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Waterfront Homes with a Private Dock

Waterfront homes for sale at Smith Mountain Lake: deeded shoreline where the dock is yours. The most sought-after — and most technical — purchase at this lake.

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The market, briefly

What this costs at Smith Mountain Lake

Waterfront single-family homes closed around an average of $1.22M in 2024, at 97% of list and about 58 days on market.

Figures reflect publicly reported Smith Mountain Lake area activity and are for general orientation only — they are not an appraisal. Ask us for current numbers on your specific segment.

The dock is a permit, not just a structure

Appalachian Power manages the shoreline. Full pond is 795 feet; AEP's authority runs to the 800-foot contour. Building or modifying a dock, adding riprap, or removing vegetation below that line all need AEP permission.

Grandfathering cuts both ways

Docks built before 2003 are grandfathered even where they wouldn't pass today. Modify one and current rules can apply. Know that before you plan to "just add a lift."

Permits take time and a surveyor

A new dock permit typically means a licensed surveyor (commonly in the $800–$1,000 range) and a minimum thirty-day AEP review. If your closing plan assumes a dock by Memorial Day, work backward from that timeline.

Depth, fetch, and orientation

Identical shoreline footage can be worth very different money. What matters: depth at low pond, exposure to wind and wake, and which way the view faces. This is the gap between a lake specialist and a good general agent.

Use this

Questions to ask any agent about this

Ask these of any agent — one we introduce or one you found yourself. A specialist answers easily. Everyone else gets vague.

  1. Is the dock permitted, and is the permit transferable to me?
  2. What is the water depth at the end of the dock at low pond?
  3. Was the dock built before or after 2003, and what happens if I modify it?
  4. How much of the shoreline is actually usable, versus steep bank?
  5. Which direction does the dock face, and what does that mean in July?

Communities that fit

A starting point. Details change — always verify current rules with the HOA and the county.

CommunityWhereWhat it is
Bridgewater GrandeWaterfront · New ConstructionMoneta, Franklin Co.A gated waterfront development of about 30 homesites within walking distance of Bridgewater Plaza, with a pool, pickleball and a community boat storage area. Still building out.
WaverlyWaterfront · MarinaUnion Hall, Franklin Co.138 acres and 119 home sites served by a private 26-slip marina.
The BoardwalkWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Over 100 acres built around the only boardwalk on Smith Mountain Lake, in a Nantucket style.
The CovesWaterfront · EcoUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Solar arrays, eco-conscious design and a community amphitheater.
South HarbourWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.Half-acre to 2.5-acre lots on the Blackwater channel; 40 properties, 28 of them waterfront.
The SanctuaryWaterfront · LotsPenhook, Franklin Co.A waterfront enclave of roughly 135 acres on the south side of the lake, sold as homesites for new construction.
The FarmWaterfront · EcoMoneta, Franklin Co.Green-building focused community of 63 properties, 17 of them waterfront.
Park PlaceWaterfrontUnion Hall, Franklin Co.A wooded waterfront community in Union Hall near the Virginia Wine Trail.

Full community directory →

Where to look for this on the lake

Bedford Co.

Moneta & the Bedford Shore

The classic lake side. Cottages and chalets tucked into wooded coves, the State Park, and the county where short-term rentals are permitted.

Explore this area
Bedford Co.

Huddleston & the East End

Deep water, wide views, and the quietest stretch of main channel — the lake between the bridges and the dam.

Explore this area
Franklin Co.

Union Hall & the South Shore

Newer, larger, quieter. The upscale planned communities of the Blackwater side, with golf, equestrian, and gated entries.

Explore this area
Franklin & Pittsylvania Counties

Penhook & the Upper Blackwater

The southern gateway and the best value water on the lake. Rural, quiet, and the closest shoreline to the Carolinas.

Explore this area

Or maybe you're really after…

Off-Water & Water Access

Lake life for a fraction of the price — if you know exactly what "water access" includes.

What to know

Condos & Townhomes

Lock the door and go. The lake's lowest-maintenance path to the water — and often the easiest one to rent out.

What to know

Golf Communities

Four distinct clubs, four very different memberships. Choosing the course is really choosing the community.

What to know

Looking for waterfront homes?

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