Waterway & Wetland Permits: Wetland Disturbance

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This page ONLY describes PERMITTING requirements for activities that are KNOWN TO IMPACT wetlands. See the Wisconsin Wetlands page for general information about wetlands including the functions and values of wetlands, wetland types, wetland mapping, and restoration and management.

"Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee when I want to..."

Wetlands

DNR Photo

Applicable Wisconsin
Statutes and Codes

Grading, filling, removing or disturbing
soil in a low area or Wetland

Wetlands are regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and by local counties, cities and villages.

The excavating or placement of any material in low areas or wetlands requires a DNR approval known as a Water Quality Certification. DNR reviews your project to determine if it complies with the requirements of NR 299 and NR 103, Wisconsin Administrative Code. State regulations require avoidance of wetland fill if possible, so in your application you will need to demonstrate that you cannot avoid or reduce wetland impacts, and that your project will not have significant adverse impacts on wetland functions and values.

The following publications explain DNR's review process:

We encourage you to visit our office for a pre-application meeting before applying for a Water Quality Certification. The pre-application meeting will help you design an approvable project and complete your application. Please use the worksheet below to gather information that will ensure the meeting is as productive as possible.

Pre-Application Meeting Checklist [PDF 21KB]

Please follow the steps below to file your application for a Wetland Water Quality Certification.

Wetland Water Quality Certification Application [#3500-53N, PDF 35KB]

Once completed, please send the application materials, including the fee and Fee Sheet [#3500-053A, PDF 93KB], to the permit intake address based on the county where your project is located on our Permit Intake & Contacts page.

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.

See the Wetland Regulatory Programs Web site for more information.

If you are impacting a wetland as part of a cranberry bed creation or expansion please visit our Cranberry Projects page.

Don't Forget

A permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) may also be required for wetland fill or excavation projects. To determine if an Army Corps permit is required for your project, send a copy of your completed Water Quality Certification Application materials to the local Army Corps Project Manager [exit DNR] for the county where your project is located. They will evaluate your proposal and respond to you separately. See the Army Corps St. Paul District [exit DNR] website for more information on Corps regulations.

Fill and other activities in or near wetlands may also be regulated by county, city or village zoning. Contact your local zoning office for more information.

If grading, filling or other wetland activities is proposed on agricultural lands, contact the appropriate Natural Resources Conservation Service [exit DNR] office.

Wisconsin Wetland Inventory maps and soils maps can be viewed at most county zoning offices. For incorporated areas -- cities and villages -- contact the City Building Inspector, City Engineer or Village Clerk for that incorporated area. Copies of the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory maps can also be viewed at the DNR Service Center offices, or purchased in printed or digital form (see Wetland Mapping).

Wetland Permit Application Materials

How do I save and open the permit materials in ZIP format?

Federal/State Permit Materials: • Federal/State Water Quality [ZIP 297KB]

Non-Federal/State Permit Materials: • Non-Federal/State Water Quality [ZIP 297KB]

Wetland Permit Additional Materials

Wetland Permit Exemption Materials:

There are no exemption materials for Wetland activities. Please view these additional resources for further information regarding Wetland activities in Wisconsin.

Please send your completed application materials to the permit intake address based on the county where your project is located on our Permit Intake & Contacts page.

Last Revised: Friday December 09 2011