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Lake Access Sites & Permits
The Lake Access Permit is a year-round permit required for the use of all designated launch sites for motorized and non-motorized boats, canoes, & kayaks in the city of Madison, city of Monona, and Dane County Parks. Permits are valid for the issue year through March 31 of the following year and must be displayed on the
inside driver’s side windshield.
Online registration is available for Lake Access Annual Permits.
Annual launch permits (valid at all Dane County, City of Madison, and City of Monona launch sites) are available at Monona City Hall, Monona Parks and Recreation Department Office, West Marine. Daily launch permits are also available at each site.
Boat Launch Permit Fees
- Dane County Resident Annual Pass - $40
- Dane County Senior Citizen (65+) Annual Pass - $21
- Non Dane County Resident Annual Pass - $50
- Senior Citizen Non Dane County (65+) Annual Pass - $28
- Disabled Annual Pass - $21
- Duplicate / Replacement - $18
- Daily Lake Access Pass Paid at Launch - $8
- Non-Motorized (Canoe/Kayak) Daily Access Pass Paid at Launch - $7
Related Resources
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention
If you store your watercraft with us, please be sure to review our AIS information to help us prevent the spread of AIS.
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are invasive plants that live on, in or near water or invasive animals that require a watery habitat. Invasive species share the following characteristics:
- They are not native to the ecosystem. Some species may be native to the United States, but not Wisconsin; some could even be native to one part of the state, but not another.
- Invasive species cause economic and/or ecological harm. They can over crowd native species.
- They often spread quickly because of reproduction and/or a lack of predators; in their native habitats, invasive species probably have predators keeping their numbers in check, but in their invaded habitat, there's often nothing to eat them and stop their spread.
Aquatic invasive species often leave their predators and competitors behind in their native ecosystems. Without these natural checks and balances they are able to reproduce rapidly and out-compete native species. Once established, they can alter ecological relationships among native species and can affect ecosystems function, economic value of ecosystems and human health.
In the United States, over $137 million is spent annually as a result of invasive species. Since its inception in fiscal year 2004, the Wisconsin Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program has invested about $9 million in grants to reimburse local projects to monitor and control invasive species.
- INSPECT boats, trailers and equipment.
- REMOVE all attached aquatic plants, animals and mud before launching and before leaving the water access.
- DRAIN all water from your boat, motor, bilge, live well, bait containers and all equipment before leaving the water access boat inspection
- NEVER MOVE plants or live fish away from a waterbody.
- BUY minnows from a Wisconsin licensed bait dealer.
- DISPOSE of unwanted bait and other animals or aquatic plants in the trash.