Nationwide Permits (NWPs)

Complete 2026 reference for all USACE Nationwide Permits. Find acreage limits, PCN requirements, and compliance guidance.

2026 Reference
NWP 1No PCN Required

Aids to Navigation

Nationwide Permit 1 authorizes the placement of aids to navigation and regulatory markers in navigable waters of the United States.

NWP 2No PCN Required

Structures in Artificial Canals

Nationwide Permit 2 authorizes the construction of structures within artificial canals.

NWP 3PCN Required

Maintenance

Nationwide Permit 3 authorizes the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of previously authorized, currently serviceable structures or f…

NWP 4No PCN Required

Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities

Nationwide Permit 4 authorizes the installation of devices and the conduct of activities related to the harvesting, enhancement, and attr…

NWP 5No PCN Required

Scientific Measurement Devices

Nationwide Permit 5 authorizes the installation of devices used to measure and record scientific data.

NWP 6No PCN Required

Survey Activities

Nationwide Permit 6 authorizes various survey activities in waters of the United States.

NWP 7PCN Required

Outfall Structures and Associated Intake Structures

Nationwide Permit 7 authorizes the construction of outfall structures and associated intake structures, provided the activities have been…

NWP 8PCN Required

Oil and Gas Structures on the Outer Continental Shelf

Nationwide Permit 8 authorizes structures such as platforms, buoys, and other devices used for oil and gas exploration, development, and …

NWP 9No PCN Required

Structures in Fleeting and Anchorage Areas

Nationwide Permit 9 authorizes the placement of structures in established fleeting and anchorage areas to facilitate the safe mooring of …

NWP 10No PCN Required

Mooring Buoys

Nationwide Permit 10 authorizes the placement of non-commercial mooring buoys in navigable waters of the United States.

NWP 11No PCN Required

Temporary Recreational Structures

Nationwide Permit 11 authorizes the placement of temporary structures for recreational use in navigable waters of the United States.

NWP 12PCN > 0.1 ac

Oil or Natural Gas Pipeline Activities

Nationwide Permit 12 authorizes activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of oil and natural gas pipelin…

NWP 13PCN > 500 linear feet

Bank Stabilization

Nationwide Permit 13 authorizes bank stabilization activities necessary for erosion control or prevention in various waterbodies.

NWP 14PCN > 0.1 ac

Linear Transportation Projects

Nationwide Permit 14 authorizes activities required for the construction, expansion, modification, or improvement of linear transportatio…

NWP 15No PCN Required

U.S. Coast Guard Approved Bridges

Nationwide Permit 15 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States associated with the constructi…

NWP 16No PCN Required

Return Water From Upland Contained Disposal Areas

Nationwide Permit 16 authorizes the return water from an upland contained dredged material disposal area back into waters of the United S…

NWP 17PCN Required

Hydropower Projects

Nationwide Permit 17 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States and structures or work in navigab…

NWP 18PCN > 0.1 ac

Minor Discharges

Nationwide Permit 18 authorizes minor discharges of dredged or fill material into all waters of the United States.

NWP 19No PCN Required

Minor Dredging

Nationwide Permit 19 authorizes minor dredging activities in navigable waters of the United States.

NWP 20No PCN Required

Response Operations for Oil or Hazardous Substances

Nationwide Permit 20 authorizes activities conducted in response to oil or hazardous substance spills or releases.

NWP 21PCN Required

Surface Coal Mining Activities

Nationwide Permit 21 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States associated with surface coal mini…

NWP 22PCN Required

Removal of Vessels

Nationwide Permit 22 authorizes the removal of sunk, abandoned, or disabled vessels, along with other man-made obstructions to navigation.

NWP 23PCN Required

Approved Categorical Exclusions

Nationwide Permit 23 authorizes activities undertaken, assisted, authorized, regulated, funded, or financed, in whole or in part, by anot…

NWP 24No PCN Required

Indian Tribe or State Administered Section 404 Programs

Nationwide Permit 24 authorizes any activity permitted by a state or Indian Tribe that has assumed the Section 404 permit program under t…

NWP 25No PCN Required

Structural Discharges

Nationwide Permit 25 authorizes discharges of material such as concrete, sand, rock, or other fill into tightly sealed forms or cells whe…

NWP 27No PCN Required

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities

Nationwide Permit 27 authorizes activities in waters of the United States associated with the restoration, enhancement, and establishment…

NWP 28No PCN Required

Modifications of Existing Marinas

Nationwide Permit 28 authorizes the reconfiguration of existing docking facilities within an authorized marina area.

