Waterway Use Authorizations

Waterway use authorizations allow certain uses of Oregon-owned rivers, lakes, territorial sea, and other waterways while compensating Oregonians for usage of these public resources. Revenue from waterway use authorizations goes into the Common School Fund, benefiting K-12 education.

Most authorizations for new uses go through a 30-day public review by local, state, and federal agencies; adjacent landowners; tribal governments; and interested parties prior to approval. All approved waterway use authorizations must conform to local land use planning laws. Submit a comment on applications currently under review here.

How to Apply

You may submit materials to DSL by mail or online. See a list of all forms and applications here.

Submit by mail:

775 Summer St. NE, Suite 100

Salem, OR 97301-1279

Submit online:

Waterway registrations: Email your materials to registrations.dsl@dsl.oregon.gov.
All other waterway authorizations: Submit your materials through this online portal.
Online submission requirements:

Submit your application as a single PDF. Please note: .exe files cannot be accepted.
Name the file using the document type (for example, Lease, Easement, License, etc.) followed by the applicant's last name. Example: Easement_Smith.pdf. If you are submitting a revised application, include "Revised" in the file name. Example: Easement_Smith_Revised.pdf

Make a payment:

After we receive your application, you will receive an email by the next business day confirming receipt. If you don't receive a confirmation email, please contact DSL at Support.Services@dsl.oregon.gov or 503-986-5200. Within five business days, you will receive a second email with your assigned application number. Once you receive your application number, submit your payment online here or by sending in a check.

Long-term or permanent structures in, upon, or over Oregon-owned waterways, including bridges, utilities, roads, and tide gates, require an easement authorization prior to placement.

Applications and Forms

Easement application (waterways) - Submit to apply for an easement for a structure in an Oregon-owned waterway (excluding the territorial sea).
Easement application (territorial sea) - Submit to apply for an easement for a structure in the territorial sea (for example, an undersea cable or outfall pipeline). Learn more about undersea infrastructure here.
Removal-fill permit - If your proposed project removes or fills material in the waterway, it may require an additional permit.

Waterway leases are required for:

Large private structures placed in, upon, or over Oregon-owned waterways. These include docks, floating homes, and other structures 2,500 square feet or larger, as well as floating recreational cabins over 1,500 square feet.
All commercial and industrial activities, both for-profit and nonprofit. For example, seafood processing facilities, marina vending, marina servicing, salvage operations, and use of office, residential, commercial, industrial, or warehouse buildings.

Applications and Forms

Lease application - Submit if you're applying for a new lease or seeking to renew or modify an existing lease.
Assignment of lease - Submit if a structure has changed ownership.
Request to sublease - Submit if you're seeking to sublease your leased area to a third party.
Bank consent agreement - Used when rights under a waterway use authorization are held as collateral for repayment of a loan.
Removal-fill permit - If your proposed project removes or fills material in the waterway, it may require an additional permit.

Recent Changes to Requirements and Costs

Effective February 15, 2026: Insurance coverage requirements have changed for all new and renewing waterway leases. The updated requirements better align insurance coverage with the risks of authorized waterway uses and help protect both lessees and the State of Oregon from potential liability. Learn more about the updated insurance requirements for waterway leases here.
Effective July 1, 2027: Updated waterway authorization rules change application fees, compensation rates, and other program requirements. The State Land Board approved these rule updates in April 2026 following a multi-year rulemaking process. Learn more about the rule changes and effective dates here, and view a summary of fee and compensation changes here.

Questions? Please contact the Proprietary Coordinator for your region.

Small or medium-sized private structures placed in, upon, or over Oregon-owned waterways require a waterway registration. These include docks, boat houses, and other similar structures 2,500 square feet or smaller, as well as floating recreational cabins smaller than 1,500 square feet.

Waterway registrations do not include commericial or industrial activity. Those activities are authorized as waterway leases, see that section for more information.

Applications and Forms

Registration application - Submit if you're applying for a new lease or seeking to renew or modify an existing lease.
Change of ownership - Submit if a structure has changed ownership.
Removal-fill permit - If your proposed project removes or fills material in the waterway, it may require an additional permit.

