07/19/2026
Can homeowners remove shoreline w**ds without a permit?
(under Wis. Stat. § 30.12 and Wis. Admin. Code NR 109, which govern aquatic plant management.)
Yes. Wisconsin law allows most waterfront property owners to manually remove aquatic plants along up to 30 feet of their shoreline frontage without obtaining a DNR permit.
You may manually remove aquatic plants:
Along up to 30 feet of shoreline frontage.
Around piers, boat lifts, swim rafts, and other recreational structures.
By hand-pulling plants or using hand-operated tools such as a w**d rake or an old-fashioned reel lawn mower (non-motorized).
No permit is required for these manual methods.
What requires a permit?
A DNR permit is generally required if you:
Use motorized or mechanical harvesting equipment.
Apply chemical herbicides.
Remove aquatic plants in an area greater than 30 feet of shoreline frontage, unless another exemption applies.
In addition, wild rice and state- or federally-listed threatened or endangered aquatic plants may not be removed under this exemption and always require DNR authorization.
What can you remove beyond 30 feet?
You may manually remove non-native invasive aquatic plants beyond the 30-foot limit without a permit, provided the removal does not unnecessarily damage native aquatic plants. Common examples include:
Eurasian watermilfoil
Curly-leaf pondw**d
Purple loosestrife
Sensitive Areas
These exemptions may not apply within a Designated Sensitive Area or other protected waters. If you are unsure whether your property is affected, contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before beginning any aquatic plant removal.
