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Town of Old Lyme, CT
New London County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (3) Index
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANCHOR (v)
To secure temporarily a vessel to the bottom within a body of water by dropping an anchor or anchors from the vessel.
BERTHING
Berthing space for one or more vessels alongside a pier or other structure.
BOAT
A ship, vessel, or any other type of watercraft, including but not limited to jet skis.
BULKHEAD
A structure built parallel, or nearly so, to the shore at the interface of the land and water.
[Added 1-25-2010]
BULKHEAD LINE
A line seaward of which no fill or creation of land is intended to take place. The outer edge or foundation of any seawall is intended to be on or landward of the bulkhead line.
CHANNEL
Any water areas reserved for unobstructed movement of vessels and so noted on navigation charts. Normally it is federal and marked by buoys or other aids.
COMMERCIAL MOORING
A mooring intended for rental or lease along with the provision of shoreside amenities, including parking, launch service and bathrooms.
DESIGNATED MOORING AREA
Those areas designated by the Harbor Management Commission for moorings only.
DISTRESS
A state of disability or a present or obviously imminent danger which, if unduly prolonged, could endanger life or property.
DOCK
A structure to which any form of watercraft may be secured. Such structure may be either floating, at any depth of water, or nonfloating; not to be construed as a float used for swimming.
[Added 1-25-2010]
EMERGENCY
A state of imminent or proximate danger to life or property in which time is of the essence.
FAIRWAY
The middle 50% of any river, stream, or estuary, unless designated otherwise, or any locally designated and/or maintained water areas reserved for unobstructed movement of vessels.
FLOATING DOCK
A platform designed to rise and fall with the tide which is connected to the shoreline or fixed dock, pier, wharf or walkway by a ramp.
[Added 1-25-2010]
HARBORMASTER
The Harbormaster appointed by the Governor who has the responsibility for the general care and supervision of Old Lyme waters.
HARBORSIDE REFERENCE LINE
A line defining the maximum length to which docks are recommended to extend into the harbor from mean high water line. The harborside reference line may be established by a compass direction or may run between two known points on shore.
MOOR
To secure a vessel, other than by anchoring, by tying to a pier or other permanent structure.
MOORING (n)
An approved anchor and associated hardware emplaced in water in order to secure a vessel thereto on a semipermanent basis. A mooring circle has a radius of 2.5 times the depth at mean high water (the length of the chain) plus 10 feet (pennant) plus the length of the vessel.
MOORING BUOY
An approved float marking a mooring.
OLD LYME WATERS
The waters defined in § 58-2 of Article I.
PERSON
Includes individuals, corporations, societies, associations, and partnerships.
PIER
A structure which is supported on piles or other open work supports, or may be floating, which may be located seaward of the bulkhead line. A pier includes a stake, isolated pile or dolphin.
PIERHEAD LINE
A line seaward of which no pier is recommended to be constructed.
REGISTERED OWNER
The holder of a mooring space assigned to him or her by the Harbormaster.
SHORE
That part of the land in immediate contact with a body of water, including the area between high and low water lines.
SIDE FAIRWAY LINES
Lines which define the width of the side fairway required between the boundary line of a waterfront property and any pier.
SIDE REFERENCE LINES
Lines extending seaward from the boundary lines of waterfront property, whose purpose is to define the water use area of such waterfront property. (Riparian boundaries are frequently determined by the courts and do not always conform to the above definition.)
SLIP
Berthing space for a single vessel between piers, finger floats, or pilings.
VESSEL
Every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation.
WALKWAY
A narrow structure designed for nonvehicular use.
[Added 1-25-2010]
WATERFRONT PROPERTY OWNER
The person(s) or entity who or which owns title to the land bordering tidal waters and who or which holds the appurtenant riparian or littoral rights to use such waters, or the owner of the riparian or littoral rights.
WHARF
Same as "pier."
[Added 1-25-2010]
B. 
"Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.
[Added 1-25-2010]
The standards for docks constructed in Old Lyme waters, approved by the State Department of Environmental Protection, State Department of Transportation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and adopted by the Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission on July 14, 2009, shall be incorporated in the Harbor Management Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Harbor Management Plan Addendum included at the end of this chapter.