Canal dredging in Broward: permits, the 20 cubic yard test and cost
Canal dredging sits where county, state and federal rules meet, and the cost is dominated by volume, access and disposal. This page explains the 20 cubic yard test in the county code, converts your measurements to cubic yards, and shows what published prices include.
The permit chain
| Agency | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Broward County, Environmental Permitting Division | General license item for one-time dredging of 20 cubic yards or less in isolated lakes or ponds and residential canals, no seagrass in the project site, sediment removed and deposited on a self-contained upland site.[1] Over 20 cubic yards of dredging or fill: Environmental Resource License.[2] General licenses do not authorize seagrass impacts.[6] |
| Florida DEP and SFWMD | May also require permits or verifications; Broward has delegation agreements for some Environmental Resource Permits.[7] |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District | A permit may be needed for work in, over or under navigable waters (Section 10) and for discharge of dredged or fill material (Section 404); dredging and excavation are listed as examples.[3] A state permit does not replace it. General line 904-232-1177.[5] |
Canal dredging volume and ballpark calculator
Benchmarks, and why they do not match
| Benchmark | Figures | Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach Dredging (seller, residential, Palm Beach County) | Mobilization from $3,000; dredging from $150 per cubic yard; typical 80 cubic yard job about $15,000[4] | $3,000 + 80 x $150 = $15,000 |
| City of Fort Lauderdale, Himmarshee Canal (public record, 2022) | $710,250 agreement for about 875 linear feet, estimated 2,000 cubic yards, plus $100,000 budgeted for spoil disposal[8] | $710,250 / 2,000 = about $355 per cubic yard; with disposal, $810,250 / 2,000 = about $405 per cubic yard |
Seawall first
A dredging vendor warns that dredging too close to an old seawall without a toe shelf or tie-backs risks collapse and says it flags this at the site visit.[9] If your seawall is old or leaning, have it assessed before anyone digs near it. We cover that on the main site: seawall inspection guide.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to dredge my canal frontage?
In Broward, a general license can cover one-time dredging of 20 cubic yards or less from residential canals if there is no seagrass and sediment goes to a self-contained upland site;[1] dredging of more than 20 cubic yards is listed as needing an Environmental Resource License.[2] Federal Army Corps permits may also apply in navigable waters.[3]
How much is 20 cubic yards?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 20 cubic yards is 540 cubic feet, for example an area 36 ft long, 15 ft wide and 1 ft deep. Use the calculator on this page for your own measurements.
What does dredging cost?
One Palm Beach County dredging company says mobilization starts at $3,000 and dredging starts at $150 per cubic yard, with a typical 80 cubic yard job around $15,000.[4] It is a seller's starting formula in another county. A Fort Lauderdale public project is a very different scale.
Does a state permit replace the Army Corps permit?
No. The Corps says obtaining a state permit does not obviate the need for a Corps permit where one applies.[5]
This page is informational. Dredging in Broward waters is regulated, and doing it without authorization can bring enforcement. Confirm with the county (954-519-1454) and the Corps before you hire anyone. We have not named dredging partners and make no promise about availability.
Related: Broward dock license helper · Seawall, dock and lift in one project
Sources and verified dates
Statements marked [n] come from these sources. Seller pages are listed as ranges they publish, not as quotes. If a rule or fee matters to a decision, confirm it with the agency before you act.
- Broward County (Primary: county application form)
General license item (i): one-time dredging of 20 cubic yards or less of sediment from isolated lakes or ponds and residential canals, with no seagrasses within the project site, where sediment is removed from the waterway and deposited on a self-contained upland site.
Broward County Application for an Environmental Resource General License (form)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - Broward County Environmental Permitting Division (Primary: county agency page)
An Environmental Resource License (standard) is required for docks over 500 sq ft over water measured from the seawall wet face, dredging or filling more than 20 cubic yards, new boat slips, and impacts to wetlands or surface waters.
Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License and General License pages
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - USACE (Primary: federal agency page (Honolulu District site, national text; Jacksonville District is the Florida office))
A Corps permit may be needed for work in, over or under navigable waters (Section 10, Rivers and Harbors Act) and for discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. (Section 404, Clean Water Act); dredging and excavation, piers, docks and bulkheads are listed as examples; a state permit does not replace it.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program: Do I Need a Permit? (national program text)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - Palm Beach Dredging, a division of South Florida Seawall (contractor) (Seller published range, Palm Beach County (contractor bias))
Palm Beach County quote structure: mobilization starts at $3,000 and dredging starts at $150 per cubic yard; a typical 80 cubic yard single-slip job is about $15,000 all in; organic muck disposal runs $25 to $40 per yard before dredging; sharing mobilization with neighbors can cut per-homeowner cost 20 to 30 percent (vendor claim).
Palm Beach Dredging: Canal Dredging Cost, Palm Beach 2026 Pricing Guide
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - USACE (Primary: federal agency page)
The Corps Jacksonville District Regulatory Division covers Florida (general line 904-232-1177, [email protected]); obtaining a state permit does not obviate the need for a Corps permit.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Regulatory (Florida)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - Broward County (Primary: county application form)
A general license does not authorize mangrove alteration or impacts to submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrasses) or other natural resources.
Broward County Application for an Environmental Resource General License (form)
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - Broward County Environmental Permitting Division (Primary: county agency page)
Permits or exemption verifications may also be required from FDEP, SFWMD and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers depending on scope; Broward has delegation agreements with FDEP and SFWMD for some Environmental Resource Permits and with the Corps for State Programmatic General Permit VI-R1 projects not on sovereign submerged lands.
Broward County ePermits OneStop: Environmental Resource License and General License pages
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - City of Fort Lauderdale (public record) (Primary: city agenda record (2022), commercial-scale public project)
City agreement of $710,250 for maintenance dredging of about 875 linear feet of Himmarshee Canal, estimated 2,000 cubic yards, plus $100,000 budgeted for spoil disposal (2022).
Fort Lauderdale CAM 22-0827, Himmarshee Canal maintenance dredging agreement · second copy
Verified on Oct 31, 2026. - Palm Beach Dredging, a division of South Florida Seawall (contractor) (Seller published range, Palm Beach County (contractor bias))
Dredging too close to an old seawall without a toe shelf or tie-backs risks collapse; the vendor flags this at the site visit (vendor claim).
Palm Beach Dredging: Canal Dredging Cost, Palm Beach 2026 Pricing Guide
Verified on Oct 31, 2026.