Can You Build a Dock or Boathouse on Ono Island? What to Know About Seagrass, Permits & Restrictions
By Meredith Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida
"Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Amon."
www.searchthegulf.com/ono-island/
Many of my buyers on Ono Island dream of owning a waterfront home with a private dock or boathouse. But before you start sketching designs for a lift or party deck, it’s important to understand one critical factor that affects your ability to build: submerged aquatic vegetation, or seagrass.
Let’s walk through what seagrass means for property owners, why it’s protected, how to check for it, and what the permitting process looks like on Ono Island.
What Is the Grass in the Water Around Ono Island?
The grass you see in the shallows around Ono Island is usually eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) or widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima). These are native seagrasses found in areas like:
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Shallow canals on Ono North
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Margins of Bayou St. John and Old River
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Calm inlets where water is clear and sunlight reaches the bottom
These underwater grass beds serve as essential nursery grounds for redfish, speckled trout, shrimp, and blue crabs. They also stabilize the sediment, improve water clarity, and prevent erosion. Because of their ecological importance, these grasses are protected by federal and state law.
Why Seagrass Impacts Dock and Boathouse Permits
If your lot has visible aquatic vegetation or falls within a mapped seagrass zone, you may face one or more of the following:
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Denial or restriction of boathouse permits
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Prohibition on dredging or shading the grass
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Limitation to pier-only access (no covered structures)
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Requirement for elevated walkways with minimal environmental impact
Both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will review your application carefully if seagrass is involved. In many cases, even the suggestion of harm to SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) can delay or derail a project.
Is There a Map That Shows Where Seagrass Is?
Yes, there are multiple resources:
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Alabama Coastal Mapping Program (ACAMP):
https://www.alabamacoastaldata.org -
NOAA Seagrass Viewer
https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/marinecadastre.html -
Google Earth Pro (free): You can often see darker underwater patches near shoreline areas indicating vegetated zones.
Note: These tools are helpful for general planning, but an on-site evaluation or survey is the best way to confirm conditions.
What Can You Do If You Want to Build?
If you’re buying or already own property on Ono Island, here are your best next steps:
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Consult a Marine Contractor
Choose a dock builder familiar with Ono Island’s POA and the Corps of Engineers permitting process. -
Request a Site Evaluation
A qualified professional can assess water depth, vegetation, bottom conditions, and setbacks. -
Submit a Joint Permit Application
You’ll apply through a Joint Coastal Permit, which gets routed through:-
Baldwin County
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Ono Island POA
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Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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Comply With Design Requirements
The roof of your boathouse must match the roof of your primary residence in material and pitch, per Ono Island POA architectural guidelines. This maintains visual consistency and design integrity across the community.
Meredith’s Tips for Buyers
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Look for lots with deeper water and minimal vegetation—Shoalwater Street and parts of River Road offer ideal conditions.
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If a lot backs up to a canal, ask for historic imagery or aerial analysis before submitting a contract.
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Be patient—permitting can take 4–6 months or more depending on environmental review.
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Consider alternatives like shared docks, kayak launches, or narrow elevated piers if your site is sensitive.
Ready to Find the Right Waterfront Lot or Home?
I live on Ono Island and work closely with engineers, dock builders, and the POA to help my clients navigate the process. Whether you want to design your dream boathouse or simply launch your paddleboard from the back deck, I’ll help you find a property that fits your goals—and your lifestyle.
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Meredith Amon is a Gulf Coast Expert Real Estate Advisor, licensed in Alabama and Florida. She specializes in helping buyers and sellers navigate the buying and selling of homes along the Gulf Coast, with deep expertise in boater-friendly properties and construction requirements on Ono Island.
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