Lake Rules

Rules for Use of the Recreation Areas - last updated April 1, 2019

The following rules and procedures have been adopted by the Cedar Lake Homeowners’ Association (CLHA) to serve members and their guests and to ensure the enjoyment, well-being, and safety of all. The Common Area and/or recreation areas includes: all of the lake, dam, the area adjacent to the dam, parking areas, shelters and spillway areas.

General Rules

  1. Use of the recreation areas is restricted to Members of the Association who have paid their annual assessment, their families and guests and persons deemed renters who have complied with the provisions on paragraph 2 below.
  2. Each person living in a rental unit who desires lake privileges must pay an annual recreation fee. Children 12 years of age and younger are exempt from the fee.
  3. Children 12 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an Association Member, a family member or approved guest of adult age (person over 18 years of age).
  4. Vehicles are to be parked in the graveled areas only. Parking in the boat ramp area is allowed only while loading and unloading.
  5. The recreation area is closed from sunset to sunrise.
  6. Place all trash in the barrels provided. Please take-home refuse whenever possible.
  7. Walking pets on a leash through the recreation areas and across the dam is permitted. Please clean up after your pet. The City of Columbia “pooper scooper” ordinance applies to Cedar Lake.
  8. The use of firearms or BB guns are prohibited (City Ordinance)
  9. No glass of any sort is allowed on or near the beach area.
  10. No motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, are allowed on the dam area.
  11. Access to the lake is not to be gained by trespass on a privately-owned lake-front lot. All docks, with the exception of the fishing dock at the dam, are private property and should not be used without permission of the owner.
  12. No female topless sunbathing or swimming.
  13. Do not feed geese.

Watercraft

  1. Size limitations:  Canoes have no size limit.  Pontoon and other boats up to 22' are allowed.
  2. Motors:  only electric trolling motors will be allowed for propulsion.  Boats that have outboard motors permanently installed on the transom may be on the lake, but care should be taken to prevent any oil or gasoline contamination and only electric motors utilized for propulsion. Outboard motors should be in the raised position when on the Lake.
  3. Registration:
    • All rigid-frame boats or any boat using an electric trolling motor must pay an annual fee and be registered with CLHA.  
    • An Association Member may authorize a guest to use a watercraft that adheres to the Association rules.  If the watercraft is to be used for more than one week a temporary permit must be obtained for a boat not belonging to an Association Member.  Permits will be for a specified period. Contact the CLHA prior to the boat being used on the lake.
  4. Boats must be removed from the recreation area when not in use.
  5. Boats may be launched from the concrete ramp on the south side of the beach area.

Fishing

  1. All laws of the State of Missouri apply to Cedar Lake.  In addition, the CLHA will enforce the following:
    • No unattended lines will be allowed. (No trot lines.)
    • No more than four catfish per day may be taken from the lake.  Catfish less than 12 inches must be returned to the lake unharmed.
    • Catch and release of a largemouth (black) bass over 12 inches in length is encouraged.  To increase the relative frequency of larger fish, no more than one bass per day over 16 inches may be taken from the lake.  Cedar Lake residents are encouraged to return larger fish to the lake unless such are wanted as trophies.  Bass between 12 and 16 inches in length must immediately be returned to the water unharmed.  Subject to the Department of Conservation rule of a daily limit of six fish and possession limit of 12 fish, bass less than 12 inches in length should be kept or removed from the lake.  Removal of largemouth bass caught that are less than 12 inches in length is a recommendation of the Department of Conservation to improve bass fishery based on a lake survey.
    • All crappie, regardless of size, must be removed from the lake.  Cedar Lake is too small to support a crappie population.
    • With the exception of frogs, insects, crayfish or worms, no live bait is allowed.  Minnows are not allowed as bait.
    • No fish shall be stocked or dumped into the lake except by the CLHA
    • Frogs shall not be taken by any means at any time.
  2. A valid State of Missouri fishing permit is required of all individuals fishing between the ages of 16 and 64.  Checks by the County Conservation agent may be expected.

Lake Environment

  1. Only methods specified and approved by the CLHA shall be used for aquatic and weed control.
  2. Docks and permanently placed rafts must be approved by the CLHA before being placed in the lake. Obtain approval before beginning construction.

Swimming Rules

  1. Swim at your own risk.
  2. Swimming is for the pleasure of CLHA Members, renters, and their guests. Members are responsible for policing the area to keep it clean.
  3. Adherence to the following Red Cross water safety rules is recommended.
    • Never swim alone. Swim with a buddy, even if you are part of a larger group.
    • Know your limitations, such as how far you can swim and for how long.
    • Never dive in a prohibited area or where the depth is unknown.
    • If a group is swimming, have one person on shore watching.
    • Have safety devices in easy reach, such as a long pole, rope or flotation device.
    • Do not use the safety devices for play.
  4. Do not hang on ropes and buoys that may be placed in the swimming area.
  5. Absolutely no diving from the fishing/swimming dock at the dam.

Ice Skating and Winter Lake Use

  1. Because of the depth of water in most of Cedar Lake, special care should be taken to ensure that the ice will support surface activity.  
  2. Never skate alone on natural ice.
  3. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the lake ice.

Enforcement of Rules

  1. CLHA Members have responsibility for enforcing the rules of recreation area use.
  2. Infractions may be reported by members to the CLHA Board of Directors.
  3. A first infraction will result in a warning; a second will be grounds for suspension of recreation area privileges.
  4. The CLHA Board of Directors has the authority to assess damages against a Member, member’s family, member’s guests and or renters.

Approved by the Board, April 1, 2019