Towns we cover
Gainesville
About 42,300 people (2020 Census), and the Hall County seat. Most of the lake's dock builders are based here, and Lake Lanier Olympic Park, the 1996 rowing venue, got new steel-frame docks in 2024. Hall County holds about 60% of the lake.
Buford
About 17,100 people. The south end of the lake, by Buford Dam, where Lanier's level is measured. The record high and low levels quoted on this site are measured here.
Cumming
About 7,300 people; the Forsyth County seat. Forsyth has about 30% of the lake's shoreline, much of it along the Chattahoochee and Chestatee arms.
Flowery Branch
About 9,400 people on the South Hall shore between Gainesville and Buford, one of the busiest stretches of shoreline between the two cities.
Dawsonville
About 3,700 people; the Dawson County seat, on the lake's northwest arm. Dawson holds about 5% of the lake. Rules and rangers are the same as on the Hall and Forsyth shores.
Oakwood
About 4,800 people (2020), and one of Hall County's fastest-growing cities since. Lakefront lots near Oakwood fall under the same Gainesville-area Corps rangers and rules.
Sugar Hill
About 25,100 people on the Gwinnett side near Buford Dam. Gwinnett has about 4% of the lake's shoreline.
Murrayville
Unincorporated North Hall, along the Chestatee arm. Where banks are steep, the plan limits fixed steps to 20 ft and approach walkways to 40 ft.
North Forsyth & Coal Mountain
Unincorporated Forsyth on the upper Chestatee arm. Same Corps rules as everywhere on the lake; same ranger process for replacements.
Lumpkin County shore
The lake's narrow northern tip, about 1% of the shoreline. Check that your builder serves the north end before you book a site visit.