30.445 Piers.
(1) No person may construct, relocate or modify a pier or reconstruct a destroyed pier in the riverway.
(2) No person may have or maintain a pier in the riverway after November 30, 1990, unless the board has issued a permit for the pier under sub. (3) and the board has not revoked the permit under sub. (6).
(3) Any person who owns a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, may, before September 1, 1990, apply for a permit from the board to have and maintain the pier. Upon application the board shall issue the permit.
(3m)
(a) Notwithstanding subs. (2), (3) and (7), the board shall issue a permit to have and maintain a pier in the riverway to an owner of a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, if the person applies for the permit before September 1, 1992, and if at least a two-thirds majority of the board votes to approve the issuance of the permit.
(b) If an owner fails to apply for a permit under par. (a) before September 1, 1992, or to remove the pier before that date, or if the board fails to approve the permit, the owner shall remove the pier before July 1, 1993.
(4) A permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) authorizes the person to whom the permit is issued to have and maintain the pier in the riverway on the condition that it be maintained in at least as good condition as it was in on the date of the application for the permit.
(5) A permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) authorizes repairs to the pier unless any of the following applies:
(a) A municipal ordinance or other municipal regulation prohibits the repair.
(b) The repaired pier will be larger in size or more visible from the river than it was immediately before the damage.
(6) The board shall revoke any permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) if the owner of the pier does not comply with sub. (4) or (5).
(7) If a person who owns a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, does not apply for a permit from the board or has not removed the pier before September 1, 1990, the person shall remove the pier by November 30, 1990.
(8) If a permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) has been revoked, the owner of the pier shall remove the pier within 15 days after the revocation, or if the board grants additional time for the removal, within that time.
(9) Subsections (1) to (8) do not apply to a pier that is not located in the river and that is constructed after December 6, 1991.
History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 76, 189, 315.