About Lake Country Pier Guide

Lake Country Pier Guide is an informational publication about piers, docks, and boat lifts on Wisconsin lakes, with a focus on Waukesha County and the Lake Country area.

Who publishes this guide?

Lake Country Pier Guide is a publication of Tanner Preserve, a Delafield, Wisconsin company. We built this guide because the rules around piers and boat lifts are scattered across DNR pages, administrative code, and state statutes, and most lakefront owners just want a straight answer before they buy a pier or hire an installer.

What we are, and what we are not

We are an information source. We are not a pier or dock installer, we do not sell boat lifts, and we are not the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Nothing here is legal advice or a permit decision. We cite the DNR and the Wisconsin statutes so you can check our work and go to the source.

How we handle accuracy

Every rule, number, and cost range on this site is tied to a citable source (the Wisconsin DNR, the state statutes, or industry cost data). Rules and prices change, so we point you to the primary sources and encourage you to confirm anything that affects a real decision. If you spot something out of date, tell us.

Where to go for a permit

If you need a permit decision or want to confirm whether your pier is exempt, the Wisconsin DNR is the authority. Start at the DNR piers, recreational, and other structures permitting page. You can also reach out through our Contact page with general questions.