Permit plan · Sand beach or fill at the water's edge

Your permit plan: Sand beach or fill at the water's edge

Based on your answers. Cards are in the order you'll usually need them. Checked Oct 4, 2026.

Your answers (change any of them)

Who owns the water and the lakebed? A lake owned by our community or association · change
Where will the sand or fill go? Into the water, or touching the water's edge · change

State

Chapter 105: your project is a water obstruction

DEP, or your county conservation district if it has Chapter 105 delegation

Under Pennsylvania's Chapter 105 rules, a "body of water" includes any natural or artificial lake or pond, and a "water obstruction" includes a pier, wharf, wall, fill or other structure in, along, across or projecting into it. For ponds and lakes, a structure counts if, at normal pool level, it is in the water or touching the water's edge. The rules cover temporary structures as well as permanent ones. DEP says any change to a pond's cross-section that is not maintenance, such as a new dock, pier or island or making the pond bigger, needs a water obstruction and encroachment permit.

Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source: 25 Pa. Code § 105.1, Definitions This may be outdated

State

Individual Chapter 105 permit (Joint Permit Application)

DEP (regional office), or your delegated county conservation district

Fee: Small dam across a stream: DEP fees from $1,750 plus disturbance fees; confirm with DEP.

Chapter 105 work that doesn't qualify for a waiver or a general permit needs an individual water obstruction and encroachment permit through DEP's Joint Permit Application, reviewed by DEP's regional office or a delegated conservation district. DEP recommends a pre-application meeting. In most cases the same application also covers the federal Army Corps authorization. Small dam across a stream: DEP fees from $1,750 plus disturbance fees; confirm with DEP.

What to have ready

Ask DEP for a pre-application meeting; DEP recommends it.
Expect a site plan, a location map, photos and a project description; larger projects need more (25 Pa. Code § 105.13).

Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Sources: Apply for a Water Obstruction and Encroachment Joint Permit (Chapter 105); Introduction to Ponds and Chapter 105 (FAQ: non-jurisdictional dam across a stream); Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit-7 (PASPGP-7), Part I and Part VI (dated April 27, 2026) This may be outdated

Federal

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Clean Water Act Section 404)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, usually through DEP's joint application

Placing fill or dredged material in waters of the United States, including many wetlands, needs federal authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. In Pennsylvania the Army Corps and DEP share one joint application: under the Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit (PASPGP-7), DEP or a delegated county conservation district can issue both the state and the federal authorization in most cases, and forwards the rest to the Corps. PASPGP-7 runs until June 30, 2031.

Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source: Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit-7 (PASPGP-7), Part I and Part VI (dated April 27, 2026) This may be outdated

State

Erosion and sediment control

Your county conservation district (for DEP)

Any earth disturbance needs erosion and sediment control practices (BMPs). A written erosion and sediment control plan is required once the disturbance reaches 5,000 square feet (or if the work could discharge to a High Quality or Exceptional Value water), and it must be kept on site. Disturbing 1 acre or more generally needs an NPDES permit for construction stormwater. County conservation districts review these plans and may charge a review fee.

Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source: Frequently Asked Questions: Erosion and Sediment Control (rev. Aug 12, 2026), FAQ #5 This may be outdated

Also check

Local

Also check with your municipality

Your township, borough or city (and county)

Ask about zoning, building and floodplain permits. Your county, township or municipal government may have its own rules, codes or permits for pond construction or maintenance, so check with every level of local government before you start, especially for a new pond.

Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source: Pond Agencies and Permits in Pennsylvania: Local Government (updated May 19, 2025) This may be outdated

Owner

Your association comes first

Your lake community or association

Your association's rules and approvals come first; they don't replace state permits. Ask for its approval in writing before you apply to the state.

A summary, not legal or engineering advice. The regulation, the permit documents and the product label control. Confirm with the agency before you start.

Pros for this work

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Pond & Shore PA plan · lakepennsylvania.us/plan/28h0 · Checked Oct 4, 2026

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