You will need a pier permit to construct a new pier or change more than 10% of your existing pier.  There are three agencies that will have to authorize the construction of your pier:

• Duke Power Lake Management Office (704-382-8086 or 1-800-443-5193).  You should contact Duke Power first if you want to request a pier, dock or any shoreline structure.  Duke Power acts to preserve the environmental, recreation and cultural value of the Lake Norman shoreline.  They will help you work through the permitting process and provide you with information you need to know prior to beginning your project.  Be advised that in addition to the Pier Permit, Duke will also charge a fee for the Habitat Enhancement Fund.



• Cornelius Planning Department.  You may obtain the Mecklenburg County building permit application from the Planning Department.  Cornelius Planning Department must approve the zoning on this permit prior to Mecklenburg County approving the permit. You can fill it out while you are at Town Hall and leave it for processing.  Staff will make an inspection of the property to verify:
• There is a principle structure on the property.  Piers are not permitted on vacant lots. 
• The pier will be set back at least 10 feet from either neighboring property.  
• The pier will be within pier projection lines.  If the pier appears to encroach on pier projection lines, Staff will request that you obtain a property survey with your pier projection lines denoting the location of the pier.  The exception to this rule is when the applicant owns property under the water.  In that case, the pier may be constructed within the underwater property lines. 
• You have at least 75 feet of shoreline.
• The pier will not extend over 120 feet, or over 1/3 the width of the cove.
• The pier conforms to the Land Development Code Section 6.2.31 regarding Water Related Structures (major regulations listed above).  All new pier construction must be in conformity.  If you want to modify an existing pier, the modifications must be conforming and any changes to a non-conforming pier must bring it into conformity. 

After the inspection of your property to determine that your pier will be compliant with the Land Development Code, Planning Staff will issue zoning authorization for your pier permit and contact you to pick up your permit application.  If you are not compliant, Staff will contact you regarding how you can bring the pier plans into compliance.  Cornelius Planning Department can generally process your pier permit in a day or two.

• Mecklenburg County LUESA (Land Use and Environmental Services Agency) Office (704-432-2520).  You are coming into the home stretch!  You are now ready to go to the Mecklenburg County LUESA Office who will issue your pier permit placard.  You will need to take your building permit application with Cornelius zoning approval with you.  Their office is located at 18335 Old Statesville Road, Suite K.  Their building is just south of North 77 Business Park and Bailey Road.

Now that you have your Mecklenburg County pier permit placard, Duke Power may issue their permit. 

If your permit is denied and you believe you have a hardship, you may file for a variance from the requirements of the Land Development Code.  The Zoning Administrator refers all variances to projected property lines to the Lake Norman Marine Commission for their comments and opinions.  The Planning Board acting as the Board of Adjustments will then hold a public hearing and make a judgment for the variance.  To begin the variance process you will need to speak with our Senior Planner or our Planning Director, who handle all Planning Board related items.  For all other pier related questions contact the Code Enforcement Officer.