Waterfront Contractors in Mathews

Mathews waterfront

Dock, bulkhead and boat lift contractors in Mathews

Mathews County sees about 120 waterfront permit applications a year in state records, on the East River, the North River, the Piankatank, Queens Creek, Stutts Creek and the open Bay shore. Nearly one in five is a living shoreline, almost three times the share in Virginia Beach, along with piers, boat lifts and riprap. Below are local marine contractors who serve Mathews. Contact them directly; there are no lead forms and no middleman.

Plan your project

Permits and planning in Mathews

Most waterfront projects in Mathews County start with a Joint Permit Application, filed online through the Army Corps and shared with the state agencies and the county. Work in tidal wetlands goes before the Mathews County Wetlands Board, which usually meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month in the Historic Courthouse, 17 Church Street. Applications are due about 45 days before the hearing, and the county lists each month’s deadlines and fees: $150 for a private residential project and $200 for commercial or community projects. Applications for work already done cost double, and violations can bring fines up to $10,000. A county wetlands permit is good for 24 months. For questions, call Planning and Zoning through the county office at (804) 725-7172.

If you are planning shoreline protection, expect the review to ask whether a living shoreline would work before a bulkhead is approved. Clearing or shoreline work in the 100 foot Chesapeake Bay Act buffer needs a county RPA modification permit ($100). The free coastal resource map from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science shows what kind of protection is recommended along your stretch of shore. See what happens after you apply.

Help paying for it: the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission’s Fight the Flood program offers low interest loans for living shorelines, with grants when funding is available, and has offered extra funding in parts of Mathews. Apply before you hire. For a free look at an erosion problem first, the state’s Shoreline Erosion Advisory Service will visit your property and recommend a fix. Most contractors handle the permit paperwork, so ask when you get an estimate.

The Bay Act buffer: what you can build →
Do I need a permit for a dock? →
Bulkhead costs →
Dock and pier costs →
After a storm: what to check →