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Jessica SoninoRealtor® · The Bograd Team

Broward County

Lauderdale- By-The-Sea

A small barrier-island beach town with a fishing pier, reefs close to shore and a compact downtown.
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Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a small beach town on a barrier island between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, centered on the junction of Commercial Boulevard and State Road A1A. It sits in northeast Broward County, and the Discover LBTS visitor site describes a relaxed, uncrowded feel.

The town incorporated on November 30, 1927 and reincorporated on November 30, 1947, according to Wikipedia. Its center is Anglin’s Fishing Pier at the east end of Commercial Boulevard and Anglin’s Square, and the Florida Legislature recognized the town as Florida’s Beach Diving Capital in 2016. A streetscape project completed in 2013 widened sidewalks and added brick pavers and reef-themed public art.

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a separate municipality from Fort Lauderdale: Sea Ranch Lakes borders it to the south and Pompano Beach lies to the north. On a barrier island like this, the things to check before buying are the town’s vacation rental rules, the flood zone and the condo safety paperwork.

What the homes are like.

A general picture of what you’ll find here. For current availability and prices, just ask me.

  • Beachside homes, townhouses and duplexes

    The town’s rental ordinance covers single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, three- and four-unit multifamily buildings and mixed-use buildings with up to four dwelling units, which shows the scale of much of the housing mix. Properties closer to the ocean generally sit above those farther west, and renovated or rebuilt homes sit above older ones. Check each parcel’s zoning, setbacks and any limits on rebuilding with the Town before you plan a renovation.

  • Condominiums and mid-century buildings

    Wikipedia notes that many of the town’s older hotels and buildings reflect mid-century modern design, and condominium buildings stand alongside them. The town’s multifamily zoning districts range up to the RM-50 category, so building size varies by parcel, and it is worth asking the Town for the zoning, height limit and any redevelopment plans for a specific building. Older buildings raise the milestone inspection and reserve study questions covered in the buying notes.

  • Intracoastal-side properties and boating

    The Intracoastal Waterway separates the island from the mainland, and Commercial Boulevard is the town’s main road across it. If dock access matters, ask whether a particular property has deeded water access, what the seawall and dock permits show and how the property reaches open water, and ask about every bridge between the dock and the inlet. Measure a boat’s air draft against posted clearances.

What daily life looks like.

What there is to do around here, from beaches and parks to dining, culture and getting around.

  • Anglin’s Pier, Anglin’s Square and the beach

    Anglin’s Fishing Pier is named for the town’s first mayor, Melvin I. Anglin, and Anglin’s Square is a public plaza with distinctive chairs, boat-shaped benches and fish-shaped bike racks, according to Wikipedia. The Discover LBTS visitor site promotes small shops, restaurants and small hotels and inns, and the 2013 streetscape gave the center wider sidewalks and brick paving, which makes the pier and the square the focus of the town center.

  • Diving and snorkeling from shore

    The Discover LBTS visitor site says three coral reefs lie within 100 yards of the beach, and it calls the Anglin’s Pier reef, south of the pier at Datura Avenue, a standout shore dive and snorkel site. The Anglin’s Pier Reef Snorkel Trail sits in roughly 10 feet of water, and the SS Copenhagen, a British steamship wrecked in 1900, is a Florida underwater archaeological preserve, according to Wikipedia. Conditions change with weather and tides, so check them before you go.

  • Getting around

    State Road A1A runs through the town, and the town’s website lists parking permits and tickets as municipal services, so parking rules are worth learning before you choose a property. The town also runs a community shuttle called Circuit-By-The-Sea, and Commercial Boulevard connects the island with the mainland across the Intracoastal Waterway, so test the route at the hours you would travel.

Before you commit.

These are notes for buyers, renters and sellers. Rules and costs change, so I’d always confirm the current details for any specific property.

  • Vacation rentals and short-term rentals

    The town regulates vacation rentals in Section 30-327 of its code, and its application package dated August 11, 2025 explains the rules. A vacation rental is a single-family home or townhouse, and the code sets a minimum stay of seven consecutive days. A short-term rental is a duplex, triplex or quadplex rented more than three times a year for periods under 30 days, and the seven-day minimum does not apply to it. Owners need a business tax receipt, an annual rental certificate for each dwelling, an inspection and a 24-hour rental agent who can reach the property within three hours. A property may not be rented or advertised until the certificate and receipt are issued. Larger condominium buildings follow their own declarations.

  • Flood, storm surge and king tides

    The town’s website carries an alert that higher tides are expected to occur more frequently during king tide periods, and FEMA’s FloodSmart site says a property in a high-risk flood zone with a federally backed mortgage must carry flood insurance. Ask for the zone, any elevation certificate, the roof’s age and any wind mitigation inspection, and get insurance quotes early. Florida’s Coastal Construction Control Line program applies stricter siting and design standards near the beach, which can affect what an oceanfront owner can build or change.

  • Condo safety paperwork

    Florida’s condo safety rules changed with SB 4-D in 2022, SB 154 in 2023 and HB 913 in 2025. According to the state’s Division of Condominiums, buildings of three or more habitable stories need a milestone inspection at 30 years of age (25 if the local authority requires it) and every 10 years after, plus a structural integrity reserve study at least every 10 years. Ask for the latest summaries and any planned special assessments, and review them with a Florida real estate attorney.

  • Zoning, parking and small-town rules

    In a town this compact, parking, zoning and building permits shape ownership as much as the structure does. The town’s website lists building permits through Development Services and parking permits and tickets. Before you buy a rental-oriented property, confirm the zoning district named in the rental ordinance and the parking spaces the application must identify.

Common questions.

What is Lauderdale-By-The-Sea known for?

It is known for Anglin’s Fishing Pier and Anglin’s Square, shore diving and snorkeling on reefs close to the beach, and mid-century hotels and buildings. The Florida Legislature recognized it as Florida’s Beach Diving Capital in 2016.

Can you snorkel from the beach in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea?

Yes. The Discover LBTS visitor site says three coral reefs lie within 100 yards of the beach, and the Anglin’s Pier Reef Snorkel Trail runs in roughly 10 feet of water. Conditions change, so check weather, tides and local dive-shop guidance before you go.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea?

In the zoning districts named in the ordinance, yes, with a business tax receipt, an annual rental certificate, an inspection and a 24-hour rental agent. The town’s application package dated August 11, 2025 sets a seven-day minimum for vacation rentals in single-family homes and townhouses, and condominium associations may add limits, so check both.

Is Lauderdale-By-The-Sea the same as Fort Lauderdale?

No. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a separate town on its own barrier island, with Sea Ranch Lakes to the south and Pompano Beach to the north, according to Wikipedia. Fort Lauderdale is a much larger city farther south.

What kinds of homes are in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea?

The town’s residential zoning covers single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes and small multifamily buildings, and condominium buildings stand alongside older mid-century hotels and motels. Sizes and rules vary by parcel, so check zoning and association rules.

Do I need flood insurance in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea?

It depends on the property’s FEMA flood zone and your lender. FloodSmart says a property in a high-risk zone with a federally backed mortgage must carry flood insurance, and the town warns that higher tides are expected to occur more frequently, so look up the zone and compare quotes early.

Keep exploring.

Guides to the neighboring areas, each with its own housing, daily life and notes for buyers.

Let’s look at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea together.

Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll follow up personally. I’m Jessica Sonino, a Realtor® with The Bograd Team.

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Sources

The information here is general and was researched on October 6, 2026, so please verify the details with the city, the association and your attorney.

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