Waterway & Wetland Permits: Dry Hydrants

“I want to place a dry fire hydrant in a lake or stream. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?” Installing a dry fire hydrant in a navigable waterway is exempt from permit requirements, provided your projects meets certain standards and is not in a specially-designated water. For projects in designated waters, a general permit is available.

Follow the steps below before starting your project.

Step 1

Determine if your waterway has a special designation that might affect the exemption or permit requirements.

Visit the search page below, enter the information about your waterway, and record any designations that it may have.

• Designated Waters Search

If you have questions about using the Designated Waters Search tool, you may visit our Designated Waters Search Tutorial to learn how.

Step 2

Determine if your project is exempt.

Dry fire hydrant installation is generally exempt from permit requirements. This exemption is NOT available if you are putting the dry hydrant in waters designated as “areas of special natural resource interest” (ASNRI).

If your project is not in an ASNRI, you may qualify for an exemption if your project meets specific standards. Click on the checklist below to help you determine if your project qualifies for an exemption.

• Checklist: Dry Fire Hydrant [PDF 81KB]

If you would like assistance from the DNR to determine if an activity is eligible for an exemption, download and print the Exemption Determination Request [PDF 25KB], or obtain the form at your local DNR Service Center. Fill in all of the requested information, sign the form, and submit it by mail or FAX to the address on the form. You will receive a response within 15 days of our receipt of your request (provided the owner of the project site has signed the form).

If your dry fire hydrant project is NOT exempt, you'll need to apply for a General Permit or an Individual Permit.

Step 3

To determine if you need to apply for a General Permit or Individual Permit, please review the list of available general permits to determine if you project can meet the necessary standards for eligibility.

• General Permit Attachment: Dry Fire Hydrant [PDF 514KB]

Send the completed application attachment, along with the Water Resources Application for Project Permits (WRAPP) [#3500-053, PDF 46KB] cover sheet , fee and Fee Sheet [#3500-053A, PDF 93KB], to the county where your project is located. Please note: if you are applying for more than one permit, you only need to include one WRAPP cover sheet with your application materials. For more information about how your application is reviewed, see our Web page on the Permit Process.

In addition, don't forget to look at the sample drawings listed near the bottom of this page to ensure that your plans submitted with your application have all the necessary components for review. Otherwise your application may be delayed.

If your project cannot meet the general permit standards please apply for an individual permit.

• Individual Permit Application: Miscellaneous Structures [Form #3500-53P, PDF 18KB]

Send the completed application materials, along with the fee and Fee Sheet [#3500-053A, PDF 93KB], to the county where your project is located. For more information about how your application is reviewed, see our Web page on the Permit Process.

In addition, don't forget to look at the sample drawings listed near the bottom of this page to ensure that your plans submitted with your application have all the necessary components for review. Otherwise your application may be delayed.

Laws

Applicable statutes and codes include Section 30.12, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR], [PDF 627KB] and Chapter NR 329, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR], [PDF 42KB].

Local permits and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations may also apply. We advise you to contact your local zoning office and your regional U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office [exit DNR].