Why Waterfront Doesn't Automatically Mean a Dock

Two questions

Frontage is about the land survey. A dock is about a permit, its holder, its configuration, and its transfer. Answer both.

Questions to put in writing

• Is there an existing Duke Energy permit for the dock?
• Who is the current permit holder?
• What is required to transfer it to a new owner?
• Does the existing structure match what was permitted?
• Are there any pending applications, violations, or neighbor agreements?

Why it matters at closing

A buyer who assumes a dock transfers automatically may discover after closing that the structure needs modification, that a permit was never issued, or that a shared dock depends on an agreement with a neighbor. Confirming before closing protects both sides.

Shared docks

When neighbors share a dock, find out whether a written agreement covers maintenance, use, and what happens if one owner sells or wants to rebuild. Without one, future disputes are hard to resolve.