⚓Boat & Dock RulesWhat your HOA, marina or the state actually lets you do with the boat
Florida

Before the boat, read the rules.

Florida has a million registered vessels and every one of them parks somewhere with rules — HOA covenants about trailers and lifts, marina contracts with liability fine print, state law on registration and anchoring. Paste the document; know what you're agreeing to before the deposit.

Decode the rules — free See plans
HOA · Marina · State law1M+ registered Florida vesselsEnglish · EspañolNothing you paste is stored
Plan active

Free decoder

Paste the rules.

The HOA covenant section on boats/trailers/docks, the marina or dry-stack agreement, a dock permit letter, or a citation. Leave out names and slip numbers.

Photos are resized on your device before sending. Nothing is stored.
Free. About 20 seconds.

Why this exists

The most expensive covenant is the one read after the purchase.

A 12-hour trailer rule can make a boat unownable at that address. A marina indemnity clause can move a hurricane loss onto you. A dock needs three layers of permission — board, county, sometimes state submerged lands. All of it is readable before you commit.

~1,000,000registered vessels in Florida — the most of any state; registration runs through county tax collectors under Ch. 328Source: FLHSMV vessel registration§720.305the statute HOAs use to fine covenant violations — up to $100/day and $1,000 aggregate unless the governing documents allow more, after notice and hearingSource: Fla. Stat. §720.3053 approvalsa new dock or lift commonly needs the association's ARB, the county's building/environmental permits, and state submerged-land authorization where the bottom is sovereignSource: Florida DEP, submerged lands

How it works

What it says, what the state says, what to ask.

01

Paste the section

Covenants, slip agreement, permit letter or citation. Nothing stored.

02

See it decoded

Each restriction in plain words, the state-law backdrop (registration, fines process, permits), and what's unusual versus standard.

03

Negotiate or comply informed

The questions for the board or dockmaster, and — paid — the email drafted plus the pre-purchase checklist for a waterfront closing.

Plans

Free to decode. $9 before you sign the slip.

Buyer: Florida's boaters and waterfront buyers. Channel: BiggerPockets/boating forums + waterfront realtors + marina offices.

Full decode
$9one document

Every clause sorted, the drafted email, and the ask-before-you-sign list.

  • Clause-by-clause: standard, unusual, or state-law issue
  • Drafted email to the board, ARB or dockmaster
  • Citation-response outline if you got one
  • Print or save as PDF · 30 days on this device
Waterfront buyer pack
$19one purchase

Buying on the water? Covenants + marina + dock permits read together for one property.

  • Unlimited decodes for one purchase, 60 days
  • Dock/lift permit path explained for the parcel type
  • The 10 questions for the seller about the dock
  • Print or save as PDF
Marinas & waterfront realtors
$99per month

Branded decoder for your buyers and slip customers.

  • Unlimited decodes via your link
  • Your office in every answer
  • Spanish and English
  • Cancel any time

All prices in USD, handled by Stripe. Boat & Dock Rules Decoder is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; dock permitting is parcel-specific and belongs with the county and, where needed, a marine contractor or attorney.