NWP 29PCN Required

Residential Developments

Nationwide Permit 29 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction or…

NWP 30No PCN Required

Moist Soil Management for Wildlife

Nationwide Permit 30 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States and maintenance activit…

NWP 31PCN Required

Maintenance of Existing Flood Control Facilities

Nationwide Permit 31 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States and structures or work in navigab…

NWP 32No PCN Required

Completed Enforcement Actions

Nationwide Permit 32 authorizes any structure, work, or discharge of dredged or fill material remaining in place or undertaken for mitiga…

NWP 33PCN Required

Temporary Construction, Access, and Dewatering

Nationwide Permit 33 authorizes temporary structures, work, and discharges of dredged or fill material, such as cofferdams, that are nece…

NWP 34PCN Required

Cranberry Production Activities

Nationwide Permit 34 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for various activities associa…

NWP 35No PCN Required

Maintenance Dredging of Existing Basins

Nationwide Permit 35 authorizes the removal of accumulated sediment for the maintenance of existing marina basins, boat slips, and access…

NWP 36PCN > 50 cubic yards

Boat Ramps

Nationwide Permit 36 authorizes activities required for the construction, repair, or replacement of boat ramps in waters of the United St…

NWP 37PCN Required

Emergency Watershed Protection and Rehabilitation

Nationwide Permit 37 authorizes work done by or funded by specific federal agencies to address emergency situations requiring immediate w…

NWP 38PCN Required

Cleanup of Hazardous and Toxic Waste

Nationwide Permit 38 authorizes specific activities required to contain, stabilize, or remove hazardous or toxic waste materials.

NWP 39PCN Required

Commercial and Institutional Developments

Nationwide Permit 39 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction…

NWP 40PCN Required

Agricultural Activities

Nationwide Permit 40 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for various agricultura…

NWP 41No PCN Required

Reshaping Existing Drainage and Irrigation Ditches

Nationwide Permit 41 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the purpose of r…

NWP 42PCN Required

Recreational Facilities

Nationwide Permit 42 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction…

NWP 43PCN Required

Stormwater Management Facilities

Nationwide Permit 43 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction of…

NWP 44PCN Required

Mining Activities

Nationwide Permit 44 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for various mining acti…

NWP 45PCN Required

Repair of Uplands Damaged by Discrete Events

Nationwide Permit 45 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material and site excavation into all waters of the United States to restor…

NWP 46PCN Required

Discharges in Ditches

Nationwide Permit 46 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into certain non-tidal ditches that have been determined to be …

NWP 48PCN > 0.5 ac

Commercial Shellfish Mariculture Activities

Nationwide Permit 48 authorizes structures, work, and discharges of dredged or fill material necessary for both new and continuing commer…

NWP 49PCN Required

Coal Remining Activities

Nationwide Permit 49 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States associated with the …

NWP 50PCN Required

Underground Coal Mining Activities

Nationwide Permit 50 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States associated with undergr…

NWP 51PCN Required

Land-Based Renewable Energy Generation Facilities

Nationwide Permit 51 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction, e…

NWP 52PCN Required

Water-Based Renewable Energy Generation Pilot Projects

Nationwide Permit 52 authorizes structures, work, and discharges of dredged or fill material for the construction, expansion, modificatio…

NWP 53PCN Required

Removal of Low-Head Dams

Nationwide Permit 53 authorizes structures, work, and discharges of dredged or fill material associated with the removal of low-head dams.

NWP 54PCN Required

Living Shorelines

Nationwide Permit 54 authorizes the construction and maintenance of living shorelines for bank stabilization in coastal waters, including…

NWP 55PCN Required

Seaweed Mariculture Activities

Nationwide Permit 55 authorizes the installation of structures in marine and estuarine waters, including those anchored to the seabed ove…

NWP 57PCN > 0.1 ac

Electric Utility Line and Telecommunications Activities

Nationwide Permit 57 authorizes activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of electric utility lines and …

NWP 58PCN > 0.1 ac

Utility Line Activities for Water and Other Substances

Nationwide Permit 58 authorizes activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of utility lines specifically …

NWP 59PCN Required

Water Reclamation and Reuse Facilities

Nationwide Permit 59 authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction…

NWP 60No PCN Required

Activities to Improve Passage of Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms

Nationwide Permit 60 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material and structures or work in navigable waters to restore or enhance t…

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