The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has clarified whether it is legal to charge for access to the country's water bodies.
According to the ministry's press service, every person has the right to freely use water bodies for recreation, walks, swimming, or amateur fishing. This right to general water use is enshrined in law and belongs to a person from birth.
It is noted that no one can restrict access to the shore – not with a fence, a barrier, or a "No Entry" sign, unless this is provided for by law.
The state may temporarily restrict access only in special cases: to ensure safety, protect public health, conserve nature, or during low-water years. In such cases, the public must be informed via the media, official government websites, and special signs on the shore.
The law permits the construction and operation of children's play and sports areas, beaches, water parks, and other recreational zones on water protection strips without capital construction of buildings and structures.
A business owner may fence off a plot, but the fence must not completely block access to the water body. If the water body is fenced around its perimeter and there are no other routes to the water, the land user is obliged to provide free passage.
Charges can only be made for services provided — for example, for sun loungers, changing cabins, or equipment hire — but not for access to the water itself.
As noted by the ministry, it is prohibited to wash vehicles, store fuel or chemicals, or carry out any actions that pollute the environment near water bodies.
For context, earlier residents of Mortyk village in the Tselinograd district of the Akmola region reported that they lost access to the only lake in the area after it was transferred into private ownership. According to the villagers, the new owner began charging for fishing and renting gazebos, while attempts to access the water for free result in fines.