06/14/2026
A little boating education for you.
SHERIFF’S CORNER
Volume 43 / June 2026
Minnesota's thousands of lakes and waterways make swimming rafts, mooring buoys, and navigation markers common features on the water. To ensure boating safety and prevent navigational hazards, state law requires permits for many floating structures that remain on the water overnight. These permits are typically issued and administered by county Sheriff's Offices under Minnesota boating regulations.DNR regulations allow structures such as swimming rafts, boat lifts, slalom courses, ski jumps, etc., which do not extend from the shore and cannot be placed in the water between sunset and sunrise without first obtaining a permit from the County Sheriff.
MN State Statute reads: 6110.1800 “PLACEMENT OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND BUOYS IN THE WATERS OF THE STATE. No person shall leave any temporary structure not extending from shore, or any buoy or sign in the waters of this state between the hours of sunset and sunrise without first obtaining a permit in writing therefor from the sheriff of the county. Mooring buoys must be placed as provided in part 6110.1500, subpart 4. Swimming area markers must be placed as provided in part 6110.1600.
County Sheriff's Offices serve as the permitting authority for most temporary water structures. Before issuing a permit, the sheriff evaluates whether the proposed structure:
• Creates an obstruction to navigation
• Poses a safety hazard to boaters
• Is located in a suitable area
• Meets state marking and visibility requirements
The sheriff may deny an application or require relocation of a structure if it is considered unsafe.
Additional rules about rafts and other structures are:
• The permit number must be displayed on the raft (painted or sticker decals).
• The structure must have a light visible in all directions or be reflectorized so as to reflect light in all directions.
• Placement of the structure may be altered at the direction of the sheriff should it interfere with navigation.
Permits are available from the Sheriff's Office in a variety of ways. Go to www.casssheriff.com and click on “Forms and Permits” in the Recreation (Boat and Water) section. Permits are available in a downloadable pdf format that can be filled in, printed, and mailed to our office. Emailed as well as an online form and an online payment are also options. They can be filled out in person in our lobby or we can mail you a permit.
A raft permit is valid for 2 years and costs $10.00, which can be paid in check or cash and included with your permit application. We will receive your application and mail you a permit with the permit number on it that you can keep in your file. We don’t automatically mail a renewal; you must renew your permit when it expires by completing a new application and mailing it to our office with payment.
We often get requests for buoys, most of these are not granted for several reasons. Minnesota maintains uniform standards for waterway markers and buoys. Regulatory and informational buoys generally must conform to specific color, size, and marking requirements established by the state. Unauthorized placement of navigation markers or nonconforming buoys is prohibited.
Common buoy types include:
• Mooring buoys for anchoring boats
• No-wake buoys
• Hazard markers
• Swimming area markers
• Channel markers
Some specialized buoys may require additional approvals depending on their purpose and location.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office also issues Event Permits. A Request to hold a snowmobile race, radar run, or other timed or speed event, including fishing tournaments on water, ice or land in Cass County can be found on our website as well. (Event Permit) Annually, we issue 40-50 event permits for events occurring in the County.
If you plan to hold an event or exhibition on a Cass County lake or river you must complete an Event Permit. Examples of event permit include fishing tournaments, boat races and ski shows. All water exhibition applicants must ensure the following:
• Insurance: The applicant must obtain a non-cancelable liability insurance policy in the amount of $300,000. / $1,000,000 naming the county and any municipality where the event is to be held as additional insured for the term of the event permit. All insurance information must be included with the application and fee at least two (2) weeks prior to the event. Any and all permits required from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources must be attached with the permit application prior to approval.
• Clean-up: The race/event site should be cleaned up to pre-event conditions within 24hrs. after the event. All debris must be removed from the site. Failure to follow all conditions may result in the denial of future permits or citations being issued for non-compliance.
• Event cancellation: The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to cancel any event/race at any time due to weather or ice conditions to ensure public safety.
• Applications: All applications must be received by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at least two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled event. The permit must be with the event director/coordinator or at the main staging area. All applications must include the permit fee for each event scheduled. Each event fee is $20.00 per permit.
The permit system helps:
• Reduce boating accidents
• Improve nighttime visibility
• Prevent unauthorized navigation hazards
• Maintain safe waterways for recreation
• Assist law enforcement and water patrol units in identifying approved structures
By ensuring rafts and buoys are properly marked and safely located, Minnesota's permit program supports both recreational enjoyment and public safety on the state's waters. Raft and buoy permits are an important component of Minnesota's water safety program. Administered by county Sheriff's Offices, these permits help regulate the placement of temporary water structures, protect navigation routes, and promote safe recreational use of lakes and rivers. Property owners planning to install a swimming raft, mooring buoy, or other floating structure should contact their local Sheriff's Office before placing the structure in the water to ensure compliance with Minnesota regulations
If you have any questions about permits or applications required please contact our Recreation Office at 218-547-7329 or email Lt Brad Rittgers @ [email protected]
If you have specific questions that you would like answered in this column or in person, please feel free to contact me anytime using one of the following methods:
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
218-547-1424 | 1-800-450-2677
By Mail/In Person:
Cass County Sheriff’s Office
303 Minnesota Ave W
PO Box 1119
Walker MN 56484
