Living Aboard: What to Know Before You Move to a Marina

Most marinas define a liveaboard as anyone sleeping on the boat more than a set number of nights per month — typically 5 or 7. Sleep more nights than that without a liveaboard contract and you're in violation, which is usually grounds for eviction.

States enforce liveaboard caps through dock-and-launch permits and zoning. California, Washington, Florida, and most coastal Northeast states cap liveaboards at 10% of slips per marina. Some inland states ban liveaboards entirely.

Most marinas keep a waitlist. New liveaboard slips open when an existing liveaboard moves out or sells. Marinas screen for boat condition (current survey), insurance, employment, references, and sometimes a brief in-person interview.

Expect to provide proof of mailing address elsewhere (for state tax purposes), proof of insurance with the marina named as additional insured, and a signed liveaboard addendum.

Base slip rent: 20–40% premium over standard annual. Liveaboard surcharge: $50–$300/month. Electricity in a hot climate with full-time A/C: $150–$400/month in Florida summers. Water: usually included. Pump-out: included up to 1–2x/week, then $5–$15 per service. Wi-Fi: $20–$60/month. Parking: usually included for one vehicle.

Expect $1,800–$5,000/month all-in in Florida for a 40-foot boat, $2,500–$7,000 in Southern California, and $1,500–$3,500 in the Gulf and inland markets.

Year-round heated restrooms with private showers. Laundry on-site. 50A shore power. Reliable Wi-Fi. Mail and package handling. Walking distance or short drive to groceries. A locked gate with 24/7 dock access. A live-on neighbor or two — you don't want to be the only one.

Florida (Stuart, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Punta Gorda) and the Pacific Northwest (Seattle, Portland) have the deepest liveaboard inventory. Southern California (San Diego, Long Beach) has tight inventory and long waitlists. The Northeast has limited inventory and shuts down most slips in winter.

Moving aboard before signing a liveaboard contract. Underestimating winter heating costs in northern climates. Buying a boat too small to live in comfortably (true liveaboard comfort starts around 35 feet). Skipping a current survey. Ignoring the marina's mail and package policy.