<human>: Long time reddit creeper. First time poster. Please have mercy on me.

We have a house on Lake Lanier, and our dock permit is up for renewal in August. We have a 40 foot x 40 foot dock consisting of two stories. We have had a tent on the second story for the past couple of years. The frame was "permanently" affixed to the top with screws and no one ever said anything. However the fabric would continually rip due to winds, costing about $100 to replace each time.

So we built a wooden gazebo like structure. Complete with shingles and everything, matching the facade of the dock. Then we get a letter from the corp of engineers saying that roofs are not allowed on a two story dock. I have scoured the websites and I can not find anything that either allows or prohibits it.

We've had an awning screwed in for 3 years. Our neighbors do as well. What makes this any different? If it were a change to the dock in size, or depth, I could understand. But it doesn't cover any more water, it doesn't extend the size, and it doesn't change the depth. What ordinance/law/code/whatever says we can't have a roof?

Provide a brief overview of the text.
<bot>: have had an awning for 3 years. Permits renewed no problem. Put in a gazebo, corps of engineers lose their mind. Any recourse? Or are we out the money?