The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued a statewide general permit for various activities in state-regulated freshwater wetlands and adjacent areas, protected waterbodies, and navigable waters. The Lakes and Shorelines General Permit (GP-0-25-007) has an effective date of August 1, 2025, and an expiration date of July 31, 2030. GP-0-25-007 authorizes activities as listed below in areas under DEC jurisdiction. The permit provides authorization under Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 15 Docks, Platforms, & Moorings; ECL Article 15 Excavation & Fill; ECL Article 15, Stream Disturbance; and Article 24, Freshwater Wetlands.
The General Permit containing a full description of the types of activities eligible for coverage, along with all the terms and conditions is provided below. Additionally, the application form used to apply for overage under this GP and detailed application instructions are provided below.
General Permit GP-0-25-007 (PDF)
GP-0-25-007 Application Instructions (PDF)
GP-0-25-007 Application (PDF)
Authorized Activities
The general permit authorizes the following activities:
- Shoreline erosion protection utilizing bioengineering approaches, including but not limited to regrading of the shoreline and replanting with conservation species such as live stakes of native woody vegetation and deep-rooted native herbaceous plants, installation of brush mats, and planting vegetation to provide shoreline habitat.
- Shoreline installation of new riprap structures of 150 linear feet or less where erosion is evident.
- Replacement or repair of existing functional riprap, bulkheads (including bulkhead refacement and toe protection), and other bank stabilization structures substantially within the existing structural footprint.
- Shoreline installation of new stepped block walls of 150 linear feet or less above the Mean High Water elevation with toe protection (riprap) in front of the wall at or below Mean High Water elevation where erosion is evident.
- In-kind replacement or repair of existing boat or access ramps below the Mean High Water elevation. Precast concrete or work in the dry is required.
- Installation of new single lane boat/access ramps up to 20 feet wide, with a total work area width less than 30 linear feet, as measured along the shoreline, or modifications of existing boat or access ramps with no greater than a 50% increase in the area of the ramp. Precast concrete ramps or work in the dry is required.
- In-kind repair or replacement of existing functional boat houses, docks, platforms, or similar over-water structures within the same structural footprint. Non-water dependent structures, such as the residential conversion of boat houses, storage areas, etc., are not authorized.
- Installation of a new residential dock where no dock already exists on the property, or modification of an existing dock, with a total surface area of 400 square feet or less, that does not require dredging for navigational access. Authorized docks must be constructed on open or floating supports and not exceed four feet in width, except that widths of up to six feet may be authorized where open grated deck material is used. Coverage for one open, frame-supported boat lift per dock is also authorized under this general permit.
- Demolition of existing structures and removal of structural fill below Mean High Water elevation and from freshwater wetlands and freshwater wetland adjacent areas.
- Maintenance dredging of existing residential dockage or marina facilities to maintain water-dependent uses, occurring at least once every 10 years and not exceeding 2,500 square feet.
- New navigational dredging activities around existing docking facilities (residential or commercial) of 1,250 square feet or less to maintain water-dependent uses.
- Installation or maintenance of dry hydrants for fire protection.
- Installation of new or replacement residential water intake lines or beach wells, infiltration galleries, and prefabricated sand filters designed to protect individual residential water intakes.
- Physical, non-mechanized removal of rooted submerged or floating aquatic vegetation from around existing docking facilities to maintain open-water access and water-dependent uses, from a total area not to exceed 1,500 square feet.
Exclusions
The general permit is not applicable in the following areas:
- Within Sovereign Indian Nation territories in New York State;
- Within areas under the freshwater wetland jurisdiction of the Adirondack Park Agency;
- Within areas designated as a Coastal Erosion Hazard Area;
- Projects and activities that require an Incidental Take of Threatened or Endangered Species Permit, pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 182; and
- Areas subject to DEC tidal wetlands jurisdiction pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 661.
Authorization Procedure
Anyone proposing to undertake an activity that is included in the permit must submit an Application Form (PDF) to the DEC regional office that covers the county where the project is located. View a list of DEC regional Environmental Permits offices.
Before work may begin, projects eligible for coverage under this general permit must be approved in one of the two following ways:
- Notice of Intent and Waiting Period: For projects requiring a Notice of Intent (NOI), if DEC does not contact you regarding any environmental concerns or missing information within 10 business days of DEC’s receipt of the Application Form and all required attachments, the project may proceed without further approval. Otherwise, the project may not proceed until all concerns are resolved.
- DEC Countersignature: For project types requiring a DEC Countersignature, the project may not proceed until a copy of the general permit that has been validated with a DEC Countersignature, is received by the permittee.
If the project does not qualify for coverage under the general permit, or cannot be approved under the general permit, an individual permit is required.
Comments
A public comment period for the Lakes and Shorelines General Permit (GP-0-25-007) was provided in response to public comments received on the draft Lakes and Shorelines General Permit, the Department has prepared a Response to Comments provided below.
