Boat Docks

What you will find on this page:

• What is a boat dock?
• Determine What You Need
• How to Apply
  • Site Plan Exemption
  • Site Plan Permit
  • Building Permit
  • Demolition Permit
• Boat Dock Registration and Renewal
• Addressing a Boat Dock
• Appointments & Contact

What is a boat dock?

A boat dock is a wharf, pier, floating dock, island, boat dock, boat slip, boat lift, stationary platform, or other similar structure.

Determine What You Need

Review this section to determine if you need a permit, a site plan exemption, or a site plan permit.
 

What can I do...

Without a Permit

• Paint
• Stain
• Limited landscaping
• Place furniture
• Limited lighting

With an Approved Site Plan Exemption

• Simple dock re-decking
• Repair of the existing structure with a building permit
• Maintenance of existing structure with a building permit
• Work that does not require a variance or approval from a city board or commission
• Repair an existing legally constructed bulkhead if the repair does not exceed 25% of the bulkhead or portion of a bulkhead, and if no repair to the bulkhead was done without a site plan in the previous three years
• Removal of accumulated sediment for navigational access to existing marinas and boat slips (during 2026 Lake Austin Drawdown only)
   

Exemption Resources

With an Approved Site Plan Permit

• Any changes to a structure with a building permit
• Any new construction with a building permit
• Replacing parts of a structure, including load-bearing beams, walls, piers, or pilings with a building permit
• Adding new walls with a building permit
• Any demolition of the existing structure with a building permit
• Adding or expanding the existing footprint of the dock or shoreline access with a building permit
• Placing anything under water elevation with a building permit
   

Site Plan Permit Resources

How to Apply

Apply for a Site Plan Exemption

A Site Plan Exemption is a small-scale development or zoning compliance review conducted before filing for or obtaining a building permit. Approval of a Site Plan Exemption is NOT a building permit, but it is required before a building permit can be approved. A Site Plan Exemption should meet the criteria outlined in Section 25-5-2 of the Land Development Code (LDC). 

Follow these steps to apply for a Site Plan Exemption. After your exemption is approved, visit the Apply for a Building Permit section on this webpage for instructions on how to apply for a residential or commercial building permit. 

The applicant listed on the application must have an AB+C Portal account to pay fees and manage the application. If you do not have an AB+C account, please register for an AB+C Portal account here. For additional assistance, please see the AB+C Manual. Please make a note of the email address used for this new account.

Step 1: Gather Required Documents

• Site Plan Exemption Request Form - Special 2026 Lake Austin Drawdown (PDF) or Site Plan Exemption Request Form (PDF)

• Owner’s Authorization Letter (PDF) from the property owner granting the applicant permission to file applications with the City on their behalf

• Required Drawing: Your drawing should be clear, readable, and reasonably to scale. At a minimum, all Site Plan Exemption exhibits should contain the following information:

  • All boat docks, bulkheads or any other structures in or out of the water. Show proposed modifications to these structures.

  • All areas where sediment or other material is to be removed. Show area measurement in square feet.

  • Roadways, Streets, Property Lines, Easements and Dimensioned Setback Lines

  • Location, Size, Species and Root Zones for all trees in or near work area.

  • Plans must include a note stating that “No equipment or unsecured tools, equipment, and material can remain in the lakebed unattended. Lake may be subject to rapid refilling due to storm events or emergency electrical generation needs. By submitting this application, applicant acknowledges that they assume the risk for any losses during the drawdown or refilling of Lake Austin, such as lost equipment or lost business opportunity.”

• Optional Memo: Describe work proposed and include any additional relevant information that was not requested on this application.

• Optional Photos: Photos of existing dock and shoreline areas. 
   

Step 2: Submit an Application through the Web Form

Submit the required documents through the Site Plan Exemptions Request Web Form.
 

Site Plan Exemption Request Web Form
 

Step 3: Pay Invoice

Staff will review the submittal request to confirm all information and documents needed for review have been provided. If additional information is needed, staff will contact the applicant via email. Once the submittal is deemed complete, staff will issue the invoice to the applicant, and it must be paid. Visit the Cashier Services webpage to view the payment options. Once the invoice is paid, the Site Plan Exemption Application review will begin.
 

Step 4: Application Review

Once an Exemption application is uploaded, administrative staff will process the documentation for review. During the review, up to 10 City disciplines may evaluate each application and provide discipline-specific comments related to the project.     
 

Step 5: Approval or Denial

All review staff must provide comments before issuing any determination (approval or denial). Once all necessary reviews are complete, administrative staff will contact the applicant by email with a formal response. The request may be approved or denied.
 

Step 6: Submit a response to the Denied Application

If the application is approved, continue to the next step.

If the application is denied, address staff denial comments and resubmit. Denied exemptions should address comments appropriately. If there are questions related to a discipline-specific comment, the applicant should contact the listed reviewer for follow-up. When denial comments have been addressed, the applicant may resubmit for review.

Note: If staff finds denial comments have not been adequately addressed, staff reserves the ability to deny the application again and/or to provide further comments if there is a conflict found in secondary review cycles.

When you are ready, submit the response addressing the denial comments using the Site Plan Exemption Request Web Form.
 

Site Plan Exemption Request Web Form
 

Step 7: Download Exemption/Archiving

Once the Exemption is approved, it will be available for download from the Site Plan Exemption folder on the AB+C Portal.

Visit the Apply for a Building Permit section on this webpage for instructions on how to apply for a residential or commercial building permit. 

Apply for a Site Plan Permit

Site plan applications are reviewed for compliance with Austin's development regulations as provided in the Land Development Code.

Begin with Step 2 in the How to Apply section on the Site Plans, Exemptions, and Corrections webpage. Visit the Site Plan section on the Forms & Applications webpage for the appropriate boat dock applications.

