Unofficial amendments to Duke Energy's Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)
Duke Energy will occasionally send us amendments and updates to the guidelines we follow. Those updates don't always make to the formal plan posted on their website. The following are some of the amendments that may not be in the SMP.
Replacement of Pier Pilings & Dock Flotation
Effective July 1, 2019, a complete Construction Application will be required for any lakefront property owners who propose to replace their pier pilings and/or dock flotation. Please be sure you are visiting the website and downloading the most current version of the form to ensure you are aware of the requirements.
Definition of small stair-stepped landing
Effective immediately, Lake Services is defining “small stair-stepped landings” allowed in the SMP as follows. A single, small, stair-stepped landing not exceeding 4 feet in width and 20 feet in length on one side of a stationary pier perpendicular to the shoreline and marked by a piling or pole at its outside corner. No portion of the stair-stepped landing may be placed lakeward of the stationary pier to which it is attached. See diagram below for examples.
The one-third rule.
When positioning your dock it can extend 1/3 of the cove cove width. If any part of the dock is wider than 6' it is considered mooreable and should be reduced by 10' in length. If it is 6' or less it can typically go the full 1/3rd assuming it is not designed to accommodate a mooring at the end, like a boat lift. The idea is for no part of a dock or any watercraft moored to it can extend more than 1/3 of the distance across a cove in order to maintain the public’s ability to navigate through narrow channels. If the property has several coves around it the shortest distance to the nearest opposite shoreline is where the measurement can be taken.
How many feet of shoreline is required to build a dock on Lake Wylie?
A lot having less than 100’ of “Residential” shoreline must have been recorded before 9/1/2006. A survey to document that this lot was recorded before that date.
Grandfathered dock that float must remain floating
2018 Rule - Grandfathered Docks - no more floating to fixed conversions. Any docks that were floating before must stay floating if they're grandfathered in.
Step-Down Maximum one per dock
2019 Rule Change - Maximum one step-down per dock and it must be max. 20' long and must be perpindicular to the shorelione.
Replacement of Pier Pilings & Dock Flotation
Effective July 1, 2019, a complete Construction Application will be required for any lakefront property owners who propose to replace their pier pilings and/or dock flotation. Please be sure you are visiting the website and downloading the most current version of the form to ensure you are aware of the requirements.
No house, no dock.
Effective July 1, 2026 a new dock application will only be considered if there is a house on the property. Docks cannot be built on empty lots in any county within the Catawba River chain. A house is defined as framed with windows and doors roughed in. Duke Energy informed us on July 8th about the new rule that was effective July 1st, no notice was given. Previously this was the case in Mecklenburg County but this new change is across all Duke Energy Lakes including Lake Wylie's Gaston County, Mecklenburg County and York County.