Minnesota: Boat Motor Rules by Lake
6 electric-only · 2 no-motor · 2 hp-limit · 1 all-lake no-wake · 1 zoned lakes in our database
Quick answer
Minnesota sets motor rules lake by lake, not statewide. Boating in Minnesota is regulated statewide by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources under Minnesota Statutes chapter 86B. By default, gas motors, electric motors, and personal watercraft are allowed on public waters subject only to statewide operation rules. Local governments (counties, cities, towns) may adopt water surface use ordinances — no-motor, electric-only, horsepower limits, speed limits, and slow-no-wake zones — but under Minn. Stat. 86B.205 and Minnesota Rules chapter 6110 these generally require a public hearing and DNR commissioner approval before taking effect. The DNR also adopts some lake-specific rules directly in Minnesota Rules chapter 6110 and publishes a compiled statewide "Lake and River Use Restriction Summary" of all approved local restrictions. Every lake below links to the official rule it summarizes, with a verification date.
How Minnesota's restricted lakes split
- No motors 2
- Electric only 6
- HP limit 2
- No wake 1
- Zoned 1
Who regulates Minnesota lakes
The authoritative statewide compilation is the MN DNR "Minnesota Lake and River Use Restriction Summary" (files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/local_regs.pdf, dated April 30, 2025), which lists every DNR-approved local water surface use restriction by county. Minnesota Rules 6110.3700 sets the standard menu of controls (25 hp, 10 hp, electric motors only, or no motors; slow-no-wake defined as slowest speed maintaining steerage, never over 5 mph), and a few lakes have DNR-adopted rules directly in chapter 6110 (e.g., 6110.4000-6110.4200). Under Minn. Stat. 86B.005, "motorboat" includes electric-powered craft, so "no motorboats" ordinances ban electric trolling motors too. Statewide, personal watercraft may operate only from 9:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset and must be at slow-no-wake speed within 150 feet of shore, docks, swimmers, and moored boats.
Motor restrictions on Minnesota lakes
Click a column header to sort. Every row links to a full rules page with the official source.
| Lake | Motor rule | HP limit | Acres | County | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bde Maka Ska | Electric Motors Only | — | 424 | Hennepin | |
| Brown Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 30 | Mille Lacs | |
| Golden Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 58 | Anoka | |
| Hadley Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | 29 | Hennepin | |
| Hyland Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 84 | Hennepin | |
| Lake Windigo | Slow-No-Wake Entire Lake | — | 195 | Beltrami | |
| Lake of the Isles | Electric Motors Only | — | 114 | Hennepin | |
| Lester Lake | Electric Motors Only | — | 72 | Hubbard | |
| Little Bass Lake | 10 HP limit | 10 | 363 | Beltrami | |
| Loch Ness Lake | No Motors Allowed | — | 10 | Anoka | |
| Mitchell Lake | 10 HP limit | 10 | 114 | Hennepin | |
| Square Lake | Zoned Restrictions | — | 203 | Washington |
Browse by restriction type
Frequently asked questions
Who sets lake motor rules in Minnesota?
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board set and publish boating restrictions for Minnesota waters, and counties or cities can layer local ordinances on top. In short: Boating in Minnesota is regulated statewide by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources under Minnesota Statutes chapter 86B. By default, gas motors, electric motors, and personal watercraft are allowed on public waters subject only to statewide operation rules. Local governments (counties, cities, towns) may adopt water surface use ordinances — no-motor, electric-only, horsepower limits, speed limits, and slow-no-wake zones — but under Minn. Stat. 86B.205 and Minnesota Rules chapter 6110 these generally require a public hearing and DNR commissioner approval before taking effect. The DNR also adopts some lake-specific rules directly in Minnesota Rules chapter 6110 and publishes a compiled statewide "Lake and River Use Restriction Summary" of all approved local restrictions.
Are lakes electric-only by default in Minnesota?
Not statewide, but many managed lakes are. Our Minnesota database currently lists 6 electric-only lakes. Agency-owned fishing lakes are the most common electric-only waters; large reservoirs usually allow gas motors. Each lake page cites the exact rule.
How do I find rules for a lake not listed here?
Go straight to the agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/boatwater/index.html); Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities-events/water-activities/boat_launches__rentals/). Search the lake name plus "boating regulations", or call the district office for the county. Our guide on who regulates your lake explains which agency to try first.
About this data
Each lake page cites the official regulation it summarizes (agency link and document type) and shows its own verification date. Data vintage: oldest verification .
Boating across state lines? Neighboring pages in our coverage loop: Michigan lake motor rules and Missouri lake motor rules — same format, same official-source standard.