Dock Repair on Smith Lake, Alabama: Permits, Fees and Floats
Dock repair on Smith Lake goes through Alabama Power more often than owners expect. Apart from painting and pressure washing, Alabama Power's permits page treats repair work in the lakebed and flood easement as permit work, and a substantial repair carries a $200 fee. This page covers what that means for decking, floats, roofs and walled boathouses, the federal float rule, and what to ask before a repair crew starts.
Which dock repairs need an Alabama Power permit
Alabama Power's permits page is broad: if you "wish to repair, build or modify anything in either the lakebed or the Alabama Power Flood easement," you need a permit, and "All work (besides painting and pressure washing)" there could require one. Docks sit in the lakebed, so the safe assumption is that repairs beyond paint and a wash need Alabama Power's sign-off.
The Smith Lake guidelines (revised July 15, 2025) charge a $200 General Repair Fee for "any and all residential shoreline structure repair activity of a substantial degree." Alabama Power decides what's substantial. If you're unsure whether replacing a few boards or one float counts, call the Smith Lake Shoreline Management Office at 205-384-7385 and ask before the work, not after: repair done without approval carries a $400 Unauthorized Structure Repair Fee.
Common repairs and what to check
Decking and railings
Like-for-like replacement may still be "substantial" in Alabama Power's eyes depending on how much is replaced. Ask the office, and keep the same size and layout unless you're prepared to apply for a change.
Floats
The Army Corps' programmatic permits for Alabama Power reservoirs include a general condition that "All floats (existing and proposed) shall be encased or closed cell." When floats are replaced, make sure the new ones meet that condition.
Roofs and covers
The guidelines say "Covered (roofed) structures must be open and cannot be walled or enclosed," except that part of one exterior side may be walled for an approved storage area, placed on the end of the structure closest to the shoreline. They also say "No habitable fixtures (e.g., toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, etc.) are allowed." A roof repair that adds walls or plumbing turns into a different permit question.
Walled boathouses
The guidelines have a separate category for "Enclosed Legacy Structures": existing, fully walled structures that were placed on Alabama Power's land with its permission but generally aren't covered by a written permit and don't strictly comply with today's guidelines. Sections D-1 through D-4 of the guidelines deal with them. If your boathouse is walled in, ask the shoreline office how those sections apply before you repair, rebuild or change it.
Walkways and ramps
The seasonal swing from about 510 feet in summer toward a winter pool near 496 feet moves walkway hinges and shore connections through a wide range every year. Check them while the lake is low. See winter drawdown.
When a repair becomes a change
If a repair makes the dock bigger, longer or different in layout, it's no longer a simple repair. The new-dock limits apply: 1,444 square feet of structures in total, no more than 92 feet in length, and a minimum of 15 feet from an extension of your property line into the lake. A change to a permit you've applied for carries a $100 Permit Modification Fee. See new docks and boathouses.
Shoreline problems at the dock
Erosion can show up where a dock walkway meets the bank. If the bank under the walkway is washing out, the fix is riprap or seawall work, which has its own permit path and, on turtle-habitat shorelines, its own method and season. See riprap and turtle-habitat shorelines.
What dock repair costs
We found no published dock repair prices for Smith Lake or Alabama. Quotes: [PRICE]. Add Alabama Power's $200 repair fee where it applies.
Questions to ask a dock contractor
- Does this repair need an Alabama Power permit, and will you handle the application?
- Will the dock's size, length or layout change at all?
- Are replacement floats encased or closed cell?
- Is any part of the work in the water, and how will it be done at the current lake level?
- Is it all in a written contract with a start date, given the permit's one-year limit?
Who does the work covers Alabama's license thresholds and how to look a contractor up.
Dock repair questions
Can I paint or pressure-wash my dock without a permit?
Yes. Alabama Power's permits page names painting and pressure washing as the exceptions.
How much is the repair permit?
$200 for repair of a substantial degree, non-refundable.
Can I enclose my boat slip while I'm repairing the roof?
No. The guidelines say covered structures "must be open and cannot be walled or enclosed." The one exception is part of one exterior side walled for an approved storage area, on the end closest to the shore.
How this site helps
Call (205) 880-2401 or send a request, and we'll pass it to one independent local contractor who works on Smith Lake. Contractors are responsible for their own licensing, insurance, permits, pricing and warranties.
Related pages
Dock need work?
Tell us what's wrong with it, and we'll pass it to one independent local contractor who works on Smith Lake.