Special offer

Can I build a dock or boathouse at Lake Sinclair?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

Well that's a good question for people buying Lake Sinclair waterfront properties, but it's not one that I, as a real estate broker answer for my clients. There is always going to be some questions that I don't answer.

The easy answer is that Georgia Power allows docks with 50 feet of shoreline and a single boathouse with 75 feet of shoreline and a double boathouse with 100 feet of shoreline. But .... is that 100 feet that shows on your plat really 100 feet of shoreline to Georgia Power? Sometimes not.

Take the Google Earth photo for example.  The blue line represents the shoreline around the contour on this lot.  BUT Georgia Power measures straight line pin to pin on your surveyed property. That is the red line. So you can have well over 100 feet of shoreline, but it's not 100 feet straight line pin to pin you don't get that double boathouse permit. 

There are numerous other special circumstances that determine what you can do at your shoreline. If you are in a cove will what you want to do block your neighbor's access? Is your lot rectangle or pie shaped because you have "invisible" extensions of your property lines out into the water that you must maintain a 15 feet minimum distance away from them. 

Are you considering a house that has an older boathouse with siding on it? That's no longer allowed and to make changes or do upkeep the power company can make you get it into compliance with current regulations. Is the power run to the boathouse up to code? If not the county can come and make you disconnect power to the boathouse.

Georgia Power has written rules available for your review on line. You can view them at their website. But also keep in mind that individual lot shapes and locations can cause the rules to vary from it would seem. Speaking from observation and experience I'd also like to say it's wise to ask nicely and not be demanding or "tell" the power company what you are going to do.

If you have questions you can reach Georgia Power Land Management office at 706-484-7500

 

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Tammy@Lake-Sinclair.com

(Click on Lane Realty Logo for web site)

Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner

 

Broker License # 169695  Lane Realty License # H-11420

Real Estate Instructor License # 355089

Call me today for all your Lake Sinclair real estate needs.

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Comments (18)

Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Excellent post Tammy Lankford, it's a great reminder that we are NOT a legal source. Also, just because your neighbor has something doesn't mean that you can too.

Jul 13, 2016 04:43 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

This sounds like tricky business.  It is always a good idea to defer to an expert as you have suggested.

Jul 13, 2016 05:01 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

This is "power"ful info, Tammy! Puts me in mind of writing a dock post for Fishhawk Lake! (life is C-R-A-Z-Y here with a booming market, so that post will be way in the future for me)!

Jul 13, 2016 05:01 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Tammy

This is must-have information for any buyer considering lake front property without an existing dock or boathouse and who wants to add one. It's essential to do the appropriate research upfront and understand the possibilities before making a decision.

Jeff

Jul 13, 2016 05:20 AM
Kartik Subramaniam
Adhi Schools, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Market Analysis--Educational Content, Adhi Schools

Thanks for this Tammy. Very useful information that is likely applicable all over the country. Definitely something to keep in mind. And a great example of why AR is so useful. Bloggers here are all experts in something and can provide information that others did not even realize they needed (even if that expertise is in knowing enough to know that one is not an expert and expressing that). 

Jul 13, 2016 06:24 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Bob "RealMan" Timm very true and just because they would let you build something in the past doesn't mean it's in compliance now

Belinda Spillman and can cause high emotional responses when stop work orders are placed if working without a permit.

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 this is one of these questions I get over and over.

Jul 13, 2016 07:01 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

They do if you tag them Tammy Lankford, which I always do.

Jul 13, 2016 07:11 AM
Tammy Lankford,

Gayle, I really wish AR would like us like the "sub" comments so people would know we've read them.

Jul 13, 2016 07:08 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

I get many of those, too. And yet, sometimes they slip my mind when I am perplexed about what to write about. (That doesn't happen often, but hey...so I've bookmarked your post).

Jul 13, 2016 07:02 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Jeff Dowler CRS actually even if a property does have one, but it's not in compliance.  As an example if you need to replace your seawall they can "negotiate" that you must bring your boathouse into compliance to get the permit for your seawall.  They are working hard to bring everyone up to code, which will help values for everyone if no ugly old enclosed not in good condition boathouse is in your area of the lake.

Cody Carmen and even if you don't work on waterfront properties perhaps this post can spark an idea of a question that you get a lot.  It's a great idea to have a post on "file" to email when you get a question over and over.  I get the dock and boathouse questions ALL the time.

 

Jul 13, 2016 07:07 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

That makes sense to make sure everthing is in compliance. I imagine getting seawall install or improvement is a challenge - it's very difficult and expensive here along the beach

Jul 13, 2016 07:12 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886


Tammy this is a fantatic resource for home owners (or buyers) wanting to build a doc on their Lake Sinclair property.   Sounds like there are a lot of variances to consider BEFORE you begin to do anything!

Jul 13, 2016 10:31 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Ahhhh, you don't want to wake the sleeping grissley bear! Play nice and you may get what you want...if your lot is shaped right?

Jul 13, 2016 11:55 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Good evening Tammy Lankford,  That is good information to know when thinking about buying on Lake Sinclair, or any Lake.

Jul 13, 2016 12:14 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I see exactly who runs the show on Lake Sinclair and I guess Georgia Power doesn't want anybody to forget it. Honestly, this is a horrible abuse of power. We're gonna go from point A to point C, and we don't give a damn about Point B or reality.

Jul 13, 2016 12:21 PM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

What an informative blog Tammy.  So many people how involved the process is in building a dock or boathouse.

Jul 13, 2016 01:09 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Anna Banana Kruchten so many variables.  But I tend to agree with most rules. They want the shoreline to have an "as natural" as possible appearance.

Evelyn Johnston I've seen a rule or two bent in my day by officials to help homeowners.  5 extra feet of length to get to "boatable" water if no one else would be hindered, but only if people were asking and not demanding.

Larry Johnston we have Corps of Engineer lakes and GP lakes in Georgia and the rules are quite different.  I prefer the power company

 

 

Jul 13, 2016 02:21 PM
Larry Johnston

When we lived in Cartersville, GA, Lake Alatoona was governed by the Corp of Engineers.

Jul 14, 2016 01:23 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents they built the 15,330 acre lake, they own and maintain the two dams at the north and south end so yes they are the rule makers.  But honestly most of it is common sense stuff that I agree with.  I don't want my neighbors to build a boathouse that look like an airplane hanger and blocks my view.

Sybil Campbell it is a complicated process, but permits are very important

 

Jul 13, 2016 02:24 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Anyone thinking of moving to Lake Sinclair area should call you.

Jul 13, 2016 10:57 PM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Very interesting - I imagine it's easy to get caught up in the special circumstances. You've provided a clear explanation.

Jul 14, 2016 09:49 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Tammy

This is a great post and a question that not very many people will know except the professionals that study the county restrictions, etc.

In the state of Minnesota docks can be built if there is lake frontage, but a boathouse (only) if there is an existing foundation. The state of Minnesota is very strict about building boathouses close to the water.

Jul 14, 2016 11:31 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Great information for homeowners at Lake Sinclair Tammy Lankford, particularly the "nice" reminder

Jul 14, 2016 11:44 AM