Riprap & Dock Work in Union Hall, VA

Union Hall waterfront is on the Franklin County side of Smith Mountain Lake, so riprap, dock and boat lift work there runs through AEP and then Franklin County's offices in Rocky Mount. This page explains Franklin's lower permit trigger for digging near the water, the county's dock framing and wiring guide, the $43 fee to record an AEP permit, and what shoreline and dock work cost.

Call (540) 410-1330 Request a Quote

Sloped lawn running down to a band of gray riprap and a small floating dock with an aluminum ramp, below a lake home — A sloped lawn running down to a band of gray riprap and a small floating dock reached by an aluminum ramp.

Union Hall at a glance

Community: Census-designated place in Franklin County, part of the Roanoke metro area; ZIP 24176
Shore: South side of the lake, most of which is in Franklin County
Land disturbance: County permit at 3,000 sq ft or more within 200 ft of surface water; state rules from 10,000 sq ft
Building permits: Franklin County Building Inspections, 1255 Franklin St., Suite 103, Rocky Mount; 540-483-3047
Recording fee: $43 to the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk; AEP's permit itself is free

Where Union Hall fits on the lake

Union Hall is a census-designated place in Franklin County, which holds most of the lake's south shore, opposite the Bedford County half across the Roanoke River channel. A U.S. Geological Survey monitoring site in the area is named "Blackwater River Trib Near Union Hall," which ties the area to the Blackwater River's drainage. For permits, what matters is settled: property inside Union Hall is in Franklin County. If your mailing address says Union Hall and you aren't sure, the tax bill confirms it.

Franklin County's 3,000-square-foot trigger

The state regulates land disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more. Franklin's own ordinance goes further and requires a permit when disturbance is 3,000 square feet or more and within 200 feet of surface water. Shoreline work is within 200 feet of the lake by definition, so for riprap the size of the disturbed area decides it.

Two examples. A contractor repairing 100 feet of bank who disturbs a 10-foot strip touches about 1,000 square feet, under the local trigger. Armoring 250 feet of shoreline with a 15-foot work strip comes to 3,750 square feet, over it, so the county permit is required. For single-family dwellings, the county's erosion page points owners to an Erosion and Sediment Control Agreement in Lieu of a Plan; ask whether a shoreline job on your lot can use it.

AEP's stabilization form asks for the county erosion and sediment permit once AEP's own permit is issued, and for the approved county permit to be sent back to AEP. If your job is under 3,000 square feet, ask Franklin's erosion and stormwater staff (540-483-3027, ext. 2324) what they'll provide for AEP's file. Either way, controls go in before grading, and bare soil is stabilized within 7 days of final grade.

Docks, lifts and Franklin's building office

Franklin County requires a building permit for work that isn't exempt under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Its exemptions include ordinary repairs such as paint, while constructing or replacing a deck is on the list of work that needs a permit. Docks aren't named either way, so check with Building Inspections before structural dock work. AEP's separate no-permit list (surface materials, siding, shingles, paint or stain, with no change in size or layout) is AEP's rule, not the county's.

The Building Inspections page links a USBC dock requirements guide that applies across Franklin, Bedford, Pittsylvania and Campbell counties. Among its points:

Bearing beams and girders bolted to the supporting piers.
Extra bracing between all boat lift pulley attachment points.
GFCI protection on every outlet, including a 240-volt boat hoist.
Sub-panel equipment grounds tied to a ground rod on shore.
For a floating dock, the disconnect on land, in sight, and at least 5 feet back from the shoreline.
Guardrails on stairs, landings, platforms and decks more than 30 inches above grade.

To schedule a power inspection, Franklin asks for the nine-digit AEP work order number along with the permit number. State law (Va. Code § 15.2-1226) allows Franklin to regulate the location, size and length of docks below the 800-foot contour, so ask Building Inspections (540-483-3047) whether the county has dock rules of its own. AEP's dock size limits are on the new docks page, and lift rules on boat lifts.

Riprap and the alternatives AEP rules out

AEP approves riprap only where erosion is active, after planting and bioengineering are considered, and the Corps permit has to be issued before AEP signs off. Two shortcuts owners ask about are mostly off the table. New beaches are prohibited except in Public Use areas with a FERC variance, and no sand can go below 795 feet. Bulkheads and seawalls are prohibited unless FERC grants a variance, which happens only in limited situations where nothing else works. See riprap rules, seawalls and bulkheads and the permits guide.

What it costs

Angi's 2025 national data: riprap $70 to $400 per linear foot, an average project around $20,000, and most jobs 100 to 300 feet long. The 250-foot example works out to $17,500 to $100,000. HomeAdvisor's 2025 national figures put piling docks at $20 to $40 per square foot; closer to home, the SML Insiders' Guide quotes two builders who estimate $100,000 to $150,000 or more for a 1,500-square-foot dock with upgrades. Use these as background for a written quote, and see the cost guide.

Union Hall shoreline questions

Does a contractor need a Franklin County permit for a short riprap repair?

It depends on area. Under 3,000 square feet within 200 feet of the water falls below Franklin's local trigger; at or above it, the county permit applies. Moving existing stone within its original footprint needs no AEP permit, but adding stone does.

Can a contractor put in riprap in May?

Possibly not. In Conservation/Environmental and Impact Minimization Zone areas, AEP bars in-water construction from February 15 to June 15. Elsewhere, in-water work from April 15 to June 15 needs extra information about bass nests, and a nest can delay the job.

Can a contractor build a sand beach instead of armoring the bank?

Not a new one. Beaches that existed before August 31, 2003 can be maintained but not expanded, and sand can't be added to a natural beach.

Can a contractor plumb a sink or shower on the dock?

No. AEP doesn't allow sinks, showers or sanitation on docks. An enclosure is limited to 72 square feet inside, on the lower level, within the 12 feet of dock nearest shore.

How this site helps

Call (540) 410-1330 or send the quote form, and we'll connect you with one independent local contractor who works on the lake. Scope and price are worked out between you and them. Licensing, insurance, permits, pricing and warranties are the contractor's own responsibility; check a license on DPOR's License Lookup and read who does the work before you sign anything.

Other lake communities

Sources

Working on a Union Hall shoreline or dock?

Tell us what you need by phone or through the form, and we'll connect you with one independent local contractor.