John's Island

The water here

The water here — what it means for construction.

John's Island occupies 2.5 miles of barrier island frontage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon in northern Indian River County. Lagoon-side properties sit within the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, where FDEP seagrass clearance requirements and Aquatic Preserve Rules govern every dock and seawall design. Manatee protection zones (November 15 – March 31) overlap the entire lagoon frontage, requiring coordinated scheduling for any in-water pile work.

Architectural review

We handle the architectural review submission.

The John's Island Property Owners Association (est. 1969) requires ARB submission prior to any waterfront construction permit application. ARB review at John's Island is thorough: committees evaluate material palettes, finish specifications, and structural drawings — not merely visual renderings. Typical ARB review runs 2 to 6 weeks, with a potential revision round adding 2 to 4 additional weeks if the committee requests specification changes. Deckmasters submits ARB-compatible designs on first submission, using the community's approved material palette to avoid revision cycles.

We have submitted ARB applications within John's Island and navigated the approval process on multiple projects since 2005. We know what the committee requires, what format they prefer, and how to answer their structural questions.

What neighbors say

From inside John's Island.

• “The permit process and the ARB submission were handled entirely by Keith's team. I reviewed the final design at one meeting, and the dock was completed before the season opened. That's exactly how I needed it to work.”

Common questions

Questions about working at John's Island.

Does Deckmasters Marine build docks and seawalls at John's Island?

Yes. Deckmasters Marine LLC has completed dock construction, seawall replacement, boat lift installation, and shoreline restoration within John's Island, Vero Beach. Keith Hennessy coordinates the John's Island POA ARB submission as part of standard project planning. FL RG291103858 (Registered General Contractor, Indian River County).

How does the ARB process work for waterfront projects at John's Island?

John's Island POA requires ARB approval before any waterfront permit application is filed. Deckmasters prepares the full architectural submission — structural drawings, material specifications, dimensional plans — and coordinates directly with the review committee. Typical ARB review is 2 to 6 weeks. We submit ARB-compatible designs on the first round to avoid revision delays.

What permits are required for dock construction at John's Island?

Dock construction at John's Island requires HOA ARB approval first, then concurrent FDEP Environmental Resource Permit, USACE Nationwide Permit 13, and Indian River County dock permit. Because John's Island Lagoon frontage falls within the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, FDEP seagrass clearance compliance is mandatory. Permit processing runs 45 to 90 days after ARB approval is in hand.

How long does a typical waterfront project take at John's Island?

A typical residential dock or seawall project at John's Island runs 5 to 9 months from signed contract to completion. The ARB review (2 to 6 weeks) and FDEP permit phase (45 to 90 days) run sequentially, not in parallel. Construction itself takes 4 to 8 weeks once permits are in hand. Projects beginning in late summer can be scheduled to complete before the November season opening with proper planning.