New floating docks
A new dock has to fit your boat, your cove and Ameren's shoreline guidelines, and it has to keep working when the lake drops in winter.
Most docks on Lake of the Ozarks float. The lake rises and falls with dam operations and weather, and a floating dock rides with it while a fixed one would end up too high or underwater. Designing one well starts with your shoreline: how wide the cove is, how deep the water is at full pool and at low water, and how much wake rolls in from the main channel.
What limits does Ameren put on a residential dock?
| Item | Residential limit |
|---|---|
| Slips | 10 or fewer (11 or more is a large dock) |
| Slip length | Up to 55 feet |
| Dock width | Up to 125 feet |
| Walkway width | Up to 6 feet |
| Enclosed storage | 80 square feet total |
| Side setback | At least 5 feet inside the extended side property line |
Docks over 3,000 square feet need engineer-sealed plans. How far the dock may reach toward the opposite shore depends on cove width: in coves up to 500 feet wide it's the most limiting of one-third of the distance across or 25 feet short of the cove center, with a 100-foot cap.
What goes into the design?
- Slip sizing for your boat's length and beam, plus room for PWCs or a future upgrade
- Frame of galvanized steel, aluminum or wood
- Flotation from Ameren's approved list of encapsulated floats
- Decking chosen for summer heat, grip and upkeep
- Roof, storage and swim deck within Ameren's limits
- Cables and walkway sized for the lake's full range of levels
How does the permit fit in?
No construction can start until Ameren issues the permit. The application includes to-scale drawings on letter-size paper, the dock's dimensions, and distances to your property lines, the nearest docks on each side and the center of the cove or channel. A powered dock also needs the fire district's electrical permit or approval. Once approved, the dock has to be finished within a year.
What affects the price?
- Number and size of slips
- Framing, decking and flotation choices
- Roof, lifts and electrical
- Water depth and how exposed the site is
- Access for delivering and floating materials
The builder sets the price after seeing your shoreline, water depth and existing dock. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I build my own dock?
Ameren allows the property owner or a Certified Dock Builder to do the work, but the dock still needs an Ameren permit first and must meet the same guidelines.
Why can my neighbor's dock reach farther than mine?
Ameren limits how far a dock extends based on cove width, so a wider cove allows a longer reach.
Related services
- Boat lifts and PWC lifts
- Dock repair, flotation and re-decking
- Dock moves, cables and anchoring
- Seawalls and shoreline riprap
More background: Lake of the Ozarks dock permit guide.
Dock sitting low, lift acting up, or ready for a new slip?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Lake of the Ozarks will call you back to talk through your shoreline.