How to Get the Shoreline Incentive Program (SIP)

What you get

Burnett County pays up to 70 percent of the cost of plants and materials for shoreline planting, plus a one-time enrollment payment of $250, and an annual property tax credit of up to $50. Understand the commitment before enrolling, because this is closer to a long-running conservation enrollment than a one-time reimbursement: the county describes owners of enrolled parcels as receiving the annual tax credit in return for ensuring permanent protection of the shoreline zone. The program is open to private shoreline property owners on Burnett County lakes and rivers, so it is a waterfront program rather than a general front-yard one, and department staff make a free site visit as part of the process. Roughly 800 parcels have enrolled since 2000. No dollar cap is published on the 70 percent plants and materials share (Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department Shoreline Incentive Program page; last verified August 2026).

• Residential: Up to 70% of the cost of plants and materials, plus a one-time $250 enrollment payment

Are you eligible?

• Be a Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department customer
• Property located in: Siren, Webster, Grantsburg, Danbury
• Private shoreline property owner on a lake or river in Burnett County (waterfront property, not general residential landscaping)
• Enrollment commits the parcel to permanent protection of the shoreline zone, which is the condition attached to the annual property tax credit; read this before signing up
• Free site visit by department staff is part of the process
• Only native plants and materials for the shoreline planting are cost-shared