Dock Size Limits
AmerenUE regulates docks, seawalls and other structures on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks under provisions of its federal license for Bagnell Dam and the Osage Power Plant, which created the lake in 1931. AmerenUE developed the following guidelines after consulting with a task team made up of representatives of the Missouri State Water Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation, developers, public officials, dock builders, marine dealers and local residents. AmerenUE also solicited public opinion and received support for the guidelines from the majority of those that commented. The guidelines reflect the strongest recommendations from the task team and the general public.
Dock Size Limits:
Cove or Channel Width	Maximum Dock Length
Up to 500 feet	25 feet from the center of the cove or channel, or 1/3 of the cove/channel width—whichever is more limiting—up to a maximum of 100 feet
More than 500 feet (cove setting)	20 percent of the cove width, up to a maximum of 350 feet*
More than 500 feet (channel setting**)	25 percent of the channel width, up to a maximum of 350 feet*
Within the main channels of the lake (i.e., Osage, Gravois, Grand Glaize, Niangua and Little Niangua), the total length of the dock including breakwaters and a 100-foot buffer may not extend lakeward more than 25 percent of the distance to the opposite shoreline. The maximum length of any dock including breakwaters shall be 350 feet. All cove and channel measurements shall be measured shore-to-shore perpendicular to the channel at the dock location.   The maximum boat slip size shall not exceed 55 feet in length for residential permits and 60 feet for commercial (marina) permits. Any watercraft moored within slips permitted after March 30, 2008 shall not extend beyond the mouth of the slip.
*Permit requests for docks that are more than 200 feet long will be subject to review by the Missouri State Water Patrol and other agencies as appropriate. **Channels are the main arms of the Lake of the Ozarks: Osage, Gravois, Grand Glaize, Niangua and Little Niangua.