Boat Dock & Pier Builders on Lake Livingston

A dock or pier should fit how you use the lake

Some owners want a simple place to step into a boat. Others want more deck space, a connection to a future boathouse, or a layout that works for family visits. Start with how the property is used, then let the contractor look at the shoreline and water access before fixing the final shape.

For weekend homeowners, it can help to think through storage, walking access, and how the dock connects back to the yard. A design that looks good on a sketch still has to make sense when people are carrying coolers, fishing gear, or lake toys back and forth.

Lake Livingston's maximum pier length rule

TRA's published rule lists a maximum pier length of 150 feet, or one-third of the width of the water to the opposite shore. The permit drawings also call for the length from the water's edge and water depth at the end, along with other property and structure dimensions.

Do not assume that a neighboring pier tells you what will be approved at your property. Have your contractor prepare the site-specific layout and confirm the current application requirements with TRA.

Permit drawings are part of the job

TRA's application package requires two drawings: a plan view and a cross section. The published procedures call for dimensions including distance to property lines, distance to the road centerline, deck and roof elevation when applicable, water depth at the end, vegetation at the mud line, and roof overhang when there is a roof.

Ask the contractor who produces those drawings and who submits the package. The permit must be approved and recorded in the county deed records before construction begins.

Thinking about a boathouse or lift later?

Tell the contractor now. Planning the pier with the next phase in mind can make the layout easier to understand and may help avoid treating each piece as an unrelated project. If electrical work becomes part of the project, TRA requires National Electrical Code compliance and a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor.

Ready for a contractor to look at it?

Call and tell us where the property is, what you are seeing, and what you hope to build or repair. We connect you with an independent local marine contractor. The contractor handles the site visit and quote.