masthead University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute
 
Specialist:
David Hart
UW Sea Grant
University of Wisconsin
1975 Willow Drive
Madison, WI 53706
  
Laws and Regulations for Coastal Planning

Writing, changing, or updating any set of plans is an extensive process. Knowing the federal laws or state regulations related to planning can be difficult. Some states have guidelines for the planning process, while other states’ planning-related laws are more focused on regulating land use, zoning, or coastal development.

Land use has become a large part of planning. This section provides links to information on laws and regulations that could affect coastal planning in Wisconsin. A majority of the topics covered in this section are related to land use; some are specific to coastal or aquatic issues.

Some legal resources for planning in coastal communities are listed below. This section is broken into two categories: Wisconsin Law and Federal Law. Underneath each section are legal resources for the topics listed. Note that the topics listed under the Wisconsin Law section are specific for Wisconsin. The topics listed under the Federal Law section are from legislation at the national level. Please click on a link below to navigate to the appropriate section.

Table of Contents

Wisconsin Laws
General Laws Resources
Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources
Aquatic Transportation Infrastructure
Comprehensive Planning
Economic Development
Housing
Implementation
Public and Community Facilities
Zoning and Ordinance Models

Federal Laws
General Laws Resources
Invasive Species
Natural Hazards
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Ports, Harbors, and Marinas
Water Quality
Wetlands
Zoning, Codes, and Ordinances Models



Legal Disclaimer: This website is provided for informational purposes only and does not render any legal advice. The material here is an overview, is not comprehensive, and does not reflect the law in all jurisdictions. Laws change rapidly, and the information here may become outdated quickly. For legal advice, please consult with an attorney or corporate counsel.

Disclaimer: The information provided in the Great Lakes Coastal Planning Resource website is provided as a convenience and has been compiled from multiple sources starting in January 2003 and updated in February 2007. This information is not intended as a comprehensive source and may not always be the most recent source available. This site contains links to other web sites (Linked Sites), which are not under the control of the website. We are not responsible for the contents of any Linked Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Linked Site, or any changes or updates to a Linked Site. The website also is not responsible for webcasting or for any other form of transmission received from any Linked Site. The website is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by the website or any association with its operators.

The Great Lakes Coastal Planning Resource website was developed by the Land Information & Computer Graphics Facility (LICGF), in collaboration with and funding provided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant #NA03NOS4190106, along with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute.

For more information, contact David Hart.