Water Surface Use Applications

WATER SURFACE USE PERMIT APPLICATION

Please complete this application for all requested water surface use in Washington County. Select the type of use and indicate if prior city approval is required* based on the type of event/application.

Water Surface Use, No Structure: For a contest, race, regatta, or other event on or in the waters of this county

Water Surface Use, Structure: To place a raft, buoy, or other structure on or in the waters of this county pursuant to MN Rules 6110.1800. This includes slalom courses, ski jumps, and snowmobile races.

You will be required to review all requirements and regulations.  

All applications must be received by the Sheriff’s Office at least two weeks prior to the event. All insurance certificates must be received at least ten days prior to the event. Supporting documentation, including insurance certificates, can be uploaded directly in the application. 

*If city approval is required, please upload a signed written statement from the City Administrator or a City/Township Council Member. This statement shall specify explicit approval for the event and include all event details listed in this application.

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER SURFACE USE (STRUCTURE)

Applicant shall maintain a comprehensive liability insurance policy in the amount not less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The policy shall remain in effect for the duration of the effective dates. A Certificate of Insurance must be supplied to the Sheriff’s Office with the permit application.

I the undersigned applicant, agree to hold harmless Washington County for any and all claims resulting from the structure specified on this application.

1) Diagram of water surface showing placement of structure, include the depth of the water at the location of the structure.

2) Permit must be issued before structure is placed on or in the water.

3) Floating rafts, swim buoys and mooring buoys must be placed between the permit holder’s property lines as they extend into the water. These structures must be within 100 feet of shore.

4) Structure must display proper reflective material as described in MN State Rule 6110.1800.

5) Permit number must be displayed on the structure using numbers that are at least two inches high and a contrasting color to the area where they are attached.

6) Water ski slalom courses and water ski jumps must be approved annually by the City Council or Township Board where the course will be located, special restrictions may apply. Slalom courses cannot exceed 900 feet in length and must display the permit number on the end floats. Slalom courses and ski jumps cannot be a navigational hazard. Water ski jumps must be lighted during the hours of darkness.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN OPEN WATER EVENT (MS 86B.121)

The following is a list of general requirements and conditions of the Water Surface Use Permit for an EVENT. There may be additional requirements due to unique concerns with a particular event:

1) APPLICANT must obtain and pay for a Comprehensive General Liability Insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 per person and $1,500,000 per occurrence for Death and Bodily Injury. All policies shall provide that they shall not be canceled, materially changed or not renewed without thirty days prior notice thereof to the County. The policy shall contain an endorsement which shall provide coverage under the indemnification provision of this permit. The policy shall name the County of Washington as a certificate holder. The APPLICANT agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Washington County, its officers, employees and agents for any and all claims arising out of the APPLICANT’S activities related to the EVENT provided under this permit. No other provision of this permit shall serve to limit in any way the obligations of the APPLICANT to indemnify and defend the County under this clause and nothing herein is intended to waive the liability limits contained in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 466. A Certificate of Insurance must be supplied to the Sheriff’s Office at least ten days prior to the event. The Washington County Risk Manager will verify that the insurance requirements are met before the permit is issued.

2) The APPLICANT must contact the local enforcement agencies whose jurisdictions will be affected by the traffic, spectators or participants of the EVENT.

3) The APPLICANT must make arrangements for emergency medical services at the site of the EVENT.

4) The APPLICANT must provide an adequate number of approved toilet facilities for use by participants and spectators.

5) The APPLICANT is responsible for the restoration of the EVENT area to an acceptable condition, which will include but not be limited to removal of all debris, litter and trash from the EVENT area immediately after the EVENT.

6) The EVENT is not to interfere with any public accesses to the lake.

7) All watercraft must be properly licensed and equipped as required by Minnesota State Statutes. Any exemptions granted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shall accompany the application. Exempted watercraft are not allowed to leave the EVENT area.

8) A Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources permit is required for any fishing contest when entry fees exceed $25.00 and prizes exceed $25,000.00 or when the number of participants exceeds 30 for open water and 150 for ice fishing. See the DNR website or call the DNR Information Center (651-296-6157) for more information and to get costs for a permit.

9) The APPLICANT must provide two (2) boats equipped with first aid equipment. These boats will also be used to help keep spectators out of the EVENT area.

