New boat docks
On Smith Mountain Lake, how much dock you can build starts with how much shoreline you own. Here's how a new dock comes together.
The first question for a new dock isn't decking or roof color. It's your frontage at the 795-foot contour, the width of the cove in front of your lot, and the water depth where the slips will go. Those three things set the size, the reach and the layout before anyone draws a board.
How much dock does my frontage allow?
| Shoreline at 795 ft | Max dock area | Max slips |
|---|---|---|
| 100 to 300 ft | 1,500 sq ft | 2 |
| 301 to 600 ft | 2,250 sq ft | 3 |
| 601 to 900 ft | 3,000 sq ft | 4 |
| Each added 300 ft | +750 sq ft | +1 |
No single structure can top 3,000 square feet, and separate docks on one property need 30 feet between them. A dock with three or more slips may need an adjacent working restroom if Virginia Department of Health guidelines call for one.
How far out can it go?
The lesser of one-third of the cove width or 100 feet, measured from the base elevation. A 30-foot passage lane for boats has to stay open, or 50 feet near a boat ramp at the end of a cove. Docks also can't come within 30 feet of a navigation marker or block the sight line between markers.
Fixed or floating?
Because the lake usually moves only a foot or two in a day, docks on pilings are a common choice, and the plan allows pilings or cables to steady floating sections. On a steep lot, pilings can carry the walkway, but the area between the pilings and the walkway can't be decked. Walkways can be up to 6 feet wide, or 8 feet if they float, and steps don't count toward your square footage.
What goes into the design?
- Slip sizing for your boat; slips larger than 12 by 26 feet need a letter of need with the application
- Pilings or floats chosen for depth and bottom conditions
- Roof and sundeck within the height limits
- Storage of up to 72 square feet near the shore end
- Reflectors on the outer edges about every 20 feet
Pricing comes from the builder after a look at your lot, your shoreline and what's already there. We don't quote prices, and anything said over the phone before a site visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
- Moneta
- Huddleston and the dam end
- Hardy and the Roanoke River end
- Union Hall and the Franklin County shore
Common questions
My lot has less than 100 feet of shoreline. Can I have a dock?
Possibly. Lots created before September 2, 2003 are exempt from the 100-foot frontage rule but still have to meet setbacks, and two adjoining lots with 150 feet combined may share a dock.
Do I need a survey?
Yes. The application's Exhibit A is a survey by a licensed surveyor showing the existing and proposed conditions.
Related services
- Boathouses and covered docks
- Boat lifts and PWC lifts
- Dock repair and expansions
- Riprap and shoreline stabilization
More background: Smith Mountain Lake dock permit guide.
Planning a new dock, a boathouse or a lift for the new boat?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Smith Mountain Lake will call you back to talk through your lot and the Appalachian Power permit.