Best dock building and repair pros near Mclaughlin, SD

When deciding how big of a dock you can build, you should check with your city and state for any restrictions. Some cities won’t allow docks larger than one-fourth of the width of a body of water, while others have no restrictions at all. Gather this information when you apply for your permits so you can plan the build accordingly.

Here are a few other considerations before you build, even if you're convinced you're in compliance with the law:

• Are you damaging the environment? Bodies of water are often delicate ecosystems, and building a dock can be destructive and disruptive to the wildlife.

• Are you blocking access? Lots of people like to use a lake, so you need to make sure your dock doesn't block public access to the water.

• Can you enclose the dock? Just because you can build a dock doesn't mean you can build any dock you want. Some areas don't allow enclosed docks, for example.

• Do you need to follow any specific rules or guidelines? Check with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management for any guidelines you’ll need to follow, including size and type restrictions.

If you don’t want to rely on an anchor on land, you can also build dock posts. You’ll need to rent a water jet to blow out sand and silt from the lake floor in order to place the posts; it’s a complicated task that is best left to a professional.

In most areas, dock builders need some type of license. In some states, only a general construction license might be necessary, while a marine construction license is required in others. You can check online to see which is mandatory in your area, and then you can use Angi’s contractor licensing tool to make sure the company holds the proper license. Since dock construction is inherently dangerous, confirm with your builder that they are fully insured for everyone’s protection.