Who controls the shoreline
Pickwick Lake is a TVA reservoir. TVA says it owns land or land rights, such as the right to flood the land or to prevent certain construction, along most reservoir shoreline. That means there may be a strip of TVA land between a "waterfront" lot and the water, or TVA may hold rights over part of the lot itself.
Shoreline construction is approved under Section 26a of the TVA Act, so you'll hear these called "26a permits."
What needs a permit
TVA's wording is broad: all construction or alterations to the shoreline on TVA reservoirs require approval, even minor changes to a dock. That includes:
- Docks, piers and boathouses
- Steps and walkways down to the water
- Shoreline stabilization, such as riprap or a seawall
- Clearing or trimming vegetation on TVA land, which needs an approved vegetation management plan first
The numbers to know
A second story on a dock is allowed only as an open deck with railings. It cannot be roofed or enclosed.
Permits do not transfer with the land
This is the one that catches buyers. An existing dock permit does not pass to you automatically at closing. TVA requires the new owner to apply for a Section 26a permit within 60 days of closing.
What to check before you buy
- Ask for the existing permit. Get a copy from the seller or agent. If nobody can produce one, call TVA.
- Walk the shoreline with the permit in hand. Make sure every dock, ramp, seawall and utility line matches what was approved. Unpermitted work becomes your problem.
- Confirm your shoreline rights. Ask TVA whether it holds land between the lot and the water, and whether the lot has the land rights needed to apply for a dock at all. Some shoreline is not eligible.
- Look at the lot at winter pool. Pickwick Lake normally sits at 413 to 414 feet in summer and can drop to 408 feet in winter. A cove with plenty of water in July can be shallow or dry in January, which affects where a dock can go.
Who to call
TVA's Public Land Information Center answers shoreline and permit questions at 800-882-5263. Other agencies may also need to sign off on some projects, and TVA can tell you which apply.
