Permits for Dock Repair

[Mee-n-Mac]

Given the floods and resulting damage, and after reading Grant's post (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32312#post32312), I thought it might be useful to start something relating to repairing and/or replacing docks. I encourage anyone who has recently gone through this to post what they've found out re: the permits and process involved. A couple of old threads on the issue are here ...

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2345&highlight=dock+repair

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=339&highlight=dock+repair

And I post the URLs to some pertinent NH DES sites FYI ....

http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/wetlands/wb-12.htm

http://www.des.state.nh.us/PermitGuide/Chapter4.pdf

From the "fact sheets" I note in particular the following:

"Repair or Replacement of Structures

Limited repairs to existing permitted or grandfathered structures that can be done without working in the water may be done without a permit as long as the size, location, and configuration remain the same. For example, a seasonal dock can be reconstructed out of the water to its originally permitted dimensions and placed back in its originally permitted location without a new permit. The redecking of a permanent dock may be done without a permit. It is recommended that photographic evidence be maintained showing the structure before and after repair. If work in the water is required, however, a permit is required.

A grandfathered structure is one which: (a) was in place before the law and rules took effect -- July 2, 1969 for permanent structures or September 1978 for seasonal structures; (b) has remained unaltered in location, size, and configuration during that time; and (c) has not been abandoned for a period of five years.

Any repairs other than those specified above may be done only after receipt of a permit. Applications for repairs classified as minimum impact projects are usually reviewed and permitted within 30 days of receipt by DES. "

[ApS]

"...Repair or Replacement of Structures

Limited repairs to existing permitted or grandfathered structures that can be done without working in the water may be done without a permit..."

With rain forecast for this week, dock contractors backed up for months with work, some absentee owners yet unaware of damages, and the State responsible for our circumstance in the first place,
we should be able to work in the water! :(

(How do you work on a submerged dock without getting wet, anyway?) :confused:

[Gatto Nero]

Repair of existing docking facilities may qualify as a Permit By Notification project. That's a comparatively simple process that, if signed by the town's conservation commissioner, only takes 10 days to complete.

Here's a link to that info. http://www.des.nh.gov/wetlands/pbn/index.html

[Mee-n-Mac]

With rain forecast for this week, dock contractors backed up for months with work, some absentee owners yet unaware of damages, and the State responsible for our circumstance in the first place,
we should be able to work in the water! :(

(How do you work on a submerged dock without getting wet, anyway?) :confused:

It may be worse that you state ! :eek: If a piling has moved could you simply get a permit and, upon approval, reset the piling yourself (assuming you had the ability) ? How about repairs to a crib ? I've been told that not only do you need a permit, but only licensed professionals are allowed to do such things. So not only must you keep your feet dry but you'll be shelling out big $$s to have someone do the repairs you're able to do yourself.

[Onshore]

There is absolutely NO requirement that repairs to docks, retaining walls or breakwaters be conducted by a professional of any kind. (In fact there is no specific licensing requirement to be a marine contractor in NH.) Nor is there a requirement that you hire a professional to complete or file your application. The only times a licensed professional is required is if there is new construction which involves wetlands to be delineated (need a certified wetland scientist to flag the boundary and do plans) or new rip-rap or a retaining wall (you'll need a stamped surveyed plan showing the normal high water line).

[Mee-n-Mac]

There is absolutely NO requirement that repairs to docks, retaining walls or breakwaters be conducted by a professional of any kind. {snip}

Good to know and thanks for the reply ! My neighbor had his rock crib type dock clipped a few years ago by an errant ice floe. He has claimed that he had to have the dock repair (w/barge) people come out to repair it. I see he's a bit :confused: .

[Grant]

Repairs to crib docks do, however, still require a lot of expensive permits. We've done it twice now in the past 17 years, and it is a rather exhaustive red-tape process. It's probably easier to build new.