Community Dock Case Studies

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Community and Shared Docks
Case Studies from the B.C. Coast
By Jason Youmans

Table of Contents
General Information
Introduction                                                                    3
Definitions                                                                          4
Key Agencies                                         5
Residents and Docks                                              8
Local Trust Committees and Docks                                                     9
Case Studies
Thetis Island Community Dock                                    12
Surge Narrows Community Dock                                 13
Denman Island Community Dock                                14
Brigade Bay Dock                                                         15
Belcarra Group Wharves                                              16
Port Metro Vancouver Shared Docks                                             17
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round the South Coast and islands of British Columbia, excessive numbers of private docks extending from wa-
terfront properties risk damaging sensitive ecosystems like eelgrass beds and forage-fish habitat, impede access 
to the publicly-owned foreshore, and detract from the natural beauty of the coastline. At the same time, most island 
and coastal communities see some value in the convenient access that docks provide. In an effort to limit the con-
struction of private docks, many jurisdictions encourage, and some even require, the sharing of dock facilities among 
neighbours. Others ban outright the development of docks extending from private property. In the Gulf Islands, policy 
4.5.11 of the Islands Trust Policy Statement guides local trust committees in their consideration of docks. This provi-
sion states that “Local trust committees and island municipalities shall, in their official community plans and regulatory 
bylaws, address opportunities for the sharing of facilities such as docks, wharves, floats, jetties, boat houses, board 
walks and causeways.” 
The purposes of this report are twofold. First, it is meant to provide a snapshot of how different communities around 
the South Coast have met the challenge of developing community and shared dock facilities. It is hoped that these 
examples might provide a point of departure for those seeking to do the same. Second, it is meant to give community 
and local trust committee members an idea of the policy and regulatory actions they can take around land use to 
support citizens looking to develop community or shared dock facilities, and to limit development of private docks. It 
is assumed, for the purposes of this report, that funding docks is beyond the authority of the elected officials served 
by this document. 
There is no template to follow that ensures successful community or shared dock development. Success depends on 
the organizational capacity of the proponents, the responsiveness of various levels of government, the coastal loca-
tion, and the type of dock sou

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