Commercial Boats

 

 

• What is Commercial use? Any use of the lake in a manner that will generate direct or indirect revenue. The following eight commercial classifications have been defined for Lake Lure :

1. Rental livery (incl. boats accompanying rental property)
2. Resorts
3. Camps
4. Ski schools
5. Tour boats
6. Fishing guides
7. Service boats
8. Realtors

 

• Commercial Licenses - Prior to purchasing boat permits for commercial use, a Lake Commercial License must be applied for and approved by the Marine Commission. Applications are available at Town Hall.

 

• Applications Due by November 1 st for the following year - The application requires information on the company, lodging facilities (for resorts, inns, camps and house rentals), insurance, and all boat operators. It also requires information on each boat and its intended usage.

 

• Who Will Receive A Commercial License? In order to control overcrowding and maintain safe boating conditions on the lake, the Marine Commission will limit the number of commercial operations permitted each year and balance commercial boating activities with non-commercial boating on the lake. All applications will be closely reviewed and a calculation will be made that estimates the impact of each of the company’s boats on the lake (by season and time of day). In granting licenses, priority will be given based on a number of factors including lake impact, age and location of business, prior year licenses.

 

• Insurance - Lake Lure requires that all commercial boating operations must obtain and maintain commercial liability insurance with at least $1,000,000 in coverage for each boat permitted (motorized and non-motorized). Note: Service boats and Realtors must obtain $300,000 in coverage. In addition, the Town of Lake Lure must be listed as a co-insured on the policy. Proof of insurance (an current agency letter) must accompany the commercial license application.

 

• Operator Training - Lake Lure requires that all operators of commercial boats be registered with the Town (via the commercial license application) and annually show proof of successful completion of a NCWRC approved boating safety course. A training course may be found at: http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/

 

Operator information required (each year):

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Address
• Course Certificate

 

 

 

• Mooring Restrictions - Commercial operations must moor vessels at lake structures adjacent to lots zoned CG, GU, R3 or R4. Exceptions are allowed for:
• Class 1 rental livery associated with rental homes
• Class 7 service boats
• Class 8 realtors

 

• Residency - It is the intent of the Marine Commission to limit lake commercial licenses to those business entities which are principally located in the corporate limits of the Town of Lake Lure. The Marine Commission reserves the right to cancel lake commercial licenses if it is later determined that the representation of residential status was incorrect. Non-resident real estate agents, fishing guides, contractors and boat repair companies hired by residents of Lake Lure may apply to the marine commission for special permits. If approved, non-resident commercial licenses will be allocated one motorized boat permit. The boat permit fee will be adjusted to represent the non-resident annual fee plus the commercial surcharge as applied to resident annual permit fee.

 

• Maximum Permits - Commercial operations will be subject to the following limits on the number of boats operated:

 

Commercial Classification	Maximum per owner or business entity
Class 1 (Rental Livery)	4
Class 2 (Resorts)	3
Class 3 (Camps)	3
Class 4 (Ski schools)	2
Class 5 (Tour boats)	2
Class 6 (Fishing guides)	2
Class 7 (Service boats)	2
Class 8 ( Realtors)	3

 

 

 

Private Boats

 

 

• Insurance - Lake Lure requires that all private boat owners must obtain and maintain marine liability insurance with at least $300,000 in coverage for each motorized boat permitted. The Town does not need to be listed as a co-insured. Proof of insurance must be shown in order to receive a permit (either an agency letter or a copy of the policy).

 

• Limits - A reminder of the limits in place for boat mooring and for resident-rate permits:

 

• Owners and spouses of an improved property parcel (with dwelling) within the Town of Lake Lure may have up to 3 motorized boats permitted at the resident rates. An unimproved parcel may have 1 motorized boat permitted. Additional boats must be permitted at the non-resident rates.
• No more than 3 boats may be moored per 100 feet of shoreline (exception: approved marinas and cluster moorings).

 

• Rental Homes with Boat - A rented home is a commercial operation. Any boat utilized in conjunction with the rental must be permitted under Commercial Boat rules and requirements.

 

• What to Bring to Town Hall?

• Address of Lake Lure property (if applying for a resident permit)
• Name, address and contact information of boat owner (name must match property tax records for resident permits)
• Boat information: make, model, year, length, color, mooring location. If motorized: motor make, year, horsepower.
• For motorized boats: Proof of state registration
• For motorized boats: Proof of liability insurance (marine policy or homeowner’s policy or a certificate of insurance)
• Check or cash to pay for permit fees