After your site plan application is approved, visit the Apply for a Building Permit section on this webpage for instructions on how to apply for a residential or commercial building permit. 

Apply for a Building Permit

An approved site plan is required before applying for a residential or commercial boat dock permit.

Residential Boat Docks 

An approved site plan is required before applying for a residential or commercial boat dock permit.

Visit the Apply for a Stand-alone Building Permit section on the Apply for a Stand-Alone Building or Trade Permit webpage. Follow the instructions to submit your completed General Contractor Permit Request (PDF) through the Stand-Alone Building Permit Web Form.

Commercial Boat Docks

Visit the Commercial Plan Review webpage and use the Commercial Building Permit web form to submit your completed Commercial Building Application (PDF).  

Apply for a Demolition Permit

You will need a demolition permit in addition to a Site Plan Exemption for all total demolitions and qualifying partial demolitions. A pre-demolition inspection is required. Visit the Demolition Permit webpage for more information. 

Boat Dock Registration and Renewal

The City of Austin's Boat Dock Registration Program aims to improve boat dock visibility for public safety personnel on the lake when responding to emergency calls for service. This program was established in response to Austin City Council Resolution No. 20130829-078, adopted on August 29, 2013.

City Ordinance No. 20140626-113 requires properly addressing boat dock structures on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Lake Walter E. Long (§ 25-2-1180). This is a mandatory measure put forth by the City of Austin. Please note that this registration does not supersede any city permitting requirements.

 Video: Boat Dock Safety & Registration

How to Register or Renew

Follow these steps to submit your application to the City of Austin's Boat Dock Registration Program.

Step 1: Take Photos

Take photos of the boat dock showing the address visible from the center line of the channel. Visit the "Addressing a Boat Dock" section to learn how to properly address the boat dock. If photos are not included, an inspector will perform an on-site addressing inspection. You can submit photos in Step 2.

If you have more than one boat dock structure located at the same address, you will need to address only one of the structures. At your discretion, address your most prominent boat dock. Visit the "What is a Boat Dock?” section for a definition.

Step 2: Submit the Register a Boat Dock Web Form

Use the Register a Boat Dock web form to submit the required information and upload your photos. There are no fees to register your boat dock.

Register a Boat Dock Web Form

After staff receives your registration form with current photos or completes an on-site addressing inspection, they will process your application. A staff member will contact you if any additional information is needed. 

• If you do not receive anything from Austin Development Services regarding your boat dock registration after one week, please reach out through email at boatdockinspections@austintexas.gov.
• If your submitted registration form is incomplete or invalid, Austin Development Services Environmental Inspections will contact you. 

If you cannot submit your application through the Register a Boat Dock web form, download and complete the Boat Dock Registration form ^(PDF). Submit the registration form and photos via:

Email

Email the registration form with photo attachments to boatdockinspections@austintexas.gov.

Mail

Send USPS Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested to:

DSD Environmental Inspections
COA-DSD-PDC
PO Box 1088
Austin, TX  78767-1088

In Person

The registration form may be submitted in person at:
City of Austin Permitting and Development Center *
6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. 
Austin, TX 78752

* This is not a mailing address. Registrations mailed to this address will be returned. 

Step 3: Onsite Lake Inspection

Once staff has received all required information, staff will perform a lake inspection of the boat dock. 

If the inspection fails, the inspector will contact the applicant and provide further guidance on how to obtain compliance. 

Step 4: Boat Dock Registration Issued

After passing the lake inspection, the boat dock registration is issued to the applicant via email. 

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Registration Renewal

Registration renewal is required:

• Residential properties - every 5 years
• Commercial properties - every 2 years

Follow the registration steps listed in the section above to renew.

Addressing a Boat Dock

City Ordinance No. 20140626-113 requires properly addressing boat dock structures on Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, and Lake Walter E. Long (§ 25-2-1180). This is a mandatory measure put forth by the City of Austin.

How to address a boat dock

Address Signage

• Your address must be located on the front of your boat dock and displayed above normal pool elevation.
• The signage must include the street address of the primary property associated with the dock on the lakeward side of the dock facing the centerline of the lake or slough on which it is located.
• The letters and numbers must be a minimum of two inches in height and must contrast with the background they are placed on (the preferred lettering is reflective, but this is left at the owner’s discretion).
• The signage must be constructed with materials that resist water damage and deterioration by ultraviolet light.

What if I have more than one boat dock at my address?

For those who may have more than one boat dock structure located at the same address, you will only need to address one of the structures. At your discretion, address your most prominent boat dock. Visit the "What is a Boat Dock?” section for a definition.

Appointments & Contact

If you have questions about the type of permit you need, the application process, or environmental regulations for boat docks and bulkheads, contact the appropriate group listed in this section.

Boat Dock Addressing & Inspections

For boat dock addressing or inspection-related questions, email BoatDockInspections@austintexas.gov or call 512-978-4687.

Commercial

Visit the PDC Appointments webpage to schedule an appointment with Commercial Review or the Commercial Building Plan Review webpage to chat during business hours.

Environmental Review & Regulations

For questions about boat dock & bulkhead environmental regulations, email DSDZoningSitePlan@austintexas.gov. 

Lake Austin Drawdown

For permitting questions about the 2026 Lake Austin Drawdown, email Viktor Auzenne or call 512-978-4691.

Residential

Visit the PDC Appointments webpage to schedule an appointment with Building and Trade Contractor Services, or visit the Building and Trade Contractor Services webpage to chat during business hours. 

Report a Violation

To report a violation, call Austin 3-1-1. 

Site Plan

Visit the PDC Appointments webpage to schedule an appointment with Site Plan Review, or visit the Site Plans, Exemptions, and Corrections webpage to chat during business hours.