Lake Hartwell Dock Permit Guide: Corps Rules (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What the sources say
Who permits docks	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Hartwell Project Office
Governing plan	Hartwell Shoreline Management Plan, in effect since November 15, 2020
Where docks are allowed	Limited Development Areas only, about 50% of the shoreline
Shared boundary	At least 75 feet between your lot and public land
Permit term	5 years
Administrative fee	$835 per 5-year term, new or reissued, including the $35 boat dock permit fee (South Atlantic Division schedule, effective January 1, 2020)
Build deadline	Within one year of the permit date
Flotation	Marine-grade, warranted at least 8 years against sinking; no drums
Colors	Dark brown, green or black; all-aluminum docks exempt
On sale of the home	Permit is void; the new owner applies
Office	5625 Anderson Hwy. (Hwy. 29), Hartwell, GA; 888-893-0678

Why does the Corps decide?

The Corps of Engineers built Lake Hartwell between 1955 and 1963 on the Savannah River, about seven miles below where the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers meet. It manages nearly 56,000 acres of water, 962 miles of shoreline and more than 20,000 acres of public land around the lake. Because that public land usually lies between private lots and the water, a private dock is a use of federal property, and the Corps' Shoreline Management Plan sets the terms.

How is the shoreline allocated?

The plan divides the shoreline into four allocations. The Corps' 2020 environmental assessment estimated Limited Development Areas at about 50% of the shoreline, Protected Shoreline Areas at about 26%, Public Recreation Areas at about 24% and Prohibited Access Areas at less than 1%. The Lake Hartwell Association, summarizing the plan's color-coded maps, notes that docks are permitted only in the green Limited Development Areas; protected (yellow) areas allow limited activities such as underbrushing and bank stabilization but not docks.

What does my lot need to qualify?

Shoreline in front of the lot allocated as a Limited Development Area.
A minimum of 75 feet of shared boundary line with the public land, per the 2020 assessment.
Acceptable lake conditions: the assessment says a dock permit decision may be deferred if the lake is below 656 feet or above 660 feet.

The assessment also notes that some owners next to certain protected or recreation areas, who have owned the property continuously since before September 12, 1973, may still qualify for a dock.

How do I apply?

Call the Hartwell Project Office toll free at 888-893-0678. Staff can explain the process and set up an on-site meeting.
Have your lot number, subdivision, street address or directions ready, plus any existing permit numbers or previous owners' names.
Expect to book about two weeks ahead; the Corps says its staff are generally scheduled at least that far out.
Pay the administrative fee. The South Atlantic Division's fee schedule, effective January 1, 2020, lists $835 for a new five-year permit or license (including for a new owner of an existing dock) and $835 to reissue one to the same owner; that total includes the $35 boat dock permit fee. Non-disruptive vegetation modification is $10. Full payment is due at the start of the process, so confirm the current amount with the project office.

Since January 1, 2016, the Corps' South Atlantic Division has issued two separate documents: a Shoreline Use Permit for floating facilities such as docks, and a real estate license for land-based items such as dock anchorage, improved walkways, steps and utility rights-of-way. Both are issued for five-year terms.

What are the main design rules?

Flotation: made of materials manufactured for marine use and warranted for at least 8 years against sinking. Floats within 40 feet of a fuel line must be impervious to water and fuel. New or recycled plastic or metal drums are prohibited.
Colors: dark brown, green and black for docks and roofs; all-aluminum docks are exempt. Repainted docks and docks with replacement roofs must meet current color rules.
Upper decks: no roofs of any kind on a second-story deck, and no jump gates.
Appliances: no sinks, showers, refrigerators, stoves or hot tubs. Security cameras are allowed.
Electrical: service must be certified by a state-licensed electrician at issuance, renewal or transfer. DC solar powering the dock and light pole doesn't require that certification.
Lighting: lights on authorized poles must be down-directed or shielded. Solar walkway lights are limited to 10 inches tall and spaced at least 10 feet apart.
Replacement: a new dock can't be installed until the previously permitted dock is removed.

What are my obligations as a permit holder?

Finish construction within one year of the permit date, or the permit is void.
Make no changes from the approved plans without prior written approval.
Allow periodic inspections by Corps rangers and correct unsafe conditions when notified.
Don't charge others to use the dock, run a business from it or live on it.
Remove, alter or relocate the dock at your own expense if the Corps gives written notice.
Remove the dock within 30 days if the permit expires or is revoked, or the dock is no longer used.

What happens when the house sells?

The Corps' permit conditions say the permit is nontransferable and becomes void when the property is sold or transferred, or when the permit holder dies. The new owner applies for a permit in their own name, and electric service must be recertified at transfer. Buyers are encouraged to call the project office before purchasing.

Which contractor license should a South Carolina builder have?

South Carolina's Contractor's Licensing Board, part of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), has a Marine (MR) classification. LLR's Residential Builders Commission licenses residential builders when a job's cost exceeds $5,000 and registers residential specialty contractors, including carpenters, for jobs over $500. Ask which license a builder holds and look it up on LLR's site. Work on the Georgia shore falls under Georgia's own licensing rules.

Common questions

Can every Lake Hartwell lot have a dock?

No. The Corps permits private docks only where the shoreline is allocated as a Limited Development Area, and the lot needs at least 75 feet of shared boundary with the public land.

Does my dock permit transfer when I sell my house?

No. The permit becomes void on sale, and the buyer applies for a new one in their own name.

How long is a Hartwell dock permit good for?

Shoreline Use Permits and real estate licenses in the Corps' South Atlantic Division are issued for five-year terms.

How much is a Lake Hartwell dock permit?

The Corps' South Atlantic Division fee schedule, effective January 1, 2020, lists $835 for a new five-year dock permit, including the $35 boat dock permit fee. Reissuing to the same owner is also $835.

Lake Hartwell dock permit guide (2026)