Permit Services: New Dock Construction

The proposed changes to permits for dock construction will limit the length, width and over water surface area of all new docks. We anticipate the maximum width of the new pier to be 4', with the inshore ramps limited to 3' wide. The length of the dock will be limited irrespective of the water depth at your residence. The ell at the end of the dock may be limited to 6' in width, and it may be restricted in size and to water depths of 9' or more, requiring a more substantial dock and increased construction costs.

New dock construction will probably require Biological Evaluation and mitigation, such as the planting of trees and shrubs along the shoreline. This may include 10 feet of plantings on either side of the OHW or for the entire length of property if the site is appropriate. If the pier is shared, all co-owners must execute plantings. Performance bonds, not to exceed a term of five years, may be required to ensure compliance with the conditions.

Where new piers or docks are allowed, we anticipate the new codes may require, in the case of new residential development with two or more dwellings, joint use or community dock facilities when feasible, rather than allowing individual docks for each residence.

Piers and docks, including those for single-family residences, shall be designed and constructed to avoid, or if that is not possible to minimize and mitigate, the ecological impacts to critical resources, such as eelgrass beds, fish habitats, and processes such as currents and littoral drift.

We anticipate the proposed code changes will contain conditions concerning changes in the location, design, and operating characteristics of dock construction or use.

Pier and dock construction shall be restricted to the minimum size necessary to meet the needs of the proposed water-dependent use. Water-related and water-enjoyment uses may be allowed as part of mixed-use development on over-water structures where they are clearly auxiliary to and in support of water-dependent uses, provided the minimum size requirement needed to meet the water-dependent use is not violated.