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Pier Rules

There are Pier Rules, too...

You cannot just throw up a pier for your boats and personal watercraft. There are rules to govern pier lengths, etc. The law is intended to help assure everyone at a lake has an opportunity to enjoy the water.

LENGTH OF YOUR PIER IS LIMITED

In general, private resident piers must meet the following criteria:

    1. Must be temporary installations only.
    2. Easily removable
    3. Must not infringe on access to the lake by an adjacent landowner.
    4. Must not unduly restrict navigation by watercraft.
    5. Must not be unusually wide or long relative to similar structures within the vicinity on the same lake.
    6. Must be placed by or with the acquiescence of a riparian owner.

Piers installed for commercial use require a permit, as do private piers that do not meet the above requirements or the length restrictions shown below:


Short, or normal pier length.
g

Pier more than 100 feet.
Commercial, multiple slip pier.

Pier across a channel
blocks other boats.

Subject to the above:

If the water depth, extending from the shoreline out to 150, is six feet or less, maximum pier length is 150 feet.

If the water depth exceeds six feet continuously after reaching 75-feet from the shoreline, maximum pier length is 75-feet.

If the water depth varies, but is not continuously more than six feet in depth from the shoreline extending out to 150 feet, then maximum pier length is 150 feet.