Dock Permits on Lake Dunlap, McQueeney & Placid

By Ryan Switzer, Co-Owner of Waterfront Luxury Group. Last updated November 5, 2026.

If you own a home on Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney or Lake Placid, or you’re thinking about buying one, there’s a dock rule you should know about. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) started collecting a $600 permit fee again on September 1, 2026, and its current form spells out what you can build and how.

We read the form so you don’t have to. Here’s what it says, and what it means when you buy, sell or work on a waterfront home.

What Changed on September 1, 2026

The fee isn’t brand new. According to a GBRA update shared by the Preserve Lake Dunlap Association, the $600 fee was adopted in 2018 and collection stopped in 2019 after the failure at Lake Dunlap. Owners still needed GBRA’s approval during that time.

Now the fee is back. GBRA’s Guadalupe Valley Lakes page says the application and fee are required as of September 1, 2026, and payment has to arrive with the application.

What Needs a Permit

GBRA’s form covers three kinds of work: new construction, modifications and demolition. A modification is any change, addition or alteration to a structure’s location, layout, structure or substructure, or anything that affects its safety. Demolition is listed as no fee, but it’s still on the form.

The structures listed on the form include:

• Docks, piers and boat slips
• Boathouses
• Boat launch ramps and jet ski ramps
• Retaining walls
• Swim pads, platforms, water trampolines and other inflatables anchored or secured to the riverbed

The form applies to more than single-family homes. It also lists multi-family, commercial and industrial property, HOAs and empty lots. The form doesn’t use the word “bulkhead,” but a bulkhead holds back the shoreline much like a retaining wall. If you’re building or replacing one, plan on a permit and confirm with GBRA before the work starts. If you’re looking at a home with a bulkhead and have questions, reach out to us.

What Usually Doesn’t Need a New Permit

• Routine or preventative maintenance. The form says these don’t carry an added fee or need GBRA’s approval, but you still have to tell GBRA about the work. It defines routine maintenance as small-scale, regular upkeep that protects against normal wear and tear, and preventative maintenance as finding and fixing problems before they become a major deterioration or failure.
• Building less than you were approved for. You don’t need a new permit for fewer or smaller structures, as long as the whole thing doesn’t reach farther from the shoreline than your existing permit allows.

Adding a structure that wasn’t in your original request does need a new permit. Under the form’s definitions, like-for-like fixes, such as replacing a few worn deck boards or a frayed lift cable, read as upkeep. Driving new pilings, changing the layout or making the structure bigger changes its configuration or substructure, which the form treats as a modification. GBRA makes the final call, so if you can’t tell which one your repair is, ask before the work starts.

The Construction Rules on the Form

• Lake levels: Structures have to withstand the lake being lowered by as much as 12 feet, along with high water and fast-moving water.
• Pier length: Piers can’t extend more than 20 feet into the water, and GBRA can set a shorter limit.
• Enclosures: No boat dock or structure may be enclosed on the wall sides.
• Neighbors: Your project can’t block or impede access by land or water to structures on adjacent property.
• Electrical: Wired lighting has to be installed by a licensed professional.
• Dredging and fill: You can’t dredge or dispose of fill unless you comply with all federal, state and local requirements.
• Deadline: Construction has to finish within 12 months of approval, or the permit is void. GBRA can allow a reasonable extension for delays such as weather. If the work stalls and you haven’t asked for more time, GBRA can treat the project as abandoned and require you to remove what’s been built.

Where GBRA’s rules and another agency’s rules differ, the form says the stricter one applies.

