Permit application forms for proposed projects affecting the course, current, or cross-section of lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams

Agencies representing three levels of government (federal, state, and local) in Minnesota regulate certain activities that affect the course, current and cross-section of lakes, wetlands, rivers and streams.

  • Federal - Army Corps of Engineers: Permit Programs under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
  • State - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Public Waters Work Permit Program
  • Local - local units of government: Wetland Conservation Act

Work affecting the course, current, or cross-section of a lake, wetland, river or stream may require a permit from one or all of these agencies.

The DNR Public Waters Work Permit Program applies to those lakes, wetlands, rivers, and streams identified on DNR Public Water Inventory maps. The Wetland Conservation Act applies to nearly all wetlands not shown on the DNR Public Water Inventory maps. The Corps of Engineers regulatory authority generally covers all water and wetland areas, including those that are regulated by the DNR or subject to the Wetland Conservation Act.

Permit Application Forms

For the convenience of applicants, the three levels of government have assembled a package of application forms.

Note: Microsoft Word ® forms were created to allow users to download documents to their computers and fill them out. The forms have been locked, which protects the document from alterations. The PDF forms are not interactive.

Permit Applications for Most Projects Involving Lakes, Wetlands, Rivers and Streams

  • Most projects involving lakeshore or river alteration such as bridge/culvert installations, sand blankets, shore protection, channel excavation, etc., require a DNR Public Waters Work Permit and authorization from other governmental units. Permits for such projects can be applied for using the forms found below. DNR Public Waters Work Permit applications require a fee to issue. See application fee information.

    Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.
    (Form NA-026620-03A - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects, Part I only)
    Also available as a Microsoft Word ® file that allows data entry.
    Application Fee Calculation Form (submit this form with application) This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.

  • You will be informed by DNR Waters if your proposed project requires a DNR Public Waters Work Permit. If the proposed project is subject to the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA), permits for these types of projects can be applied for using the following forms:

    Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I and Part II This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it. *
    (Form NA-026620-03B - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects, Part I and Part II)
    Also available as a Microsoft Word ® file that allows data entry.

    * Use of Part II is only needed when the project will affect wetlands.

permit application fee information
DNR Public Waters Work Permits information
DNR Area Hydrologist contact information

Permit Applications for Public Transportation Authority and Public Utility Projects

  • For public transportation (MnDOT, county/city/township) or public utility projects requiring the preparation of a wetland replacement plan, permits can be applied for using the following form:

    Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part I This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.
    (Form NA-026620-03C - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects: Public Transportation and Linear Utility Projects - Part I only)
    Also available as a Microsoft Word ® file that allows data entry.
     
  • For public road projects being reported to the Board of Water and Soil Resources, or for projects impacting only watercourses, permits can be applied for using the following form:

    Permit Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects - Part II This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.
    (Form NA-026620-03D - Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Forms for Water/Wetland Projects: Public Transportation and Linear Utility Projects - Part II only)
    Also available as a Microsoft Word ® file that allows data entry.

permit application fee information
DNR Public Waters Work Permits information
DNR Area Hydrologist contact information

Application Fee Information

In many cases, a fee will be required in conjunction with your permit application. See the following:

  • Federal: the Corps of Engineers will inform you of any necessary fee. There is no fee for general or letter-of-permission permits.
  • State: the fee is calculated using the information found in the Public Waters Work Permit application fee form This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it..
  • Local: contact your local governmental unit administering the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) to determine if an application fee is required.



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