Buying on Possum Kingdom Lake

Lake buying guide

Buying on Possum Kingdom Lake

Possum Kingdom is a Brazos River Authority (BRA) reservoir, and that shapes almost everything about owning a lake home here. The BRA owns the lakebed and regulates docks, seawalls, lake-water pumps and septic systems near the water. This guide covers what buyers should understand about shoreline rules, how lot ownership works, the permits that transfer at closing, and how the lake level has changed over time. For neighborhoods, schools, taxes and market numbers, see the Possum Kingdom Lake community guide.

The 1,000-foot contour: where your lot ends

According to the BRA, the 1,000-foot contour (1,000 feet above mean sea level) marks the deeded property line between a lakeside lot and the area considered part of the lake. That line may or may not be underwater. The lake's normal full level, its conservation pool, is 999 feet. So when the lake is full, some land between the waterline and your deeded line may still belong to the lake.

• No permanent structure may be built below the 1,000-foot contour. A few older structures may be "grandfathered." Call the PK lake office if a survey shows a structure in that area.
• For any construction along the shoreline, a licensed surveyor must mark the 1,000-foot contour during an official survey.

Leased vs. deeded lots

For decades, much of the land around PK above the 1,000-foot contour was owned by the BRA and leased to homeowners. Under a 2009 state-authorized sale, the BRA sold that leased property to the Patterson PK Land Partnership, and the sale closed in 2010. Under the terms announced at the time, roughly 1,500 residential leaseholders could either buy the land under their homes, priced from its 2008 assessed value, or continue to lease (sale announcement, October 2010).

So a lot that was part of that program today may be deeded (you own the land outright) or may still be under a ground lease, where you own the house but lease the land. They are very different purchases. Before you make an offer:

• Ask the seller and listing agent directly whether the land is owned or leased
• Review the title commitment and any lease, assignment and rent terms
• Ask your lender whether it will finance the property as structured
• Have a real estate attorney review any ground lease

Dock permits (On-Water Facility permits)

Docks sit over BRA-owned lakebed and water, so each one needs a BRA On-Water Facility permit. When a home sells, the permit must be transferred to the new owner. BRA rules and fees as published on its PK resident FAQ:

• One-time $75 application/inspection fee for a transfer, a new dock or a change to the footprint. There's no annual dock fee at PK.
• New docks are limited to 2,000 square feet. Storage closets can be up to 40 square feet, and three sides can be enclosed.
• Replacement docks must follow current rules but may keep a larger grandfathered size.
• Inspectors look for amber reflectors no more than 20 feet apart, sound boards, safe wiring, secure flotation and anchorage, lights on docks extending more than 100 feet, and unpermitted additions such as living quarters, sinks or toilets.
• Dock contractors must hold a BRA permit to work on the water.
• Not every lot can have a dock. Some areas, including The Ranch and portions of Sportsman's World and The Cliffs, can't be authorized for water or on-water facility permits because of contractual agreements and deed covenants.

BRA recommends having docks, walkways and retaining walls inspected before closing, while repairs are still the seller's responsibility. The PK lake office is (940) 779-2321.

Seawalls, retaining walls & shoreline work

Retaining walls, seawalls, dredging and stump removal need a BRA Improvement Permit. The application has a $75 non-refundable fee and requires a scaled site plan. Work may not begin until the permit is issued. Conditions on the BRA form include:

• Retaining walls may not extend beyond the historical full-pool elevation
• The owner is responsible for the wall's safety and maintenance
• The contractor must be permitted to work on the lake
• Dredging may also need U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval and can't come closer than 10 feet to a property line extended into the lake

BRA says erosion can be controlled with a retaining wall at the 1,000-foot contour. If you're buying a lot with an eroding bank, ask a contractor for a rough estimate during your option period.

Lake-water pumps & septic

Residential Water Use Permit: lets a lakeside owner pump up to 5,000 gallons a month of untreated lake water for landscape irrigation. Transfer has a one-time $25 application/inspection fee, plus an annual fee billed each December. Have the pump and piping inspected before closing.

Septic: there's no municipal wastewater service at PK outside gated communities, so homes rely on on-site sewage facilities. The BRA is the permitting authority for septic systems within 2,000 feet of the lake or the 1,000-foot contour. Older systems registered when BRA began licensing in 1977 may stay in use while they work properly and no living area is added. A failing system, or an addition, can require a new licensed system. See the well and septic guide.

Lake level history

PK's level rises and falls with rain, drought and releases through Morris Sheppard Dam. The Texas Water Development Board's Water Data for Texas keeps daily records back to 1941:

Source: TWDB Water Data for Texas, Possum Kingdom Lake period-of-record data (provisional for recent dates). The BRA also posts current conditions at brazos.org. When you tour, ask how the dock was set up for low water, how deep the water is at the end of the dock, and how the shoreline handled past high water.

PK buyer checklist

1. Confirm deeded vs. leasedRead the title commitment and any lease.
2. Order the surveyHave it show the 1,000-foot contour and any structures below it.
3. Schedule a BRA inspectionDocks, walkways, retaining walls and pump, ideally with the septic inspection on the same visit.
4. Transfer permitsOn-Water Facility and Water Use permits move to you through the BRA.
5. Check flood and insuranceUse the flood zone guide and get wildfire, wind/hail and flood quotes early.
6. Confirm county and school districtShoreline parcels fall in different counties and districts.

Nearby: Graford · Mineral Wells · Graham · Breckenridge

FAQ

Possum Kingdom buying questions

This content is general information, not legal advice. BRA rules and fees change. Confirm current requirements with the Brazos River Authority, a title company and a real estate attorney.