Lake Orange, Inc.

Established 1967

Guidelines for accessing Lake Orange in 2026 are outlined below.

Annual Lake Access Permits are offered for sale by Lake Orange, Inc. to those living in the vicinity of Lake Orange.

Except for Orange County officials and their contractors, anyone accessing Lake Orange must do so under a valid Lake Access Permit.
Simply owning property adjacent to the 620' contour line does not count as lake use, nor does it automatically entitle lake use.
Any recreation below the 620' contour, on the surface of the water, or at the marina area requires a valid Lake Access Permit.
New docks, new structures, or constructions/renovations of any sort below the 620' elevation are not permitted without the advance written permission of LOI.
Recreational use of Lake Orange or LOI property without a valid permit infringes on the rights of Lake Orange, Inc.
Lake Access Permits control the number of lake users during any given year, supporting user safety and water quality.

In 2026, Lake Orange, Inc. will offer for sale up to 200 Lake Access Permits.

Priority for those permits will be offered to the residents of property adjacent to the 620' contour line (about 140 parcels).
Remaining permits will be offered next to residents nearby the lake and finally to the general public.
A Lake Access Permit nominally covers one family (all people residing at a single address in a single residence).
Guests are permitted in accordance with the Lake Orange, Inc. Rules, Terms, and Conditions of Use.
Allowable recreational uses are covered in the Rules. Notably, swimming is not allowed.

2026 Lake Access Permit Pricing:

An annual Lake Access Permit costs $300 and is required for any access of Lake Orange. The permit includes the use of human-powered watercraft and non-motorized sailboats up to 14 ft. in length (i.e. watercraft that do not require registration with the State of NC).
Additional annual fee per motorized watercraft = $100 each (any motor, even electric trolling motors, and any sailboat longer than 14', corresponding with NC vessel registration requirements).
Additional annual fee for a dock or other structure below the 620' elevation = $225 per permit (not per structure).
Additional annual fee to leave a boat at the Lake Orange, Inc. Marina = $1000
Additional annual fee to park a trailer at the Lake Orange, Inc. Marina = $200

For 2026 only, anyone owning property along the 620' contour that pays for 2026 lake access will be provided a letter, separate from their billing receipt, that states their account with Lake Orange, Inc. is satisfied and in good standing for 2026 and all years prior. Lake Orange, Inc. plans a fresh approach moving forward with a focus on preserving recreation rights on Lake Orange. Protection of these rights requires a stable Lake Orange, Inc. that can effectively work with Orange County on issues of water quality and shoreline use that interact with and could threaten recreation rights.

Lake Orange, Inc. (LOI) reserves the right to adjust permit numbers, costs, boating options, and other requirements in the future to balance a variety of goals including water quality, lake user safety, tranquility of the lake, and financial stability. LOI reserves the right to deny the sale of a permit for any reason, at its sole discretion.

Click Here to Request a 2026 Lake Access Permit Online

Steps to obtain a Lake Access Permit:

1) Request a permit at the link above. To do so, you must agree with the Lake Orange, Inc. Rules, Terms, and Conditions of Use (the "Rules").

2) Once your request is approved, Lake Orange, Inc. will email an invoice with online payment link. We review requests and send invoices no more frequently than once per week.

3) Pay the invoice and receive an automated receipt. The receipt is your Lake Access Permit.

4) At least once per year, LOI will make available a list of all registered lake users to all other registered lake users.

5) A renewal reminder will be sent late in a given calendar year for access the next calendar year.

If you prefer a paper form and/or payment by check, please contact us and we will work with you by US Mail or in person.

We are also happy to discuss specific concerns, financial hardships, or other situations on a case-by-case basis.

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