Winnebago County, WI Environmental Rules: Boat Dock Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- County dock permit
- None: defers to state DNR
- Governing law
- Wis. Stat. ch. 30 (state)
- Shore-yard setback
- Dock allowed, 3-ft side clearance
- Wetland dock
- May need separate Ch. 27 permit
- Applies in
- Towns that adopted county zoning
Summary
Winnebago County's zoning code sets no dock design standards of its own, a boat dock must simply comply with state DNR rules, but it may sit inside the shore yard setback if kept 3 feet off the side lot line.
A boat dock shall comply with all rule and regulations established in state statutes and administrative rules established pursuant to those statutes. ... boat docks and boathouses when located in a shore yard, but not closer than 3 feet to a side yard property boundary line.
Full Breakdown
Section 23.8-446 defers boat dock construction entirely to 'state statutes and administrative rules,' so the county issues no separate dock permit or design standard of its own; a Wisconsin DNR waterway permit under ch. 30, Stats. governs the structure. Chapter 23's setback rule, § 23.8-65(b)(11), lists a boat dock among the few structures allowed inside the shore yard setback, provided it stays at least 3 feet from a side-yard property line. This applies only in unincorporated towns that adopted county zoning under Wis. Stat. § 59.69; a dock in a mapped shoreland wetland can also trigger a separate permit under Chapter 27, § 3.4.
Violations & Fines
The county's own dock section carries no separate fine, but building without required state DNR or Army Corps approval, or violating the § 23.8-65 side-yard clearance, draws a § 23.14-9 citation of up to $300 plus court costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Winnebago County issue its own permit for a boat dock?
How close to my side lot line can a boat dock sit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Wisconsin environmental rules overview
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