DNR Resources for Local Government
Local governments (towns, cities, villages and counties) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) work together in many ways. We partner to enhance natural resources, ensure the health and safety of our residents, and strive to ensure our respective rules and regulations support our common goals.
This site is designed to help you and local government partners find all the DNR resources you need in one place, including grants and loans, reporting requirements and forms, permit information and applications, regulatory authorities, sample ordinances, and best management practices.
Public Participation
If you or your residents are interested in learning more about and weighing in on DNR topics, our Get Involved page provides an overview of public participation opportunities that range from newsletter subscriptions to study groups.
For specific meetings and proposed rules, see the Public Input Opportunities page.
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Unless otherwise noted, grants and resources apply to all levels of local government.
| Resource | Description | Topics | Departments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Resources | Includes links to business support programs, a comprehensive list of links for permits and reporting and a direct link to the DNR switchboard. | Development & Planning | Economic development & business support |
| Toolbox of DNR Business Support Resources for Economic Development Professionals | Includes ready-to-publish newsletter articles describing DNR's Business Support programs, brochures explaining each of our programs, archives of past email news for economic development professionals and subscribe to our email news for economic development professionals | Development & Planning | Economic development & business support |
| Local Governments and Contaminated Property | Overview of local governments and contaminated property, including liability, financial resources & tax tools | Development & Planning; Waste & Materials Management | Contamination & clean-up; Solid waste |
| Wisconsin Assessment Monies (WAM) | Funding to assess brownfield sites | Development & Planning; Waste & Materials Management | Contamination & clean-up |
| Hazardous Substance Funding | Grants and loans to clean up hazardous substance contamination | Development & Planning; Waste & Materials Management | Contamination & clean-up |
| Petroleum Funding | Grants and loans to clean up petroleum contamination available to local governments | Development & Planning; Waste & Materials Management | Contamination & clean-up |
| Municipal Storm Water Presentations & Fact Sheets for municipalities | Information on MS4 storm water permit requirements, storm water management program implementation, technical standards and compliance evaluation and financing | Development & Planning | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways |
| Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Plans | Exemptions from waterfront development requirements (specific projects including shoreline maintenance, intake/outtake structures, dredging, boat structures, etc.) | Development & Planning | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways |
| Notice of Intent/Discharge Cost-Share Grants | Cost-share grants to improve water quality by working with owners and operators of livestock operations to meet pollution requirements | Development & Planning; Water | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways; Storm water & nonpoint pollution |
| Targeted Runoff Management Grant Program | Grants to reimburse costs for agricultural or urban runoff management practices in targeted areas with water quality concerns | Development & Planning; Water | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways; Storm water & nonpoint pollution |
| Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Management Grant Program | Grants to reimburse costs of planning or construction projects that control urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff pollution | Development & Planning | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways |
| Floodplain Management Publications and Grants | Includes model zoning ordinances, sample letters & documents, newsletters & handbooks and grant programs | Development & Planning | Erosion, Storm water, Floodplains & Waterways |
| County Forests | Information on forms and handbooks, public lands toolkit (regeneration, subcontractors, timber sales), timber sales reports and monitoring reports | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| County Forest Land Acquisition Grants | Grants to purchase forest land available to counties with lands entered under the County Forest Program | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| County Forest Administration Grant | Grants to fund County Forest Administrators available to any county employing a professional forester in the position | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| County Forest Sustainable Grant | Grants for special, short term, or unanticipated projects that promote sustainable forestry available to counties with lands enrolled in the County Forest Law | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| Forest Fire Protection (FFP) Grant Program | Reimbursement grants for local fire departments to purchase equipment to prevent and fight wildland fires | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| Urban Forestry Grants | Includes cost-sharing for new, innovative projects that develop sustainable urban and community forestry programs, cost-sharing for starting or restarting an urban forestry program and funds to repair, remove or replace urban trees after catastrophic storms | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Forests | Forestry |
| Shoreland Protection - A Model County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Wisconsin's Shoreland Protection | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Shoreland, streambanks & wetlands | |
| Resources for Local Government | Resources for local government to safeguard our shorelines, including laws and regulations, model zoning ordinances and newsletters, handbooks and other publications | Forestry, Parks & Recreation | Shoreland, streambanks & wetlands |
| Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust | Sells wetland credits to permittees needing to offset authorized wetland impacts | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Shoreland, streambanks & wetlands |
| Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grants | Stewardship grants to buy land for stream bank protection, easements, natural areas, county forests, recreational boating facilities, snowmobile & ATV trails, community gardens, local parks and urban greenspace | Forestry, Parks & Recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program | Grants to cover 50% of acquisition and/or development of land to provide high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Weed Management Area | Grants for Weed Management Groups to remove invasive plants and provide education, information and outreach | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Wildlife Stamp Funding and Stamp Design Contest | Grants to support development, maintenance, preservation, restoration and maintenance of wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl and their associated habitats | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| County Forest Wildlife Habitat Grant | Grants for wildlife habitat management, improvement, inventories and education available to counties that have lands in the County Forest Program | Forestry, Parks & Recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control Grant | Grants to help develop wildlife plans, implement damage abatement and/or control measures for white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese in urban areas | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Wildlife damage | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| County Conservation Aids | Grants to improve fish and wildlife resources available to counties and tribes, including infrastructure, habitat and stocking projects | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Surface Water Grants | Cost-sharing grants for surface water protection and restoration including education, ecological assessments, planning, implementation and aquatic invasive species prevention and control | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Water; Parks & habitat management | Financial resources; Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement; Surface water |
| Sport Fishing Restoration - Fishing Piers (SFR-FP) | Grants to construct fishing piers that are primarily designed to provide public access for shore fishing | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Sport Fishing Restoration - Boat Access (SFR-BA) | Grants to construct motorboat access projects | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program | Grants for constructing, renovating and maintaining boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Federal Clean Vessel Act Grant Program | Grants construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of pump-out and dump stations | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Recreational Boating Facilities Grants | Grants for recreational boating facility projects, including channel dredging, construction projects, improvement and repair of locks, navigation aids, rehabilitation, trash skimming equipment and weed harvesting equipment | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Boat Enforcement Patrol Grants | Grants for boating enforcement efforts available to counties and municipalities | Forestry, Parks & Recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Recreational Trails Program (RTP) | Cost-sharing reimbursement grants to develop and maintain recreational trails and facilities | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| ATV/UTV Trail Aids | Grants to acquire, insure, develop and maintain ATV/UTV trails, areas and routes | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Enforcement Patrol Grant | Grants for ATV enforcement efforts available to sheriff departments | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Snowmobile Trail Aids | Grants to develop and maintain a statewide system of snowmobile trails available to counties and tribes | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Snowmobile Enforcement Patrol Grant | Grants for snowmobile enforcement efforts available to sheriff departments | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Hunter R3 (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) Grant Program | Cost-sharing reimbursement grants to ensure the education, training and development of safe and ethical hunters and mentors with a preference towards applicants focusing on adults, women and families | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Shooting Range Grant Program | Cost-sharing reimbursement grants to assist in shooting range construction | Forestry, Parks & Recreation; Outdoor recreation | Land acquisition, maintenance & improvement |
| Wisconsin Air Quality Monitoring Data | Forecast and health advisories by county | Health & Safety; Air | Community health |
| Air Quality News and Subscriptions | Subscribe to air quality notices by county | Health & Safety; Air | Community health |
| Open Burning | Open burning rules, health impacts, alternatives and complaints | Health & Safety; Air | Community health |
| Open burning Publications | Health & Safety; Air | Community health | |
| Summary of Regulations for Open Burning | Includes for air quality maintenance, solid waste management and wildfire prevention | Health & Safety; Air | Community health |
| Forst Fire Protection (FFP) Grant Program | Grants for wildland firefighting equipment and training | Health & Safety | none |
| Beaches | Comprehensive beach information including current beach status, advisories, beach health database and historical monitoring and assessments | Health & Safety; Water | Surface water |
| Model ordinances for Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control and Post-Construction Storm Water Management | Health & Safety | none | |
| A Model County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance for Wisconsin's Shoreland Protection Program | Health & Safety | none | |
| Regulations and Ordinances | Regulations and ordinances for floodplains | Health & Safety | none |
| Air Permit Options | Overview of the types of air permits and the air permitting process. Air permits might be needed for construction of new sources of air emissions, boilers and generators, fleets and garages, highway departments, public works departments, landfills, waste handling facilities, wastewater treatment plants and Municipal utilities | Public Works & Utilities; Air | Permits & reporting |
| Air Emissions Inventory and Reporting | Includes historical emissions data, electronic reporting tutorials and Emissions Reduction Credit Registry | Public Works & Utilities; Air | Permits & reporting |
| Clean Deisel Grant Programs | Grants to reduce diesel emissions from public and private vehicle fleets | Public Works & Utilities; Transportation & fleets | none |
| Managing Waste and Materials | Overview of managing waste and materials, including solid waste, hazardous waste, recycling and composting | Public Works & Utilities; Air | Community health |
| Composting Rules and Regulations in Wisconsin | Includes links to site licenses. Composting sites need to be licensed if they have more than 50 cubic yards of compost on-site at any time. | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| Responsible Unit Recycling Programs | Includes requirements, costs and resources for responsible unit managers | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| Basic Recycling Grant to Responsible Units | Grants for DNR-approved recycling programs | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| Wisconsin Recycling Responsible Unit Contacts | Recycling contacts in local units of government lookup tool | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| How to Recycle Electronics in Wisconsin | How to recycle electronics in Wisconsin: preparing to recycle, protecting data, finding a recycler, what to recycle, why recycle | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| Electronics Recycling Information for Local Governments | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting | |
| Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Plastic Bags And Wrap | Reducing, reusing and recycling plastic bags and wrap, including educational materials | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Recycling & Composting |
| Solid Waste Management in Wisconsin | General solid waste management, including low hazard exemptions | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Waste Facility and Transporter Licenses | Any local government transporting more than 20 tons of solid waste or recyclables during a calendar year needs a waste transportation license. A DNR license is also required for a solid waste | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Cleaning up Storm Debris | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste | |
| Wisconsin's Infectious Waste Regulation | Includes how to handle sharps | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Management of Universal Waste in Wisconsin | Includes batteries, fluorescent lamps, pesticides, mercury devices and antifreeze | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Household Hazardous Waste (DNR), Clean Seep (DATCP) | Clean Sweep, household hazardous waste collection | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Open Burning | Open burning rules, health impacts, alternatives and complaints | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Open Burning Publications | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste | |
| Summary of Regulations for Open Burning | Includes for air quality maintenance, solid waste management and wildfire prevention | Public Works & Utilities; Waste & Materials Management | Solid waste |
| Reporting Water Use | Monthly water withdrawal reporting for high capacity and permitted surface water withdrawals | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Permits & reporting |
| Water P{ermit Applications | Includes a description of permit categories, link to apply, public notices and user guides. Permits may be needed for: wastewater discharge, storm water runoff, aquatic plant management, dams, water supply, water withdrawal, waterway and wetland disturbance and transportation projects | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Permits & reporting |
| Municipal Storm Water Permit Overview | Includes permittee look up, publications and technical guidance, standards and models, grants and MS4 eReporting | Public Works & Utilities Water | Permits & reporting; Storm water & nonpoint pollution |
| Municipal Storm Water Permit E-Reporting | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Permits & reporting | |
| Current WPDES Wastewater Permit Holders | Lists of current WPDES wastewater permit holders, municipal and industrial | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Wastewater |
| Erosion Control and Storm Water Management Plans | Includes long term maintenance of storm water features (retention ponds, etc.) | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Permits & reporting |
| Municipal Storm Water Presentations and Fact Sheets | Public Works & Utilities, Water | Storm water & nonpoint pollution | |
| Targeted Runoff Management Grant Program | Grants to reimburse costs for agricultural or urban runoff management practices in targeted areas with water quality concerns | Public Works & Utilities | none |
| Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Management Grant Program | Grants to reimburse costs of planning or construction projects that control urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff pollution | Public Works & Utilities | none |
| Exemptions | Waterway protection exemptions (specific projects including shoreline maintenance, intake/outtake structures, dredging, boat structures, etc) | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Permits & reporting |
| Water and Wastewater Funding Source | A list of state and federal water and wastewater funding sources for municipalities | Public Works & Utilities; Water | |
| Drinking Water | Overview of drinking water, including water quality data, plans, regulations, publications, laboratory testing and information for owners and operators | Public Works & Utilities | |
| Municipal Waterworks Operators | A collection of resources specifically for municipal waterworks operators | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Public Water System Plan Review | Includes process overview, requirements, regulations, status search and other resources | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Laboratories Testing | Laboratories approved for bacteriological and chemical drinking water testing | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Instructions for Creating and Customizing a Consumer Confidence Report Using DNR's CCR Generator | How to create a Consumer Confidence Report using DNR's CCR Generator | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Municipal Water System Disinfection | Includes municipal water disinfection list and public drinking water system data | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Source Water Protection | Includes overview, developing a local program, wellhead protection, financial resources, technical assistance and project examples | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Water supply |
| Wastewater Plan Submittal Requirements by Project Type | Includes municipal sewage collection system projects, sanitary sewer projects and wastewater treatment systems | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Wastewater |
| Sewer Service Area Planning | Overview of sewer service area planning | Public Works & Utilities; Water | Wastewater |
| Floodplain Management Publications and Grants | Includes model zoning ordinances, sample letters & documents, newsletters & handbooks and grant programs | Public Works & Utilities | |
| Transportation Projects | Includes overview, environmental impacts, BMPs, learning resources and funding | Public Works & Utilities | |
| Dams Removal Grant Program | Public Works & Utilities | ||
| Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WISPAC) | Local Government Advisory Group to the Wisconsin | Waste & Materials Management | Contamination |
| Water Supply System Information and Maps in Community Comprehensive Plans - Addressing Security Concerns (SS-0988) | How local governments can address water supply security concerns | Water | Water supply |
| Water Quality Program Policy and Guidance | Guidance for municipal and industrial discharges | Water | Wastewater |
| Municipal Storm Water Permits | Searchable list of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) | Water | Storm water & nonpoint pollution |
| Wildlife Damage Abatement and Claims Program | Grants to abate damage and partially compensate commercial agricultural producers for damages from white-tailed deer, black bear, turkey, Canada geese and/or elk available to counties | Wildlife damage | |
| Municipal Transportation Projects | Individual Permit Checklist | Transportation & fleets |
