Chapter NR 326
PIERS, BOAT SHELTERS AND SWIM RAFTS IN NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS
NR 326.04 Pier standards. NR 326.05 Permits required. NR 326.055 Boat shelter standards. NR 326.07 Riparian rights determinations. NR 326.09 Impoundment determination. Ch. NR 326 NoteNote: Chapter NR 326 was revised by emergency rule effective April 19, 2004. NR 326.01(1)(1) These rules are promulgated under ss. 30.03, 30.12, 30.13, 30.14, 30.15 and 227.11, Stats., in order to provide consistency in the application of ss. 30.12 and 30.13, Stats., to the construction of piers, boat shelters, swim rafts and similar structures on the beds of navigable waterways as aids to navigation. NR 326.02(1)(1) This chapter shall apply to all piers and boat shelters constructed or maintained by riparians on the beds of navigable waterways for the purpose of providing improved navigation access to those waterways. NR 326.02(2)(2) The department shall apply this chapter only in response to: NR 326.02(2)(a)(a) Complaint by a riparian, municipality, or any other person that a pier or boat shelter exists in navigable waters in violation of s. 30.12 or 30.13, Stats.; NR 326.02(2)(b)(b) Complaint by a riparian that an adjacent riparian’s pier or boat shelter interferes with access to navigable water; NR 326.02(2)(c)(c) Complaint by a riparian or any other person that a pier or boat shelter interferes with rights of navigation; NR 326.02(2)(d)(d) Request by a riparian for information regarding standards to be applied to pier or boat shelter construction; NR 326.02(2)(e)(e) Application by a riparian for authority to construct a solid pier, any other pier requiring a permit or a permanent boat shelter under s. 30.12, Stats. NR 326.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1981, No. 303, eff. 4-1-81; am. Register, August, 1991, No. 428, eff. 9-1-91. NR 326.03(1)(1) “Boat shelter” as defined in s. 30.01 (1c), Stats., means a structure in navigable waters designed and constructed for the purpose of providing cover for a berth place for watercraft, which may have a roof but may not have walls or sides. Such a structure may include a boat hoist. NR 326.03(2)(2) “Department” means the department of natural resources. NR 326.03(3)(3) “Impoundment” for purposes of s. 30.134, Stats., means the pool of water created by a dam. “Impoundment” does not include waters upstream of the pool which are raised, but within the original river channel. “Impoundment” includes the entire Mississippi river in Wisconsin. NR 326.03(4)(4) “Line of navigation” means the 3 foot depth contour or a greater depth contour if required for boats in use or appropriate for use on the waterway, based on the normal summertime low levels on the waterway or summer minimum levels where established by department order. NR 326.03(5)(5) “Littoral drift” means the sedimentary material which moves in the zone of waves breaking on the shore because of waves and current. NR 326.03(7)(7) “Outlying waters” as defined in s. 29.001 (63), Stats., means Lakes Superior and Michigan, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Sawyer’s harbor, and the Fox river from its mouth up to the dam at DePere. NR 326.03(8)(8) “Pier” as defined in s. 30.01 (5), Stats., means any structure extending channelward from the shore with water on both sides, built or maintained for the purpose of providing a berthing or mooring place for watercraft or for loading or unloading cargo or passengers onto or from watercraft. Such a structure may include a boat shelter which is removed seasonally. NR 326.03(9)(9) “Pierhead line” means a line established in the water adjacent to and roughly parallel to the shoreline under s. 30.13, Stats., by municipalities, and subject to approval by the department, for the purpose of creating uniformity in the length of piers extending from the shoreline into the waterway. NR 326.03(10)(10) “Riparian” means an owner of land adjacent to navigable waters. NR 326.03(11)(11) “Similar conveyance” for purposes of s. 30.133, Stats., means any transfer in excess of 2 years. “Similar conveyance” does not include a lease of a marina facility to an operator of the facility. NR 326.03(12)(12) “Solid pier” means a structure, not allowing for the free flow of water beneath, extending into the water from the shore to serve as an aid to navigation. For the purposes of this chapter, the term solid pier does not include piers that utilize rock filled cribs or similar types and size devices as foundation. Such foundations require permits under s. 30.12, Stats. NR 326.03(13)(13) “Visually intrusive” means clearly standing out from the shoreline background because of color or reflectivity when viewed from out on the water during the time when leaves are on deciduous trees. NR 326.03 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1981, No. 303, eff. 4-1-81; renum. (1) to (9) to be (2) to (10) and am. (7) and (9), cr. (1) and (11), Register, August, 1991, No. 428, eff. 9-1-91; correction in (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2002 No. 553; CR 01-054: renum. (3) to (11) to be (4) to (10), (12) and (13), cr. (3) and (11) Register August 2002 No. 560, eff. 9-1-02. NR 326.04(1)(1) Except as provided in sub. (2) or (8), piers shall not extend into the water from the shoreline beyond the line of navigation or the length of the boat using the pier unless a need can be demonstrated by the riparian that boats using the pier require a greater depth of water. The depth of water necessary for nonfixed keel sailboats shall be measured with the centerboard or dagger boards raised. NR 326.04(3)(a)(a) Solid piers may be permitted under s. 30.12 (2), Stats., only on the following waters: NR 326.04(3)(b)(b) Solid piers shall be provided with a sufficient opening to provide for the passage of littoral drift. The opening size shall be adequate to prevent the deposition of littoral drift considering wave energy, littoral drift supply and near-shore water depths. NR 326.04(4)(4) A pier shall not totally enclose any portion of a navigable waterway. NR 326.04(5)(5) Piers shall not unreasonably obstruct navigation or otherwise interfere with public rights in navigable waters. NR 326.04(6)(6) Piers shall not interfere with the rights of other riparians. NR 326.04(7)(7) Piers shall not interrupt the free movement of water nor cause the formation of land by deposition of littoral drift upon the bed of the water. NR 326.04(8)(8) Piers associated with marinas and other similar mooring facilities shall not extend into the water from the shoreline beyond the line of navigation unless a permit is obtained under s. 30.12 (2), Stats. Such marinas shall be open to the public. Use of the facility by the public may be conditioned only on the payment of a reasonable mooring or anchoring fee. NR 326.04 NoteNote: As an example, the use of such an extended pier shall not be conditioned upon membership in a private club or organization, purchase of a parcel or property, or purchase of a boat.
