Culverts

• The culvert I want to place in a waterbody is part of a roadway/highway project. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?
• I want to place a culvert in a river, stream, creek, or waterway. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?
• I want to replace my culvert after a flood. Do I need a permit or pay a fee?

An example of a properly installed culvert for a road crossing over a stream.

Question: The culvert I want to place in a waterbody is part of a roadway/highway project. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?

Answer: The Department is responsible for reviewing roadway/highway projects proposed by local units of government, specifically those requiring a Trans 207 [exit DNR], [PDF file] review.

For information on permitting and fees please contact the staff who manage the review of DOT and Trans 207 projects.

Question: I want to place a culvert in a river, stream, creek, or waterway. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?

Answer: Installing of a culvert in a navigable waterway requires a General Permit or Individual Permit. A fee is required. Some culvert replacements may qualify for an Exemption.

Culverts require the proper size, design and installation to ensure that they don't cause erosion downstream, flood upstream properties, or block fish passage.

Follow the steps below before starting your project.

1. Determine if your waterway has a special designation that might affect the exemption or permit requirements.
2. Determine if your project is exempt.
3. Determine the required culvert area.
4. Determine if your project qualifies for a General Permit.
5. Apply for a General Permit.
6. Apply for an Individual Permit.

Step 1

An example of a properly installed culvert for a driveway crossing over a stream.

Determine if your waterway has a special designation that might affect the exemption or permit requirements.

Visit the search page below, enter the information about your waterway, and record any designations that it may have.

• Designated Waters Search

Step 2

Determine if your project is exempt.

Public highway culverts are generally exempt from permit requirements. Exemptions are available for two types of culvert replacements if your project meets specific standards. Click on one of the activities below for a checklist to help you determine if your project qualifies for an exemption.

• Checklist: Replacement of a Culvert not Exceeding 24 inches in Diameter [PDF 29KB]
• Checklist: Replacement of a Previously Permitted Culvert [PDF 73KB]

If you would like assistance from the DNR to determine if an activity is eligible for an exemption, download and print the Exemption Determination Request [PDF 25KB], or obtain the form at your local DNR Service Center. Fill in all of the requested information, sign the form, and submit it by mail or FAX to the address on the form. You will receive a response within 15 days of our receipt of your request (provided the owner of the project site has signed the form).

If your project will not qualify for an Exemption, you'll need to apply for a General Permit or an Individual Permit.

Step 3

Determine the required culvert area.

Determining the required culvert area will provide insight into whether your project is exempt or what kind of General Permit will be required. The culvert area must be 3 sq. ft or less for a 24" replacement culvert to be considered exempt. Culvert areas of 20 sq. ft. or more will require a professionally engineered culvert design General Permit and culvert areas of 40 sq. ft. or more will require an individual permit. The Culvert Area and Sizing Worksheet [PDF 335KB], page 10 of this PDF document, must accompany the application materials.

Step 4

Determine if your project qualifies for a General Permit.

A General Permit is available for certain culvert placements. A key qualification is that the culvert be placed on a stream that is less than 35 feet wide. Review the permit conditions found in the application materials on the Standards Summary page, to see if your project will qualify. If your project will not meet the conditions of a General Permit, you'll need to apply for an Individual Permit.

A General Permit is also available for Temporary in-stream Crossings. Key qualifications is that the stream may not exceed 10 feet in width, from ordinary high water mark to ordinary high water mark and that the crossing shall be used to provide temporary access for forest management activities to establish, maintain or enhance a forest.

Step 5

Apply for a General Permit.

To apply for a General Permit, open and print BOTH the Instructions and General Permit application.

• Culvert Placement Without an Engineer Packet [R1-07, PDF 268KB]
• Professionally Designed Culvert Placement Application Packet [R1-06, PDF 303KB]
• Temporary in-stream Crossing Application Packet [R1-06, PDF 113KB]

Our permit partner document is intended to provide general information to questions about the general permitting standards and procedures. It does not establish legal rights or obligations and is not determinative for the issues addressed. Our experience has shown that this document answers a majority of the questions about general permits.

• Permit Partner for a Culvert - Without Using a Professional Engineer Design [R1-06, PDF 152KB]
• Permit Partner Document for a Culvert Using an Engineer [R1-06, PDF 205KB]

Submit the completed application materials, the fee and Fee Sheet, and the Culvert Area and Sizing Worksheet, to the location identified on the form. If your project will not meet the conditions of a General Permit, you'll need to apply for an Individual Permit.

Step 6

Apply for an Individual Permit.

To apply for an Individual Permit for a Culvert, open and print BOTH of the following files:

• Culvert Individual Permit Application [Form #3500-53, PDF 314KB]
• Fee Sheet [Form #3500-053A, PDF 105KB]

NOTICE: Federal law requires landowners of construction sites with one acre or more of land disturbance to address erosion control and storm water management by filing a storm water Notice of Intent (NOI). If your project involves the disturbance of an acre or more, you will need to obtain required storm water application materials.

If you need both a Chapter 30 Culvert Permit and ch. NR 216 storm water permit coverage, the "Construction Project Consolidated Permit" may be used when applying to both programs. Refer to the Application Instructions available at the link above for proper use of the application. Be advised the submittal should contain all of the application requirements found in either the General or Individual Grading Permit Applications found above, which ever your project qualifies for. Failure to submit the required grading application materials will result in longer processing times.

Send the completed application materials, with the fee and Fee Sheet, and the Culvert Area and Sizing Worksheet, to the county where your project is located. For more information about how your application is reviewed, see our Web page on the Permit Process.

Note

Culverts can't be built to allow land use other than passage of people or vehicles across waterways. Only municipalities can apply to enclose a waterway for development purposes. Special standards apply.

Question: I want to replace my culvert after a flood. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?

Answer: The department has developed a Factsheet [PDF 71KB] that should help identify a clear course of action to take if you are affected by a natural disaster and need to build or rebuild a waterway crossing.

Laws

Applicable statutes and codes include Section 30.123 and Section 30.20, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR], [PDF 627KB] and Chapter NR 320 [exit DNR], [PDF 168KB].