Sometimes — but not automatically, and not just because a listing says "dockable." Docks at Smith Mountain Lake are governed by American Electric Power (AEP) under a federally-approved Shoreline Management Plan, and whether you can build one (and how big) depends on your shoreline, your cove, and the rules in force.
The Shoreline Management Plan (2003)
AEP's 2003 Shoreline Management Plan is the framework that governs what happens along the water's edge. It's why two seemingly similar lots can have very different dock rights — and why "there's a dock next door" doesn't guarantee you can build one too.
Permits & who to call
Dock permitting runs through AEP's shoreline management office. Before you assume anything, that office can tell you what a given property allows.
Contours, setbacks & the one-third cove rule
A few specifics that surprise buyers: the difference between the 795- and 800-foot contour lines matters for what's yours to use; side setbacks (commonly cited around 15 and 30 feet) affect where a dock can sit; and the "one-third cove rule" limits how far a structure can extend across a narrow cove so neighbors aren't boxed in.