Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Region
Dock permits start with the lake's manager
At Lake of the Ozarks the shoreline is managed by Ameren Missouri under a federal hydropower license, so dock permits and shoreline rules come from the lake operator, not the county. When you buy a place with a dock, the permit has to be transferred into your name.
Lake of the Ozarks was made by Bagnell Dam. Ameren Missouri runs the dam under a federal license, and that license puts Ameren in charge of the shoreline. So at this lake, dock rules do not come from the county. They come from Ameren.
Before anyone builds a dock, seawall, pier, or pump, Ameren has to approve it. Each spot on the shore has its own permit. The permit stays with the property, not with the dock.
If you are buying a place with a dock, do not assume the permit just carries over. Ameren says the new owner has to file to move the permit into their name. That usually means a new application, a fee, a copy of the deed, and in some fire districts a recent electrical inspection. Check all of this with Ameren’s Shoreline Management office before you close. You will still use the county for property records and taxes.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Camden County. See every local note for the county on its page.