BRA Dock Permits on Lake Granbury: Rules, Process, and What Doesn't Transfer

Why BRA Controls Your Dock

Lake Granbury is a reservoir formed by the DeCordova Bend Dam on the Brazos River, owned and operated by the Brazos River Authority. BRA holds title to the reservoir bed — the lake bottom and the adjacent shoreline buffer. Private lakefront property owners own the upland parcel above the normal pool elevation, but the area where your dock, pier, boathouse, or landscape pump sits belongs to BRA. Every structure placed on or over that BRA-owned area requires BRA authorization, which takes the form of an On-Water Facility Permit.

This is the operating reality that shapes the entire dock ownership experience on Lake Granbury. The dock visible at listing photos is not yours simply because you purchased the adjacent land. It is there because the current owner has a BRA permit. That permit is issued to them as individuals. It does not run with the land. It does not transfer in a real estate closing.

The Non-Transfer Rule: What BRA and Local News Both State Explicitly

The BRA's own published guidance and the Hood County News (which has published informational articles on behalf of BRA) both state this clearly: many buyers who purchase homes on Lake Granbury with existing docks or landscape water pumps "may not be aware that these items don't automatically transfer at closing." You must have both docks and landscape pumps transferred into your name through the BRA's Lake Office after purchase.

The practical consequence: when you buy a Lake Granbury waterfront home that includes a dock, you are buying a dock that has no legal authorization under your name until you complete the BRA transfer process. Operating the dock during that gap creates liability exposure and could complicate insurance claims. BRA can require removal of unauthorized structures. The path is clear and manageable — but it requires active initiation by the buyer, not assumption of continuity from the seller.

Three Types of BRA Permits You Need to Know

1. On-Water Facility Permit

This is the permit that authorizes a private dock, pier, boathouse, boat lift, or floating platform over the BRA-owned reservoir bed. The permit "provides lakeside property owners the opportunity to construct and maintain private facilities over the reservoir bed." Key conditions directly from BRA:

• Construction may not begin until the permit has been approved and returned to you. This is stated in bold on BRA's permit page and is absolute. A contractor who begins work before permit approval is working without authorization.
• Dock builders and contractors must have their own BRA business operation permit — you cannot hire an unlicensed contractor for dock construction
• The permit is an on-water facility permit, not a property right — BRA can require modification or removal if the structure violates permit conditions
• BRA notes that Lake Granbury is a water supply reservoir and water levels will fluctuate; an approved permit does not guarantee access to water for recreation

2. Improvement Permit

A separate Improvement Permit is required for work adjacent to the shoreline that is not a floating dock or pier. This includes:

• Constructing a retaining wall along the shoreline
• Dredging the lake bottom under a dock (if the dock is already permitted, dredging still needs separate permit)
• Removing stumps from the lake bottom
• Performing maintenance on an existing private boat ramp

Buyers who want to add rip-rap bank stabilization, build a bulkhead, or do any shoreline improvement work must apply for an Improvement Permit before starting. Contractors for this work also need BRA business operation permits.

3. Residential Water Permit

If the property has a landscape irrigation pump that draws directly from the lake, that pump requires a separate BRA Residential Water Use Permit. It allows up to 5,000 gallons per month of untreated water for irrigation. For applications received on or after September 1, 2025, the application fee increased to $50 (from $25). Like the dock permit, this does not transfer automatically at closing — buyers must transfer it after purchase.

What to Do When You're Under Contract on a Property With a Dock

During the inspection period, take these steps on the BRA permit front:

• Ask the seller for the current BRA On-Water Facility Permit number and any renewal documentation. A properly permitted dock has a verifiable permit number in BRA's system.
• Confirm the permit is current and not lapsed. Lapsed permits may require fresh applications rather than simple renewals.
• Call BRA's Lake Office at 817-573-3212 and ask specifically what the transfer process looks like for the property's permit, the timeline, and any fees involved.
• Verify that the dock structure was built according to the permitted plans. Unpermitted modifications to existing docks are common and create buyer liability.
• If the property has a landscape pump, confirm there is a separate Water Permit and ask BRA about the transfer process for it as well.
• If the seller cannot produce a permit number, treat the dock as unpermitted and factor the cost and time of a fresh application into your offer and closing timeline.

Building a New Dock From Scratch

If you are purchasing a lot that does not have an existing dock, or if you want to add one to an existing property, the new On-Water Facility Permit application process includes:

• Download the On-Water Facility Permit application form from brazos.org (available as fillable Word or PDF)
• Complete the application with property information, proposed facility description, and site sketch showing the proposed dock location, dimensions, setbacks, and construction materials
• Submit the signed application and required fee to the BRA Lake Office (in person during business hours, or mailed to the lake office address)
• BRA reviews the application; approval timeline varies by season — spring and summer are busier and may run 4 to 8 weeks
• Once approved, BRA returns the permit; construction may begin only after receipt
• BRA may inspect the completed dock; the permitted dock must match the approved plans

Hire only BRA-licensed dock contractors. To obtain a list of contractors with valid BRA business operation permits, contact the BRA Lake Office and request the list — BRA can provide it by email. Never hire a contractor who cannot produce their BRA business operation permit number for Lake Granbury work.

What BRA Lake Rangers Enforce

BRA employs Lake Rangers who serve as law enforcement on and around Lake Granbury. They are authorized to enforce BRA rules and regulations, which include dock permit requirements. Rangers patrol the lake regularly and are empowered to document unpermitted structures and initiate enforcement action. The standard outcome for an unpermitted structure is a notice requiring permit application or removal — not an immediate demolition order — but the process creates complications that are entirely avoidable with proper permitting at closing.

BRA's Published Permit Access Point

All Lake Granbury permit forms are available at brazos.org under the Living Lakeside at Lake Granbury section. The permit forms, fee schedule, and contact information for the Lake Granbury Project Office are maintained there. For questions specific to your property's permit status, call 817-573-3212 during regular business hours. This is the same office that processes applications, renewals, and transfers — one contact point for all dock-related permitting on Lake Granbury.