How Do I authorize My Mooring Buoy?
People who own residential property abutting state-owned aquatic lands may install a mooring buoy on those public aquatic lands for recreational purposes, without charge.
State law prohibits commercial use of the buoy as well as living on boats moored to recreational buoys on state lands. It limits boats to sixty feet or less in length, and allows for a second buoy to help secure moorage to the first buoy.
We manage the lands beneath and many tidelands and beaches of Puget Sound, Hood Canal, Straits of Juan de Fuca and the coast, and navigable lakes and rivers statewide. As steward of these lands, we encourage careful placement of buoys, in locations and ways that protect fragile aquatic ecosystems.
For Residential Waterfront Property Owners
1. Please fill out the gray application card (attached) before installing your buoy and return it to: your Aquatic District Office of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. If your buoy is already installed, you may still use the application card to register your buoy with DNR.
2. Before you install your buoy, you also will need to obtain any of the following permits if required by the local jurisdiction, including City permits if located within an city limits, Shoreline Permit from the County in which the buoy is to be located, a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) from Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, and a permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers.
3. When filling out the application card, be sure to put in your GPS location (NAD 83 datum), which must be in the format of decimal degrees, (For example, a buoy in Mystery Bay could be at Lat 47.056367 and Long 122.696183).
4. Once the card has been received by DNR, we will verify that you qualify for a no-fee buoy under the law.
5. The buoy will be recorded on our mapping system and issued a file number.
6. You will then be sent a file number to be placed on the buoy (instead of the parcel number as stated in the flyer).
7. Be sure the letters are 3 to 4 inches tall so it is easy to read.
8. If your buoy has been installed longer than 2 years, you will not need an HPA from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
9. If your buoy was installed before May of 1999 the Corp of Engineers had a letter that allowed installation of a single family buoy.
10. If your buoy was installed after May of 1999 the Corp of Engineers requires a permit.
11. A registration number from DNR does not exempt you from getting all other regulatory permits, be sure to comply with those laws and regulations.
12. Include a map showing the buoy location from TopoZone
13. Any questions please contact your Aquatic District.
For Anyone Seeking to Install a Mooring Buoy Other than Residential Waterfront Property Owners
1. Complete the Mooring Buoy/Boatlift License Application Form and submit it to DNR. This is for anyone seeking a license to install a mooring buoy or boatlift on state-owned aquatic lands. Owners of waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands wishing to install a boatlift must also fill out this application prior to installation. Anyone that does not own waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands and wishes to install a mooring buoy, a boatlift, or both, must complete this application.
2. Before you receive a lease or license from DNR, you also will need to obtain any of the following permits if required by the local jurisdiction, including City permits if located within an city limits, Shoreline Permit from the County in which the buoy is to be located, a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) from Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, and a permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers.
3. Once all required permits are obtained and submitted to DNR, your DNR land manager will work with you to complete your use authorization. After that is complete, you may install your buoy.
Mooring Buoy Forms
Residential Property Owner Mooring Buoy Registration Brochure — (864KB PDF) — This brochure is designed to provide owners of waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands with information on how they can install and maintain a recreational mooring buoy free of charge.
Residential Property Owner Mooring Buoy Registration Card — (16KB PDF) — For owners of waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands that qualify for a recreational mooring buoy free of charge, this form is used to register the buoy with DNR.
Mooring Buoy/Boatlift License Application Form — (108KB Word) — This is for anyone seeking a license to install a mooring buoy or boatlift on state-owned aquatic lands. Owners of waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands wishing to install a boatlift must also fill out this application prior to installation. Anyone that does not own waterfront property adjacent to state-owned aquatic lands and wishes to install a mooring buoy, a boatlift, or both, must complete this application.