Crocker Marine Services takes select projects in Inlet Beach and neighboring Rosemary Beach, at the east end of Scenic 30A in unincorporated Walton County. The marine work here is different from most of Florida. Inlet Beach borders Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in Florida, which drains to the Gulf through Phillips Inlet, and the rest of the waterfront is Gulf beach and dunes. Strict rules protect both, so the realistic work is small lake docks, dune walkovers and beach boardwalks, and marine inspections — not seawalls. We're based in Fort Myers and mobilize our own crews and equipment for the projects we take on here.
Marine construction services in Inlet Beach
We're upfront about what can be built on east 30A. See all of our services or our project gallery from Southwest Florida, and here's how each one applies in Inlet Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Lake Powell docks
Walton County allows docks, boardwalks, and other shoreline access structures in the buffer along its coastal dune lakes. Its guidance recommends elevated, narrow docks — at least 5 feet above mean high water and 3 to 4 feet wide — built without creosote or CCA-treated lumber, which makes composite decking such as TimberTech or Lumberock a natural fit. Because Lake Powell is designated an Outstanding Florida Water, a private dock stays exempt from a full state permit only up to 500 square feet, and every dune-lake dock needs a Letter of Permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We build new docks and handle dock repair, replacement, and accessories within those limits.
Dune walkovers and beach boardwalks
Most Gulf-front work in Inlet Beach and Rosemary Beach is beach access: elevated dune walkovers and boardwalks. They need an FDEP Coastal Construction Control Line permit and county approval, and FDEP guidelines call for walkovers to run roughly perpendicular to the shoreline and stop near the seaward toe of the dune, no more than 10 feet past the vegetation line. We design and build them to protect the dune while giving you a durable path to the beach.
Seawalls
Walton County prohibits seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, and rip-rap on its coastal dune lakes, Lake Powell included. On the Gulf, state rules allow rigid coastal armoring only for eligible structures that are shown to be vulnerable to erosion, and the county prefers alternatives to vertical walls. We don't sell seawalls here, but we can inspect existing walls and advise on repair where it's permittable. Our replacement and new installation work applies to bay and canal properties elsewhere.
Boat lifts
County rules limit permanent mooring of gas-powered boats at docks on Walton's designated dune lakes, so a lift for a motorboat on Lake Powell often isn't an option. Where a lift is allowed — for example, for non-motorized craft or on nearby bay waters — we install boat lifts from Coastal Boat Lifts in Fort Myers and handle lift repair.
Marine inspections
A marine inspection is often the most useful service on 30A: a written condition report on a lake dock, a dune walkover, or an older Gulf-front wall before you buy, sell, or renew insurance.
Rosemary Beach
Rosemary Beach is a roughly 105-acre master-planned town founded in 1995 and laid out by Duany Plater-Zyberk. It faces the Gulf and has no bay, lake, or canal shoreline of its own, so marine work there is mostly dune walkovers, beach boardwalks, and inspections. On top of FDEP and Walton County approvals, Rosemary Beach has its own property owners association and town architect, so expect community design review before construction. Owners who want a lake dock usually look a short drive west to Lake Powell in Inlet Beach.
Permits and local conditions in Inlet Beach
Inlet Beach and Rosemary Beach are unincorporated, so local permits come from Walton County; lots on the Bay County side of Lake Powell go through Bay County. Lake docks also involve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, state authorization for any use of state-owned submerged land, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through its Pensacola office. Anything on the Gulf side seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line needs an FDEP CCCL permit.
Rules and conditions that define work on east 30A:
- Coastal dune lake protection zone. Walton County sets a protection zone 300 feet landward of a dune lake's high-water line, with a 100-foot shoreline buffer (smaller for some older, shallow lots) where only docks, boardwalks, and access structures are allowed, reached by a single cleared path no wider than 10 feet.
- Outstanding Florida Water. Lake Powell has been an Outstanding Florida Water since 1991, and the county calls its coastal dune lakes globally rare. That is why the dock size threshold is lower here.
- Dock lighting. County code requires full-cutoff fixtures on dock lights, turned off after 10 p.m.
- Gulf-front armoring limits. After Hurricane Dennis in 2005, Walton County issued 173 emergency armoring permits. Today, new rigid walls on the Gulf face strict eligibility tests.
- Outside our core area. East 30A is far from our Fort Myers base, so we take select projects and plan crew and equipment mobilization ahead of time.
Why Inlet Beach homeowners choose Crocker Marine
- True Price Guarantee. The price we quote is the price you pay — no change orders, excluding rock excavation, client-requested changes, or specialty permitting.
- Licensed for Florida. Certified building contractor CBC1266139 — a statewide license — with $2 million in insurance.
- Straight answers. Since 2014, our team of more than 60 years' combined experience has told owners what can and can't be built. We're based at 2101 McGregor Blvd in Fort Myers.
- Warranty coverage. A 1-year dock warranty, with financing available on qualifying projects.
Inlet Beach marine construction FAQ
Do you take projects in Inlet Beach and Rosemary Beach?
Yes, select ones. East 30A is outside our Southwest Florida core area, so we take on lake docks, dune walkovers, boardwalks, HOA projects, and inspections where the scope makes sense, and plan mobilization up front.
Can I build a seawall on Lake Powell?
No. Walton County prohibits seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, and rip-rap on its coastal dune lakes, including Lake Powell.
How big can a private dock on Lake Powell be?
Because Lake Powell is an Outstanding Florida Water, a single private dock is exempt from a full FDEP permit only up to 500 square feet, and every dune-lake dock also needs a Corps Letter of Permission. County buffer rules apply too.
Can I keep a motorboat on a lift at my Lake Powell dock?
Often not. County rules limit permanent mooring of gas-powered boats at docks on designated dune lakes. We confirm what applies to your lot before designing a lift.
What permits does a dune walkover need?
Most walkovers need an FDEP Coastal Construction Control Line permit and Walton County approval. In Rosemary Beach, community design review applies as well.
Who approves construction in Rosemary Beach?
Walton County and FDEP handle permits, and Rosemary Beach's property owners association and town architect review design within the community.
How do I get an estimate on 30A?
Request a free estimate or call (239) 841-9674, and we'll tell you honestly what your property allows.
Nearby service areas
Panama City Beach · Destin · Fort Walton Beach · Pensacola · All service areas