Invasive Species Permits

Minnesota's invasive species laws (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 84D) and associated rules (Minnesota Rules, Chapter 6216) impose a variety of restrictions, a permit program, and several exemptions pertaining to species designated as prohibited or regulated invasive species.

The commissioner may issue a permit under these regulations only if the commissioner determines that the permitted activity would not pose an unreasonable risk of harm to natural resources or their use in the state.

Prohibited Invasive Species Permits

State laws and rules prohibit possession, importation, purchase, sale, propagation, transportation, and introduction of prohibited invasive species without a permit. The laws specify purposes for which the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources may issue permits for prohibited invasive species. Those purposes are:

scientific research,
educational uses,
control the invasive species, and
for disposal of the invasive species.

Note: Use the Aquatic Plant Management permit application (below) for permits to control Eurasian water milfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, flowering rush and purple loosestrife in state waters rather than this permit.

Several exemptions apply to the requirement for a prohibited invasive species permit. You may do the following without a permit:

transport purple loosestrife, as provided by the state noxious weed law in Minnesota Statutes, sections 18.75 to 18.88;
transport the invasive species to the department, or another destination as the commissioner may direct, in a sealed container for purposes of identifying the species or reporting the presence of the species;
transport prohibited invasive species for disposal as part of a harvest or control activity under a permit issued by the commissioner according to section 103G.615 or as specified by the commissioner;
transport prohibited invasive species for disposal as specified under a commercial fishing license issued by the commissioner;
possess a prohibited invasive species that has been lawfully acquired dead and, in the case of plant species, all seeds are removed or are otherwise secured in a sealed container;
possess prohibited invasive species in the form of herbaria or other preserved specimens; and
immediately return prohibited invasive species that are removed from watercraft and equipment, or caught while angling, to the water from which they came.

Note: If the prohibited invasive species has not been found in that waterbody the species should be collected and brought to the DNR for identification.

Regulated Invasive Species Permits

A regulated invasive species permit is not required for a person or business to possess, import, purchase, propagate, transport, own, or sell a regulated invasive species. The purpose of designating a species as regulated is to prevent the introduction of the species into a free-living state. Therefore the department usually limits the permits for introduction of regulated invasive species to tightly controlled research projects conducted at the university level.

Introduction of Unlisted Nonnative Species

Unlisted nonnative species are those that are not prohibited, regulated or unregulated. Several steps must occur before an unlisted nonnative species may be legally released into a free-living state: an application and supporting information must be filed with the DNR by the individual proposing to release the species, a thorough evaluation by the DNR, and designation of the species into an appropriate classification.

Links to the lists of designated invasive or nonnative species:

Applying for Permits

Application for a Prohibited / Regulated Invasive Species Permit

Permit applications for prohibited and regulated invasive species must be submitted on the appropriate application form:

Permit requests should be submitted as described on the application form. For further information contact the invasive species specialist in your area or the Invasive Species Prevention Coordinator, Jay Rendall, at 651-259-5131 or jay.rendall@state.mn.us.

Lake Service Provider Permit and Training

Service providers, as defined in state law, are individuals who install or remove water-related equipment or structures from waters of the state for hire. All service providers are now required to obtain a permit. See the Lake Service Provider page for additional information.

Transportation Authorization Forms (Non-commercial)

Watercraft owners or shoreland owners who wish to transport their boat to their home or other location for cleaning to remove zebra mussels, or want to transport aquatic plants to a disposal location can use the forms on the Transportation Authorization page. The forms specifies how the boat, equipment, or aquatic plants may be transported in compliance with state laws.

Aquatic plant management control permits

A permit may be required for removal of invasive aquatic plants such as curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian water milfoil, flowering rush, or purple loosestrife. If you believe that the growth of aquatic plants near your shoreline creates a nuisance, and are uncertain if your project will require a permit, use this flowchart to help pinpoint the steps necessary to identify appropriate control options. If you are already certain that your project will require a permit see the application instructions and application form below:

Licenses, permits, regulations