Which permits does your shoreline project need?

Where should you start?

Start with Alabama Power’s Martin shoreline office at 256-825-0053. Describe the entire job: wall repair or replacement, new riprap, dock changes, excavation, grading and temporary access. Splitting one project into separate descriptions can hide a review requirement.

Alabama Power’s written permission is one part of the process. Confirm local building, floodplain and environmental requirements for the same scope. The site is not affiliated with Alabama Power or any permitting agency.

Martin, Yates & Thurlow residential guidelines · Alabama Power programmatic general permit · Alabama general permits

What belongs in the application?

• Recorded deed or lease and parcel identification.
• Existing and proposed shoreline sketch, with dimensions and property lines.
• Signed current guidelines, owner contact and contractor details.
• A current survey if Alabama Power requires it.
• Applicable ARC or HOA approval and the proposed construction access.

Martin, Yates & Thurlow residential guidelines · Lakeshore use permit request and FAQ

What happens before construction?

Submit the request, respond to review questions and resolve any site meeting. Obtain written permission and display the pending permit tag as required before applicable work begins. A contractor’s availability, an email asking a question or a request confirmation does not authorize construction.

Keep the approved drawing with the contract. If the alignment, footprint or scope changes, ask the office whether the approval must change before work continues.

Martin, Yates & Thurlow residential guidelines · Lakeshore use permit request and FAQ

What permit fee can you verify?

The July 11, 2025 residential guidelines list a $400 general construction fee for new shoreline work. It covers the applicable activities authorized by one permit, including new seawall or riprap and added linear footage. Ask Alabama Power to classify a repair or mixed scope and confirm the current charge.

This is not a total project permit allowance. Surveying, design, local review and other applicable fees can be separate. Do not assume a new-construction fee applies to every maintenance visit.

Martin, Yates & Thurlow residential guidelines

Which local office applies?

• Alexander City: establish city jurisdiction and the permit/business-license requirements.
• Dadeville: use the Building Department for parcels in its jurisdiction; the postal address alone is not enough.
• Tallapoosa County: confirm county review for the parcel and proposed structures.
• Eclectic and rural Elmore: check town jurisdiction, then the county floodplain and road-access questions.
• Coosa-side or uncertain parcels: resolve the county in the property records before selecting an office.

Alexander City Building Department · Dadeville Building Department · Tallapoosa County Building Department · Eclectic zoning and planning (Internet Archive copy) · Elmore County permit FAQ

Does Alabama Power approval settle federal review?

Ask Alabama Power whether the proposed work qualifies under the Corps programmatic process and what verification or conditions apply. Do not infer authorization for dredging, wetland fill or a larger footprint from a routine seawall approval.

Take the same site drawing to each reviewer. Record who confirmed the route, what was reviewed and any conditions that must appear in the contract.

Mobile District regulatory permits · Alabama general permits

Does land disturbance need ADEM review?

Lake Martin has a special stormwater rule. Non-exempt disturbance can require coverage even below one acre. Describe the entire footprint, including access and stockpiles, and request a determination if the exemption is unclear. Prepare an ADEM review request.

Lake Martin special construction stormwater rule · Construction stormwater project review

Check the parcel’s floodplain separately.

ADECA’s flood-map page links to AlabamaFlood and FEMA’s Map Service Center. Search by the property location, keep the effective map information and ask the local floodplain administrator what the proposed work requires.

The lake’s full-pool contour and a regulatory floodplain boundary answer different questions. Do not use the waterline in a photograph to decide whether floodplain review applies.

Am I in a Floodplain?

Official permit resources