What are Statutes?
Statutes are laws that apply to all citizens and cover a variety of topics. Laws refer to all laws passed by the Legislature, which are subsequently bound in the Session Laws of that year. Statutes are a codification of those laws, which are compiled and published every year as Minnesota Statutes. By codifying laws into Minnesota Statutes, the laws are placed into context of statutes that have been on the books in previous years.
What are Rules?
Administrative rules are not actually enacted by the Legislature. Rather, the Legislature merely gives the state agency or unit the authority to establish its own rules. These administrative rules have the force and effect of law.
An agency may adopt a rule only after the legislature has enacted a law granting this authority to the agency. An agency rule that is adopted under the rulemaking provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, has the force and effect of law. Rulemaking in Minnesota: A Guide explains each step of the rulemaking process in Minnesota.
Statutes and rules for DNR water-related programs
|
Topic |
Statute |
Rule |
|---|---|---|
|
Dam Safety |
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|
Floodplain Management |
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Lake Improvement Districts |
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|
Pollution Sensitivity |
No rule |
|
|
Public Waters and Public Waters Wetlands |
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|
Shoreland Management |
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|
Water Aeration Systems |
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Water Appropriation |
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|
Wild and Scenic Rivers |
General Water Statutes and Rules Information
- Minnesota Statutes
- Minnesota Rules
- Links to Other State, Federal, and Local Law References