Do HOA rules have to be written in the by laws

I recently joined an HOA and am on the board. Reading the by laws there are absolutely no rules pertaining to any outside activity just rules about buying shares willing shares officers and there duties.
I installed a small 8' dock and was told I couldn't do this because the DEQ would not allow it. I contacted the DEQ and was told there was not an issue as long as I was not attached to a sea wall or permanently attached to lake bottom. I was soon told by the president that I could not do this . When I questioned the fact that it was not in the by laws, He informed me that it had been voted on nearly 25 years ago and it was in the minutes from that meeting so I could not do this. I have come to learn that this person does this all the time since he has been in the HOA for many years. I want to challenge his authority.
Can anyone tell me if rules have to be in the by laws we are given or can he use minutes (Haven't seen them yet ) from a meeting held years ago ??
HELP !!!

Sorry somehow this got to the wrong Mark W. Just so you know I live in Michigan.

Well... I can only give you a Florida perspective. Perhaps it's applicable in Nevada, too. Covenants and deed restrictions dictate what you can (or cannot) do on your property. Those documents and any amendments made to them need to be recorded in the county's official record books to be valid. Meeting minutes are not required to be recorded. If it's not in the governing documents recorded with the county then it's an invalid restriction since a prospective owner would have no way to find out about it ahead of time.

Rules & Regulations can also dictate certain behavior, but they cannot conflict with the CCRs, the Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation. Having said that, the power to enact Rules and Regulations flows from the CCRs and any mention of Rules and Regulations in the CCRs should prompt one to dig deeper and obtain a copy of them prior to purchasing.

Nevertheless, unless the bylaws give the board the power to prohibit structures such as boat docks then no simple board vote - as reflected in the minutes - can give the association that power. Since they originally told you the DEQ wouldn't allow it, and that was BS, I expect they're just making things up as they go.

What kind of HOA doesn't have CCRs or a "Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions"? I know nothing about Nevada law but perhaps you don't even live in a "real" HOA?

If there are no CCR's then potentially you would follow your Bylaws and State Laws. For Michigan I found:

https://micondolaw.com/michigan-hoa-law/

A “Homeowner Association Act” does not exist in Michigan. Subdivisions are established under the Michigan Land Division Act. Most Homeowner Associations that govern subdivisions are setup as nonprofit corporations and are subject to the Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Act.

Land Division Act: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-288-of-1967.pdf

Non-Profit Corporation Act: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(1q1lajszuksv04qmck10kwy2))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-act-162-of-1982

Same as others I would contend items must be in the governing documents. Simple meeting minutes do not legally bind homeowners.

Why don't you go the county and see if CCR's were recorded. They should be recorded with the county.