Water permits and forms

Watercraft rentals and charter boats must pass a safety inspection each year. Operators must have the inspection done before the first rental or charter of the season.

Charter boats must be inspected while in the water.

Rental watercraft list (PDF) View

To get an inspection

Step 1

Complete and submit the appropriate inspection report form. Forms should be completed in type, not handwritten. 

• Watercraft rentals (PDF) View
• Charter boats (PDF) View

Step 2

We will schedule an inspection with you.

Step 3

A deputy will inspect the watercraft in person. If it passes inspection, you will receive a sticker valid for one year to put on the watercraft.

You must get a sheriff’s permit for any event on public water or ice. Your event must have a permit whether it involves watercraft or not. Permits help ensure public safety.

Types of special events requiring a permit:

• Races
• Regattas
• Tournaments
• Competitions
• Exhibitions

You must have a sheriff’s permit regardless of:

• Age or number of people involved
• Entry fee or prizes
• Sponsorship
• The need for other required permits

Application process

Step 1

Read the instructions for special event permits. Instructions - special events (PDF) View 

Step 2

Apply for your permit at least 30 days before your event. Include the application, liability release, and your certificate of insurance.

• Application - special event permit (PDF) View
• Liability release - special event permit (PDF) View

Step 3

Submit your application, notarized liability release, certificate of insurance, city permit, and event map.

By email:
Scan all pages and email to sheriff.waterpatrol@hennepin.us

By U.S. mail:
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office
Water patrol unit
4141 Shoreline Drive
Spring Park, MN 55384

Step 4

Check the status of your permit by emailing sheriff.waterpatrol@hennepin.us

You must have a permit to install a temporary water or ice structure:

• Buoys for mooring or swimming
• Floating rafts
• Slalom course
• Ice rink
• Other structure for use on water or ice

Requirements for different types of permits

Mooring buoy permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the mooring buoy
• Remove buoy by December 15 or put the buoy portion under ice surface
• The permit number must be displayed in 2" numerals on the upper half of the buoy
• The buoy must be white in color and encircled by a 3" wide blue band
• The buoy must extend at least 8" above the water line and be no greater than 20" in length.
• The buoy must have at least 15 square inches above the water line and be no greater than 20" in width
• The buoy area must not exceed 100' from shore, including the swing of the boat moored to it. During low water seasons, the Sheriff’s Water Patrol may grant temporary extensions beyond 100' while the low water exists. The mooring will be required to be moved back within 100' from shore when the water table allows
• It must not be a navigational hazard or impair other recreational uses
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of buoy
  • The landowner no longer gives permission
• Remove buoy by December 15 or put the buoy portion under ice surface

Ski jump ramp permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the ski jump
• The permit number must be visible and displayed in 2" size numerals on one side of the ski jump.
• The ski jump must be lit during the hours of darkness
• Each side shall have enough reflectorized material to indicate the ski jump’s size from all angles
• The permit number must be attached to the water ski jump so that it is clearly visible to deputies inspecting the water ski jump
• The ski jump cannot be a navigational hazard
• The ski jump must conform to all state and local ordinances
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of ski jump
  • The landowner no longer gives permission
• The ski jump must be removed each year before December 15

Skating rink permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the skating rink
• The permit number is displayed in 2" numerals on the outside of the boards
• The ice rink must have enough reflectorized material to indicate its size from all angles - at least one reflector every eight feet
• The ice rink must be within 100' from shore.
• The ice rink cannot be a navigational hazard.
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of skating rink
  • The landowner no longer gives permission
• The ice rink must be removed each year by March 15th

Slalom course permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the slalom course
• Written permission from the cities in which the slalom course is located
• All property owners which the course directly affects must give written permission
• Surface floats must be submerged or removed when the course is not in use
• The permit number must be displayed on the end floats.
• The course cannot exceed 900 feet in length
• The course cannot be a navigational hazard
• Slalom courses on Lake Minnetonka must be removed. No submerging is allowed
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of slalom course
  • The landowner no longer gives permission

Swimming area permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the swim area
• 2,500 square feet - but no more than 50 feet along the lake frontage - for a swimming area directly in front of the property
• Markers to designate a private swimming area must be white with an orange diamond and cross on each side
• The markers must extend out of the water at least 6", but not more than 14" and should be spaced no more than 15' apart
• Swim area may extend 10’ past the of the dock except if the Water Patrol will deem this a hazard to navigation
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of swimming area
  • The landowner no longer gives permission
• Remove markers by December 15

Swimming raft permit

• Good for 3 years unless there are complaints, in which case your permit may be revoked
• Get adjacent homeowner’s permission for the swimming raft
• The permit number is displayed in 2" numerals on one side of the raft.
• The raft must have enough reflectorized material to indicate its size from all angles.
• The raft must be within 100' from shore or within dock use area.
• The raft cannot be a navigational hazard.
• Must renew sooner if:
  • You change your address or location of swimming raft
  • The landowner no longer gives permission

Application process

Step 1

Fill out a separate application for each structure. Make an accurate diagram on your application. We inspect your structure by boat so don’t use street address in the diagram.

Temporary structure permit application (PDF) View

Step 2

Submit your application and any required permission letters.

By email:
Scan all pages and email to sheriff.waterpatrol@hennepin.us

By U.S. mail:
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Water patrol unit
4141 Shoreline Drive
Spring Park, MN 55384

Step 3

You will get an email with your permit number. Put this number on the structure using 2-inch numerals. Once you do this, you can put your structure in the water.

Step 4

Notify us by email that your structure is ready to inspect, at sheriff.waterpatrol@hennepin.us.

Step 5

The inspecting deputy may inspect the structure. The deputy will identify your structure by the permit number.

Step 6

Notify us if:

• You plan to put the structure in a different location
• You no longer plan to use the structure
• You move