+1 State Right to Build Legislation

Where: Wisconsin

What does Wisconsin’s Right to Build legislation allow? owners of waterfront property would have the right to build docks and other structures even on other people’s land

How does the bill address the right to build on water front property over another’s property?

• owner of land abutting a navigable waterway “is presumed to be a riparian owner” (OWNER A)
• OWNER A is entitled to the same rights as OWNER B “even if the bed of the waterway is owned in whole or in part by another, unless those rights are specifically prohibited by the deed to the land.”

Who is backing it? Realtors

What exceptions are included?

• special protections for hydroelectric dam operators to
  • deny dock requests
  • charge “reasonable” fees
  • impose restrictions to comply with state & federal dam regulations

Wisconsin State Journal | The right to build on others’ land: Realtor-backed bill undoes Supreme Court ruling on docks