NR 326.04(9)(9) Piers shall not be constructed or maintained with a screen or in any other manner which would trap or accumulate aquatic plants. NR 326.04 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1981, No. 303, eff. 4-1-81. NR 326.05NR 326.05 Permits required. Riparians intending to construct solid piers, rock-filled cribs or similar types and size devices used as foundations, piers which extend beyond established pierhead lines, or piers not conforming to s. NR 326.04 (1) or (9), shall apply for permits under s. 30.12 (2), Stats. NR 326.05 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1981, No. 303, eff. 4-1-81. NR 326.055NR 326.055 Boat shelter standards. Boat shelters shall comply with the standards in this section. NR 326.055(1)(1) General standards for permanent and seasonal boat shelters. NR 326.055(1)(a)(a) A boat shelter may be placed and maintained only by a riparian. NR 326.055(1)(b)(b) A boat shelter may not interfere with public rights and may not have an unreasonable adverse effect on aquatic habitat. NR 326.055(1)(c)(c) A boat shelter may not interfere with the rights of other riparians and shall comply with the provisions of s. NR 326.07. NR 326.055(1)(d)(d) A boat shelter shall allow the free movement of water underneath and may not cause formation of land on the bed of the waterway. NR 326.055(2)(2) Location and design standards for permanent and seasonal boat shelters. NR 326.055(2)(a)(a) Except for designations under s. 30.275, Stats., a boat shelter may not be placed in any waterway designated by federal, state or local government as having outstanding scenic values. NR 326.055(2)(b)(b) A boat shelter may not be visually intrusive as viewed against the shoreline. A seasonal boat shelter which was originally placed prior to September 1, 1991 and which is visually intrusive, but is otherwise in compliance with this section, may continue to be placed seasonally until January 1, 1996. Any seasonal boat shelter placement after January 1, 1996 shall comply with this section. NR 326.055 NoteNote: For example a white shelter viewed against similarly colored structural development on or near the shoreline would comply with this subsection. The same shelter viewed against a naturally vegetated shoreline would not comply.
NR 326.055(2)(c)(c) All boat shelters shall be designed and used exclusively for the berthing of a single watercraft. Any boat shelter originally placed or permitted after September 1, 1991 may not exceed an outside dimension of 12 feet wide by 24 feet long on waters under 1000 acres in size and may not exceed an outside dimension of 14 feet wide by 24 feet long on waters 1000 acres and larger in size. The burden of proving that a boat shelter was placed prior to September 1, 1991 shall be on the owner. A seasonal boat shelter originally placed prior to September 1, 1991 and which does not comply with this subsection may not be expanded in size. NR 326.055(2)(d)(d) A boat shelter shall be connected to adjacent uplands by a pier. NR 326.055(2)(e)(e) A boat shelter may include a roof but may not include walls, sides or equivalent construction. A boat shelter roof shall be pitched not less than 1 foot nor more than 2.5 feet from the roof peak to the bottom of the eaves. Only the size and number of vertical components required to support the watercraft and any roof are permitted. NR 326.055(2)(f)(f) Storage facilities may only be included above the eaves of a boat shelter. NR 326.055(2)(g)(g) A boat shelter may include only a single sign necessary to identify the property and may only include lighting essential for safety and mooring. NR 326.055(2)(h)(h) The number of boat shelters placed adjacent to a property is limited to one permanent and one seasonal shelter or 2 seasonal shelters for the first 100 feet or lesser amount of shoreline frontage. One additional seasonal shelter may be placed for each additional 50 feet of shoreline frontage in common ownership. For the purpose of this subsection, shoreline shall be measured along a straight line connecting points where property lines meet the ordinary high water mark. This subsection shall apply to all permanent shelters and seasonal shelters originally placed after September 1, 1991. NR 326.055(2)(i)(i) Permanent and seasonal boat shelters shall be placed as close together as practicable at a single location adjacent to each property. Adjacent lots in common ownership shall be considered a single property for the purpose of this subsection.
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