Administrative rules

What are administrative rules?

Agencies promulgate administrative rules in order to administer and enforce specific state laws and to implement general agency objectives. Often when a statute is passed, legislators will direct a state agency to create rules to implement the statute. Each rule must be authorized by statute. A rule can also be referred to as a chapter of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

The process of creating a rule is designed such that the public and the legislature have an opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process and that all perspectives are considered in the development of a final regulation. The public has the opportunity to comment on proposed rules at public hearings; sometimes rules are revised based on public comments and their may be additional sets of public hearings.

The final draft of Natural Resource rules is reviewed by the Natural Resource Board (NRB). Upon NRB approval, the proposed rules are sent to the legislature for final approval.

An inventory of Administrative Rules related to water are available at Wisconsin Water Policies Inventory
(Exits site)