the Marine Improvement application have to be notarized?
Yes. The signature block is marked "Signature must be notarized," and page 2 has a notary section for the state, county, date and the notary's signature and printed name. Sign only in front of the notary.
Do I need a survey for a dock in Cape Coral?
For docks, wharves, mooring piles and watercraft moorings, the form requires a final signed and sealed survey before the City's final inspection, citing Land Development Code Chapter 4, Section 5.4.2. An inspection hold stays on the permit until it is received and reviewed.
Do I need a Notice of Commencement with this application?
The form warns that a Notice of Commencement must be recorded and posted on the job site before the first inspection. The city lists it with the marine documents as applicable above a project-value threshold; check the Permit Document Center.
Is there a fee for the Cape Coral marine improvement permit?
Fees apply. The applicant accepts responsibility for review fees, permit fees and impact fees, and the form has a payment method line. It prints no amounts, so ask the City of Cape Coral Building Division for current figures.
Do I need Army Corps approval to build a dock?
Possibly. The form says additional permits may be required through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (239-334-1975) before construction, and that building without that authorization may bring enforcement action by that agency.
Can I fill out the Marine Improvement application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit it to the City of Cape Coral; delivery follows the city's channels, and the signature still has to be notarized.
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