What is a Marine Facility Operating License?
Marine facilities with five or more slips are regulated by the Manatee Protection Plan (MPP) and required to have a Marine Facility Operating License (MFOL).
Boat or Marine Facility means a public or private structure, operation, or facility where boats are moored or launched, including commercial, recreational, private, governmental, and residential marinas, and boat ramps. A dry storage facility is considered a boat facility if the dry storage facility has the capability of launching vessels into adjacent waters or water access is provided adjacent to the project. Facilities such as long-term boat storage lots, boat yards, or boat dealership lots that do not have direct water access are not considered boat or marine facilities. Waterfront single-family residences and waterfront multi-slip facilities with less than five (5) slips are not considered boat or marine facilities as defined in Broward County's Manatee Protection Plan.
This definition of a marine facility was recently expanded by County Ordinance to include single family homes with five or more slips. Tracking of the slip numbers ensures the County does not violate the approved number of slips in all of the designated waterways.
The MFOL fees fund all conservation components of the MPP and can only be used towards the conservation of manatees. These components include marine law enforcement, survey efforts, education and outreach items such as curricula for schools, brochures, and signage for marinas.
MFOL Fees
Fees for new slips include a one-time mitigation fee of $666 per new slip and $32/slip annually.
Find the full fee schedule here under "Aquatic and Wetland Resources".
If you need to pay your annual marine facility operating license fees, please visit ePermits and follow 
HowtoPayMFOLon-line.pdf. Alternatively, you can mail a check to:
ATTN: Sabrina Ladd
Natural Resources Division
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 329-H
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
*Indicate the MFOL number in the memo
Information About Your MFOL
If you would like to access information about your Marine Facility, you can log into ePermits or visit DPEP, from the menu on the right, select "Permit/License", on the following screen you can search by the MFOL number (MFOLXX-0XXX). If you do not have the MFOL number available, select "Advanced Permit/License Search" to search by other parameters.
If you have questions about your marine facility operating license, or if you would like to request new signage for your marine facility or brochures for boaters, email us or call (954) 519-1471.
Applying for a MFOL or Additional Slips and Transferring a License
New MFOLs and/or Additional Slips
To apply for a new MFOL or additional slips at your existing MFOL location, you must submit an Environmental Resource License application to AWRLicense@broward.org, or via ePermits.
Please be aware that if your property is located within the "South Zone", as of February 21, 2020, there are no slips available for allocation in the MPP for this area. Your application will be reviewed and when complete, will be placed on a waiting list for slips. Until the time the license is issued, slips at the location must remain below 5 slips, if a new facility, or at the currently licensed number of slips if a pre-existing MFOL. To find out which zone your property is in, view BrowardCountyWaterwayZones.pdf.
License Transfer/New Owner of a MFOL
If you recently purchased a marine facility, a transfer application is requred to be submitted within 30 days of sale. The annual renewal is due October 1st of every year, renewal notices are sent out on August 1st of each year, this requires information such as facility name, owner, and mailing address to be updated and accurate. There is a one-time $100 transfer fee required as well as a Transfer Application. Once filled out, e-mail the Transfer Application to manatee@broward.org, the $100 transfer fee will then be added to the account for your payment. The fee can be paid on-line by credit card or e-check.
Alternatively, you can mail the transfer application and a check to:
ATTN: Sabrina Ladd
Natural Resrouces Division
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Room 329-H
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
*Indicate the MFOL number in the memo
Construction at a Marine Facility
Any construction of docks, seawalls, installations of floating vessel platforms, or other structures constructed or installed in-water require an Environmental Resource License from Broward County. Licensing construction helps ensure that our vital and fragile resources such as corals, manatees, and sea grasses (manatees' major food source) are protected. To learn more about this program, click here: Broward's Environmental Resource Permitting.