Recent Changes to Requirements and Costs: Effective July 1, 2027

Updated waterway authorization rules change application fees, compensation rates, and other program requirements. The State Land Board approved these rule updates in April 2026 following a multi-year rulemaking process.

Questions? Please contact DSL at registrations.dsl@dsl.oregon.gov

Structures owned, operated, maintained, or used by public agencies that charge no or minimal fees should apply for a public facility license. Examples of structures that may qualify for a public facility license include boat ramps, transient use docks, public fishing or crabbing piers, viewing structures, and navigational aids.

Applications and Forms

Public facility license application - Submit if you're applying for a new license or seeking to renew or modify an existing license.
Removal-fill permit - If your proposed project removes or fills material in the waterway, it may require an additional permit.

Recent Changes to Requirements and Costs: Effective July 1, 2027

Owners of structures which are used to accommodate ships, boats or vessels engaged exclusively in the receipt and discharge of good and merchandise or in the performance of a governmental functions must certify the structure is a wharf by submitting a wharf certification form. Wharf certifications are valid for 10 years and do not require a fee.

Proposed projects that remove or fill material in the waterway may also require a removal-fill permit.

Special use activities
For short-term activities, like sporting events or restoration and resource management activities or other similar special use activities, submit a special use application. Public entities requesting a Land Management Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, or Memorandum of Agreement with DSL should also submit a special use application.

Short-term access (less than one year)
Activities that involve accessing an Oregon-owned waterway for a short period of time (usually less than a year) often require a short-term access agreement authorization. Such activities may include research, education, sediment sampling, geotechnical and land surveys, right of entry, and spud barge and boom placement. These uses should have minimal and temporary impacts on the waterway and others’ ability to use it. Short term access agreements are for non-business purposes and do not cover commercial enterprises.

Long-term access
A special use authorization is required for motion picture filming and set construction, activities that place scientific instruments, research equipment or other devices on the beds or banks of the waterway, and other similar uses. Information on authorizations for remedial restoration activities can be found in the Waterway Remediation and Restoration Projects section below.

Proposed projects that remove or fill material in the waterway may also require a removal-fill permit.

Application requirements and fees vary depending on the volume of sand and gravel being removed from an Oregon-owned waterway:

Removing less than 50 cubic yards of material.
Up to 50 cubic yards of sand and gravel can be removed from Oregon-owned waterways per calendar year for an individual’s exclusive non-commercial use. In these cases, notice must still be given to DSL at least 30 days before the material is removed and any relevant federal, state, or local permits must be obtained. As long as less than 50 cubic yards is removed, no application fee or compensation is required.
Removing more than 50 cubic yards of material.
Anyone interested in removing more than 50 cubic yards of material from an Oregon-owned waterway should apply for a sand and gravel removal authorization. The compensation charged to remove more than 50 cubic yards of material is based on cubic yard or short ton proposed for removal.

If the material is being removed or used for a public purpose, for example, maintain a public beach, enhance fish habitat, harbor improvement, and more (see administrative rules to learn more about public purpose), compensation is not owed to DSL, but an application and application fee must still be submitted.

Regardless of the amount of material being removed, proposed projects may still require a removal-fill permit and associated permit fees.

Voluntary habitat restoration and remediation projects on Oregon-owned waterways that are not subject to, or a result of, an order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Department of Environmental Quality are often authorized by DSL under a waterway registration authorization.

Click here for the waterways registration application.

If the project is subject to, or a result of, an order from EPA or DEQ then a remedial activity authorization is required for all environmental remediation and restoration activities on Oregon-owned waterways. Such activities include, but are not limited to: site monitoring, site habitat restoration, environmental dredging, mitigation, monitored and enhanced monitored natural recovery, and construction and maintenance of a soil or sediment cap.

To apply for a remedial activity authorization that is subject to, or a result of, an order from EPA or DEQ, first contact DSL to schedule a pre-application meeting. Then, complete and submit the appropriate authorization application.