Buying a Lake House with a Dock?
Photo by Robert Sutherland
The most important thing you should know about buying a house with a dock on Lake Allatoona is (ready?) you should invite me for dinner.
After that, things can get a bit more complicated.
Do yourself a favor and verify that the property you are purchasing comes with a dock permit. Simply call the Allatoona Project Management Office (APMO) at 678-721-6700. Everyone knows that sellers and agents would never tell a fib, but you might save yourself a gazillion dollars by calling to double-check.
If the property you are purchasing currently has a permit, then you will need to provide the APMO with this information:
- Signed and notarized Warranty Deed/Property Deed
- Address of home purchased
- Current owners name
- Current mailing address
- Current phone numbers
Once the proper information is obtained, a Park Ranger will contact you and set up a time for an on-site meeting at your dock.
The Ranger will inspect the dock for repairs and deviations from currently approved plans and give you an overview of the dock permitting process. (During this on-site meeting, you will be required to provide a Warranty Deed, Property Deed — or proof of ownership if you have not already done so — as outlined above.)
The Army Corps of Engineers wants you to know that when you buy a property with a dock on Allatoona Lake you accept the responsibility for any encroachments, dock repairs, lack of plans for any structure, or removal or any impermissible item.
Be wise. Make the call and set up an onsite meeting with a Park Ranger to see what you are buying before you purchase a property.
If the property you are purchasing does not have a dock, then you can follow the steps outlined in the “New Permits” section at the link below to request one.