Waterfront permitting in Massachusetts is not one rule. Here is the authority that controls the permit, what rides along with it, and the official source — before you build anything.
Chapter 91 and the Wetlands Protection Act are separate approvals. On a great pond, clearing Chapter 91 alone is not enough.
The state agency below is the main permit path. On reservoirs and lakes owned by a utility, the Corps or another operator, check who owns the water first. The owner can be the real permit gate.
| Project | What the rule says | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Dock / Pier | A small structure accessory to a residence may qualify for the Chapter 91 simplified-license procedure when it is no more than 600 sq ft measured below mean high water (coastal) or ordinary high water (inland), is water-dependent, involves no fill, and was built or substantially altered after January 1, 1984. | 310 CMR 9.10 |
| Seasonal Floating Dock / Float / Raft | A qualifying bottom-anchored seasonal floating dock/float/raft with no piles may be authorized annually by a municipality that actually operates a §10A program. The local permit expires December 31. | M.G.L. c.91 §10A; 310 CMR 9.07; 310 CMR 9.02 |
| ALL Waterfront/Wetland Work | Removal, dredging, filling or alteration of wetlands is prohibited without authorization. | M.G.L. c.131 §40 / 310 CMR 10.00 |
| ALL Waterfront/Wetland Work | To obtain an Order of Conditions for work altering protected wetland resources, applicant submits a Notice of Intent to the local Conservation Commission and MassDEP. | WPA Form 3 |
| Applicability Check | When it is uncertain whether the site/work is in or will alter a wetland resource area, the applicant can file WPA Form 1, Request for Determination of Applicability, with the local Conservation Commission. | WPA Form 1 — Request for Determination of Applicability |
Sources: USACE Regulatory Request System · EPA — CWA §401 · USACE Nationwide Permits · Last verified 2026-09-14
Contacts read on each office's official site · verified 2026-10-30. Call before you design: many offices route dock questions by region or by lake.
Massachusetts DEP / Local Conservation Commissions — mass.gov · Massachusetts DEP / Local Conservation Commissions (second source) — mass.gov · Last verified 2026-09-14
Questions? Call 207-600-2705.
Preliminary regulatory path. Ask Dock.AI is an information tool, not a permitting authority. Rules change and every waterbody has its own owner and wrinkles. Confirm your project with the listed authority before you build. You pull your own permit; we show you the path. Ask Dock.AI is powered by Alummikon — engineered aluminum docks, stairs and waterfront access, built in Maine.
Disclaimer : Ask Dock.AI is an information tool, not a permitting authority. Always confirm requirements with the governing agency before construction.
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