Regulations for Lakes, Ponds & Wetlands
Multiple regulations may apply to a single body of water. Before proceeding with any work such as aquatic plant control, altering a shoreline, or installing a dock, you need to determine the regulations that apply to your situation.
The City of Burnsville has established ordinances to protect wetlands and environmentally sensitive shoreland areas. These ordinances establish vegetation buffer zones and limit construction and other activities near shorelines.
To see the locations of wetlands and shoreland protection areas and learn details about these ordinances, visit the Map to Lake and Pond Regulations.
The full language of the ordinances on the City Code website:
For questions about Wetland and Shoreland Ordinances, contact the City Natural Resources Manager at (952) 895-4574.
Within incorporated areas (e. g. towns, cities), any wetland, pond or lake of 2.5 acres or larger in surface area is designated as a "Public Water" by the Minnesota DNR. To find out if you have a Public Water on your property, contact the local DNR hydrologist at (651) 259-5790.
If the waterbody on your property is a Public Water, you will need to apply for a permit for activities such as removing or applying pesticides to plants, installing aeration systems, dredging, etc.
For more info check out the Do I Need a Permit? section of the DNR web page.
To learn more, check out these topics DNR website:
- Public Waters Inventory Program
- Aquatic Plant Management Program
- Aquatic Plant Regulations
- Wetland Regulations and Permits
If you have questions about applying for an aquatic plant management permit, call the DNR Aquatic Plant Management Permitting Staff in the DNR Central Region Office at (651) 259-5779 or (651) 259-5816.