10) If the conditions listed above are not met, the permit shall be revoked.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A WINTER EVENT HELD ON THE ICE

The following is a list of general requirements that are made and conditions of the Water Surface Use Permit for an EVENT held on the ice. There may be additional requirements due to unique concerns with a particular event:

1) APPLICANT must obtain and pay for a Comprehensive General Liability Insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per occurrence for Death and Bodily Injury. All policies shall provide that they shall not be canceled, materially changed, or not renewed without thirty days prior notice thereof to the County. The policy shall contain an endorsement which shall provide coverage under the indemnification provision of this permit. The policy shall name the County of Washington as a certificate holder. The APPLICANT agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Washington County, its officers, employees and agents for any and all claims arising out of the APPLICANT’S activities related to the EVENT provided under this permit. No other provision of this permit shall serve to limit in any way the obligations of the APPLICANT to indemnify and defend the County under this clause and nothing herein is intended to waive the liability limits contained in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 466. A Certificate of Insurance must be supplied to the Sheriff’s Office at least ten days prior to the event. The Washington County Risk Manager will verify that the insurance requirements are met before the permit is issued.

2) APPLICANT shall provide the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with a performance deposit of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000). The deposit must accompany the completed application and must be a cashier’s check. The deposit will be returned to the APPLICANT if the conditions of the permit are met. If they are not met, the Sheriff’s Office will arrange for plowing, trash removal or any other services that are necessary to restore the area to an acceptable condition. The total cost of restoration shall be the responsibility of the APPLICANT and the cost of the services will be taken from the deposit and any balance returned to the APPLICANT. However, if the cost of the restoration or clean-up exceeds $1,000, the APPLICANT will be liable for such cost.

3) The APPLICANT must contact the local enforcement agencies whose jurisdictions will be affected by the traffic, spectators or participants of the EVENT.

4) The APPLICANT must make arrangements for emergency medical services at the site of the EVENT.

5) The APPLICANT must provide an adequate number of approved toilet facilities for use by participants and spectators.

6) The APPLICANT is responsible for the restoration of the EVENT area to an acceptable condition, which will include but not be limited to removal of all debris, litter and trash from the EVENT area immediately after the EVENT.

7) The EVENT is not to interfere with any public accesses to the lake.

8) All snow berms or piles created for the EVENT must be leveled immediately following the EVENT. If the EVENT runs more than one day and the berms and piles are left overnight, they must be marked with reflective markers at fifty foot intervals.

9) The APPLICANT will be responsible for ensuring the ice thickness is adequate to support all participants, spectators, vendors, contest officials and any vehicles involved with the EVENT. A minimum thickness of no less than 18 inches of good quality ice must be present at the event area on the named body of water.

10) Any holes in the ice must be drilled a minimum of fifteen feet in all directions from any other hole.

11) Parking on the ice will be at the discretion of the Sheriff’s Office. In no case will spectator or participant vehicles be allowed within 500 feet of a fishing contest area except vehicles with handicapped license plates or other official handicap placard may park within 500 feet of the contest area.

12) The APPLICANT must have proper permits for the sale of food or alcohol on the ice and shall provide copies of these permits to the Sheriff’s Office prior to the EVENT.

13) A Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources permit is required for any fishing contest when entry fees exceed $25, prizes exceed $25,000, or when the number of participants exceed 30 for open water and 150 for ice fishing. See the DNR website or call the DNR Information Center (651-296-6157) for more information and to get costs for a permit.

14) If the conditions listed above are not met, the permit shall be revoked.

TEMPORARY STRUCTURE PREMIT REGULATIONS FOR SLALOM COURSES

A regulation slalom course is 850 feet long and 75 feet wide with 22 floats/buoys and consumes a large area of water surface. For this reason the following rules shall apply:

1) The city or township where the course is located shall be notified and written permission is required before the Sheriff Office issues a permit.

2) Course permits must be applied for annually and any complaints regarding the course from the previous year will be reviewed by the city or township to determine if the course should awarded another permit.

3) The course shall not be placed where it would be a navigational hazard or obstruction.

4) The course cannot exceed 900 feet in length.

5) The permit number must be displayed on the end floats.

6) Depending on the body of water, other restrictions may be imposed.

7) Applicant shall maintain a comprehensive liability insurance policy in the amount not less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The policy shall remain in effect for the duration of the effective dates. A Certificate of Insurance must be supplied to the Sheriff’s Office with the permit application.

8) Courses that are removed after each use do not need a permit.

Please use the file upload space below to submit all required additional documentation.