Boat & Water Safety Division

Becker County Boat and Water Safety Division patrols the more than 400 lakes in Becker County. While on patrol of these lakes Deputies are enforcing both state laws and county ordinances relating to boat registration, licensing, personal floatation devices, navigation lights, fire extinguishers, as well as unsafe operation of watercraft. The Boat and Water Safety Division also responds to complaints of unsafe watercraft use and watercraft accidents. Assistance is also provided to the Becker County Dive Team with search, rescue and recovery operations. The Boat and Water Safety Division also does safety inspections of boats at the resorts in Becker County. The Becker County Boat and Water Safety Division is dedicated to promoting water safety and education and offers talks to youth boating classes as well as Lake Associations.

The division also issues permits for temporary structures, such as swim rafts, swim areas, slalom ski courses, mooring buoys and ski jumps. They also issue permits for water related events both on the open water as well as the ice. The permit form and requirements for temporary structures and events can be accessed online through the following downloadable forms link, however they need to be approved and paid for at the Sheriff's Office (located at 925 Lake Ave, Detroit Lakes) before a permit is issued. These permits are required before placing these structures in the water and before holding a lake event.

For additional information related to boating and water safety see:

• MN DNR boating regulations and Boating Guide
• Boat & water safety information from the DNR
• Ice safety information from the DNR
• Lakes and public accesses in Becker County (DNR maps)