Dock extension
 

I have a 6' X 6' rock crib directly in front of my dock and would like to extend my 30' dock over it......wondering if I'll need a permit, since nothing will be touching the water and it will be only a deck on top of the rocks. Don't want start the process if I don't have to. It will start with local building inspector. wetlands, the ERA and probably the NAACP and the UAW before I'm done.
Any suggestions?

Don't forget Homeland Security and OSHA! :D

If there has been dock surface extending out over that crib within the last 5 years then you could replace it without a permit from Wetlands. If not, you would need a Wetlands permit for the extension. The good news is that you should not need an individual permit from the Army Corp of Engineers. The State Programmatic General Permit from the Corps should cover it.

The old adage was you could not build OUT..This sounds OK as you are Grandfathered in, as it were....

Think I'll take a chance and put it in........I'll bolt it to the existing dock, that way if they make me remove it, it will be an easy job.

If there was not a dock there before, I don't think you can do it without a permit. When the permits for docks first came about we built a dock that was totally on shore parallel to the lake. We had no idea we needed a permit. we got a cease and desist order and couldn't continue until we got a permit.

The state takes arial photos of all. How much they enforce such is unknown.

You could be right, Tis......only thing is, nothing is touching the water. I would be building a deck on top of a rock crib. Will definitely check it out though.....don't want to run afoul of the law.

That's exactly what we had. It was on rock and nothing touched the water.

If it helps answer your question, I had to get the root canal, I mean DES permit to build stairs up the hill to the house. It was not over water. Fortunately I passed the endangered species impact study section with flying colors.

Life is to short to worry about everything, play dumb!

Great idea, especially when a Poster in this thread works for DES... :rolleye2:

Build with very old boards...
 

and definitely get some used nails!

I could see there being some argument over who owns the land you built on. Is the rock crib touching the shore or is it isolated in the water? Do you have pictures of it? I wouldn't think it would be a problem if it's a slight extension of your existing dock but you never know.
__________________
Denise - need a Boston handyman for some projects on my house

I would be less worried about the exposure from this thread, and more worried about what the neighbors are like...... If you think your neighbors are likely to be upset by your expansion you are best to make sure you are all set from the DES, and local codes perspective... I thank God that I have a season dock, and don't have to worry about all these things....