Activities that Require Permits
There are a large variety of projects that require a Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) permit depending on the size, location and nature of the work. If a project involves any of the following activities, it may require a permit from the MCWD.
Please read the Full MCWD Rules to determine if permit requirements apply to your specific project.
EROSION CONTROL RULE
Are you building a house, large addition, or driveway? Are you landscaping or disturbing the land? Are you creating a large stockpile of soil? An Erosion Control permit is required when:
- 5,000 square feet or more of land is disturbed, and/or
- 50 cubic yards of material or more is excavated or stockpiled.
Application materials for an Erosion Control permit
FLOODPLAIN ALTERATION RULE
Are you planning a project near a lake, stream, river, or wetland? A Floodplain Alteration permit is required when:
- Any land is altered or fill of any type is placed in a 100-year floodplain associated with a lake, river, stream, wetland, or any other water basin.
Full Floodplain Alteration Rule
Application materials for a Floodplain Alteration permit
WETLAND PROTECTION RULE
Does your project involve activities that will disturb or change a wetland on your property? A Wetland Protection permit is required when you are:
- Draining, filling, excavating, or altering a wetland in any way, and/or
- Working within the boundaries of an established wetland buffer.
*Note: Work in wetlands may also require a Wetland Conservation Act permit issued through MCWD or another local municipality.
Application materials for a Wetland Protection permit
DREDGING RULE
Does your project involve dredging? A Dredging permit is needed when:
- Dredging occurs in the beds, banks, or shores of any public water or wetland.
*Note: All dredging permit applications for Lake Minnetonka or Lake Minnetonka tributaries must comply with the provisions of the Lake Minnetonka Dredging Joint Policy Statement.
Application materials for a Dredging permit
SHORELINE & STREAMBANK STABILIZATION RULE
Are you planning to modify your shoreline or streambank? A Shoreline and Streambank Stabilization permit is required when:
- Improving or altering the shoreline of a water basin or the bank of a stream or river, including but not limited to a bioengineered installation, riprap, a retaining wall, a sand blanket, or a boat ramp, or
- Maintaining existing riprap or otherwise hard-armored shoreline or streambank, which involves the addition of new material or structural changes to the shoreline.
Full Shoreline & Streambank Stabilization Rule
Application materials for a Shoreline & Streambank Stabilization permit
WATERBODY CROSSINGS & STRUCTURES RULE
Is there a stream crossing in your planned project area? Does your project include placing or replacing a culvert or bridge? A Waterbody Crossings & Structures permit is required when:
- Placing roads, highways, or utilities in the bed of a protected water or wetland,
- Constructing a bridge or related crossing of water, waterway or wetland, and/or
- Placing a culvert or similar structure in the bed or channel of a protected water or wetland.
Full Waterbody Crossings & Structures Rule
Application materials for a Waterbody Crossings & Structures permit
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RULE
Are you preparing to build a commercial building, parking lot, or roadway? Will your project change the property’s drainage? A Stormwater Management permit is required for:
- All residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, or public land development projects that will increase the area of impervious surface or change land contours to alter water drainage, increase peak runoff rates, or affect the quality of stormwater flows.
*Note: Single-family homes and additions of garages, decks, etc. are exempt from this rule but may require a permit under one of the other rules.
Full Stormwater Management Rule
Application materials for a Stormwater Management permit
For information on Best Management Practices (BMPs), which are required by the Stormwater Management Rule, choose from the links below:
