Helpful Resources For Wisconsin Waterfront Property Owners
Owning a waterfront property comes with a unique set of challenges. Here are some links to information that can help you confidently purchase, maintain, and develop lakeside or bay shore property in Wisconsin.
Things To Consider When Buying A Waterfront Property
- Choosing the Right Waterfront Property [PDF]
- What to Look for When Purchasing a Property
- Issues Related to Water when Purchasing a Property
- What the Landowner Needs to Know about Shoreland and Wetland Zoning [PDF]
- Conservation Easements
- Shoreland Protection Funding
- DNR Real Estate Program
- Real Estate Transactions Involving Wetlands
Design Considerations For Wisconsin Waterfront & Shoreline Property
- Sensible Shoreland Lighting Guide
- Impervious Surfaces: How they impact fish, wildlife, and waterfront property values.
- Self Evaluation Checklist for Waterfront Run-Off
- Placing Erosion Control Structures on Great Lakes
- Resources on Shoreland Restoration
- Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices [PDF].
- The Water’s Edge: Helping Fish and Wildlife on your Waterfront Property [PDF]
- Preserving Fish and Wildlife Habitat
- Rain Gardens – A How-to Manual for Homeowners [PDF]
- What is an Ordinary High Water Mark? [PDF]
Wisconsin Waterfront & Shoreline Property Maintenance
- Protecting Your Waterfront Investment [PDF]
- A Quick Wisconsin Lake Home Maintenance Guide
- Wisconsin Healthy Lakes and Rivers
- Owning Waterfront Property – Waterfront Property Management Checklist [PDF]
- Managing Wisconsin’s Forested Shorelands – A Landowner’s Guide [PDF]
- Climate Change Impacts: Property and Infrastructure
- The Economics of Water – Property & Homes
Information About Developing Property On The Waterfront
Who do I talk to about developing property on the shore line?
If you are considering developing property on the water, a good place to start is your local zoning office, as well as the regional DNR Waterway Protection staff.
- Find a Permit for Your Waterway Project
- Find a Permit for Your Shoreline Project
- How to Work with Contractors on Shoreline Protection Projects
- Find a Coastal Engineering and/or Bluff Stability Consulting Firm
- Shoreland Zoning Laws & Regulations
Information About Flood Preparation For Waterfront Property
**This is a non-emergency page. If you currently have an emergency related to flooding, please contact your local municipality or 911.**
- Sign up for Emergency Notifications in Brown County
- Flooding in Brown County
- Flood Prevention
- Floods | Ready.gov
- Flood Mapping | FEMA.gov
- Flood Zones | FEMA.gov
- Great Lakes Coastal Resilience and Planning Guide
- National Weather Service Flood Safety Tips
- Visualize Flooding in Green Bay
- Ready Wisconsin
- Weather Radio | National Weather Service
Information About Flood Clean Up & Recovery
- Coping With Flooding
- Cleaning up storm debris
- The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Flood Toolkit
- Storm debris cleanup on lakes, rivers, and wetlands
- Disaster Assistance
- Flood Hazards and Recovery
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- FEMA Disaster Assistance Process
- American Red Cross
Information About Flood Insurance For Property Owners
- How Do I Buy Flood Insurance? | FEMA.gov
- National Flood Insurance Program: Flood Hazard Mapping | FEMA.gov
- Risk MAP Flood Risk Products | FEMA.gov
- Flood Insurance Manual | FEMA.gov
- Standard Flood Insurance Policy Forms | FEMA.gov
- Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) | FEMA.gov
- Cost of Flood: Insurance Agents | FEMA.gov
- Base Flood Elevation | FEMA.gov