How to Apply

1. Get your plans together. GBRA asks for drawings that show the scope of work, measurements and your property lines.
2. Find out which other approvals you need. The form lists the City of Seguin, the City of New Braunfels, Guadalupe, Comal and Gonzales counties, Texas 811 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. GBRA asks for written proof of any approval that applies. In Guadalupe County, for example, the county’s floodplain FAQ says all development in a regulated flood zone, including boat docks and retaining walls, needs a Floodplain Development Permit before construction. If the project is in the floodway, the county’s floodplain rules also require a No-Rise Certification: an engineering analysis, signed by a registered professional engineer, showing the work won’t raise flood heights.
3. Complete the application. You’ll find the current form on GBRA’s lake page.
4. Submit it with payment. Send the application to dockpermits@gbra.org and pay the $600 fee through GBRA’s payment link.
5. Wait for approval. GBRA says owners must have its approval before construction begins.

The 12-month clock starts at approval, so it helps to have your builder and materials lined up before you apply.

Keep in mind that GBRA’s approval isn’t a sign-off on your design. The form says GBRA isn’t certifying that the design or construction is adequate, so choose your builder carefully.

What This Means If You’re Buying or Selling

This is where the form matters most for our clients. A dock is often a big part of what you’re paying for, and the permit history comes with it.

If you’re buying:

• Ask the seller for the GBRA permit, the approved plans and any notices from GBRA.
• Compare what was permitted with what’s actually there.
• Have someone who builds docks and bulkheads check the condition. The form says GBRA can give an owner 60 days to complete required repairs, and it can revoke the permit if they aren’t done. Our lake home inspection guide covers what to check.
• If an older dock reaches more than 20 feet into the water, don’t assume it can be rebuilt the same size. The current form caps piers at 20 feet, and repairs GBRA requires have to meet the standards in effect at the time.
• Ask what happens to anything built without a permit. The form says non-permitted structures GBRA finds must be removed immediately once GBRA gives notice.
• Ask GBRA how a sale affects the permit. The form says a permit can’t be assigned or sold but may transfer to a new owner, and it also tells sellers to notify buyers of the obligation to get a new permit. Get a clear answer before you close, and reach out to us if you have questions along the way.

If you’re selling:

• Gather your permit, plans, receipts and any inspection notices now. Buyers and their agents will ask.
• Notify GBRA of the sale and tell your buyer about the permit, as the form requires.
• Fix or disclose known problems instead of waiting for an inspection to find them.

Our lake home buyer’s guide and lake home seller’s guide cover the rest of what to check.

Does This Apply to Every Lake?

No. GBRA’s permit requirement names Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney and Lake Placid. GBRA also says anyone building on one of its hydroelectric lakes needs its approval first, so if you’re on Meadow Lake, ask GBRA what applies. On Lake Seguin, the dam belongs to the City of Seguin, so start with the city. On Canyon Lake, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the shoreline, and its Canyon Lake FAQ says construction on federal property isn’t allowed. You can compare all six in our Guadalupe lakes comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a GBRA dock permit?

$600, effective September 1, 2026. Payment is due with the application.

Is there an annual fee?

GBRA’s update says there’s no annual or recurring fee. Additional structures not in your original request need a new permit and fee.

Do I need a permit to repair my dock?

Routine or preventative maintenance, such as replacing worn boards with the same materials, doesn’t need GBRA’s approval or an added fee, but you do have to tell GBRA about it. Changes to the structure’s location, layout, structure or substructure, such as adding pilings, count as a modification and go through the permit process.

How far can a pier go into the water?

No more than 20 feet, and GBRA can set a shorter limit.

Does a GBRA permit replace county or city permits?

No. GBRA says owners are responsible for any other approvals, permits, utility locates and fees before construction begins. In Guadalupe County, for example, docks and retaining walls in a regulated flood zone also need a county floodplain permit, and projects in the floodway need an engineer’s No-Rise Certification.

Questions About a Specific Property?

We live on these lakes, and we’re happy to help you sort out what’s on record for a home you’re considering. Call us at 830.369.2032, send us a message, or search lakefront homes for sale.

This post is general information, not legal advice. It reflects GBRA’s Request for Construction Permit form and web pages, and Guadalupe County’s floodplain FAQ and rules, as of November 5, 2026. Rules can change, so please confirm the current requirements with GBRA before you act.