Restore Property Rights For Waterfront Property Owners

PROTECT OUR PIERS AND PUT A STOP TO DISAPPEARING DOCKS

LEGISLATION

2021 Wisconsin Act 47

Restoring the Right to Place a Pier on Flowages

For more than 140 years, all Wisconsin waterfront property owners had the right to place a pier to enjoy the Badger State’s wonderful waterways.

A decision by the Wisconsin courts could have taken that right away for those who live on flowages. With that decision, landowners and small businesses, which invested thousands of dollars on their waterfronts to improve and enhance their property, were on the verge of losing the right to place any pier along the water’s edge — just because someone else may own the ground under a man-made lake.

The Legislature passed, and the Governor signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 47 into law and permanently protected pier rights for all waterfront property owners, including those who live on the 260 flowages throughout the Badger State.

Resources

Capitol Insights

Ep. 18

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Pierless in Paradise

On January 23, 2018, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in Movrich v. Lobermeier, held that riparian owners on a flowage do not have a right to place a pier. 

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Waterfront Pier-Placement Rights Restored After Evers Signs ‘Protect Our Piers’ Bill

People living on flowages in Wisconsin once again have a legal right to extend a pier from their property.

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LEGISLATION

Senate Bill 46 / Assembly Bill 37

Restoring the Right to Place a Pier on Flowages

Resources

Pierless in Paradise

Wisconsin has approximately 260 flowages around the state. 

Read More