Breezy Permits manages the environmental and local permitting process for waterfront property owners, contractors, and engineers across Florida, coordinating approvals with agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), South Florida Water Management District, and county-level environmental agencies in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

What waterfront owners should know before storm season:

Storm damage repairs still require permits. Replacing a damaged dock or boat lift, even a like-for-like replacement, requires environmental approval. Repairs made without permits after a storm carry the same risk as new unpermitted construction: fines, stop-work orders, and potential removal orders.

Timelines are longer than most owners expect. According to Breezy Permits, standard marine permit approvals typically take 3-4 months; projects requiring separate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers review can take 6–9 months. Owners waiting until after a storm to start the permitting process may face extended displacement from their waterfront structures.

Environmental surveys have a limited window. Many Florida marine projects require a benthic resource survey to document seagrass and coral in the project area. FDEP's official survey season runs April 1 through September 30, meaning owners who wait too late in the year may need to wait for the next survey window before their permit can move forward.

Underwater damage isn't always visible. Storm surge and wave action can compromise seawalls and pilings below the waterline without obvious signs above it. Breezy Permits offers third-party underwater inspections combining certified divers, underwater drone imaging, and licensed engineers to assess structural condition before or after a storm event.

"Most of the compliance problems we see happen after a storm, when someone repairs their dock or seawall fast and doesn't realize the permit requirement is the same as if they were building new. Getting ahead of it now, before storm season peaks, saves people months of headaches later," said Ileen, Founder of Breezy Permits.