Regulation of dock permits, boat registrations, and duck blinds are found in City Code Chapter 66, 66.1 – boating, and 66.2 – docks and enforced by Lake Services through the Lake Patrol. Licensing is responsible for the maintenance and processing of the billing system.
AS OF 2022, to have a dock on Lake Decatur all dock owners/renters MUST have on file with the City of Decatur a dock permit agreement. Please print and complete this agreement and return it to the Licensing Office located on the 2nd floor of the Civic Center.
Contact Lake Services to:
- Inquire about a new Dock or Duck Blind
- Online submission form for Duck Blind waiting list.
- 2003Duck Blind Waiting List Due to multiple duplicate names, we took one person per address to ensure more opportunity for people to be added. We are currently evaluating what spots we have available and will be contacting citizens in the order of the waiting list. The waiting list will only be for the 2023-2024 season and the City will open it again next year in August to create a new list.
Contact Licensing to:
- Change mailing address for your bill
- Change ownership of a dock
- Provide the State of Illinois registration number for your boat
- Register a new boat for Lake Decatur
- Take the Illinois registration or temporary registration form for all motorized watercraft and sailboats to the cashiers window on the 2nd floor of the Civic Center
- To register a non-powered watercraft with the City of Decatur you will need a valid legal form of identification, the Serial/Hull number, Make, Model and color of the watercraft. (Download form)
- Provide current phone number and email address
- You must be debt free to the City of Decatur
- If you cannot come into the Civic Center office when offices are open, please contact Licensing
Download 2024 Boat and Dock Fees
2024 Boat Registration Fees
| Services | Fees |
|---|---|
| Day Passes | $15.00 |
| Row boats, canoes, kayaks and other craft that is propelled by muscle power | $32.00 |
| Sail Boats | $53.50 |
| Motor Boats: | |
| 1 - 50 horsepower | $61.00 |
| 51 - 100 horsepower | $75.00 |
| 101 - 150 horsepower | $86.00 |
| 151 - 200 horsepower | $99.50 |
| Over 200 horsepower | $110.00 |
| Dealers: (not to exceed 4 units) | $389.00 |
2024 Dock Permit Fees
| Shoreline Zone | Footage $ | Boat Space $ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.50 per foot | 1st Space - $144.00 $187.00 each additional space |
| 2 | $10.50 per foot | 1st Space - $144.00 $170.50 each additional space |
| 3 | None | $73.50 per space |
Fees double if property adjacent to the lake is outside city limits
Initial Fee for a new dock: $61.00
Waterfowl Hunting Blinds: $53.50
Lake Citations: $150.00
Parking Citations at the Lake: $25.00
Licensing
#1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza
Decatur, IL 62523
Telephone: (217) 424-2709
licensing@decaturil.gov
