Can I swim and moor at the shore anywhere in Sweden?
Yes — the right of public access lets you swim, come ashore, anchor and moor temporarily at a beach or jetty that lies outside someone's plot. There is no fixed minimum distance in metres to dwellings — it is a disturbance assessment, not a metre limit, and that is where people look for an answer that does not exist. You must stay away from the plot and the zone of domestic peace, and leave the spot when the owner needs it. You may anchor and stay a night or two; to stay longer you need the landowner's permission. Jetties and boathouses belonging to a plot are private and are not covered. Shore protection is generally 100 metres (extendable to 300 m) but restricts building — not your swim.
📋 The rules
- Swim, go ashore and anchor at shores outside a plot
- No fixed minimum distance from homes — a disturbance test
- Moor and anchor for a night or two
- Shore protection: generally 100 m (extendable to 300 m)
- The home-peace zone normally does not extend over the water
🔓 Exceptions
- Docks and boathouses belonging to a plot are private and may not be used
- National parks, nature reserves and bird sanctuaries can ban landing
- The Maritime Code's good-seamanship duty applies to speed and wake near shores and swimmers
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The right of public access carries no general fine — there is no charge for swimming in the wrong place. The punishment comes if you go too far: entering a plot or getting too close to a dwelling can be breach of domestic peace or unlawful intrusion, with damages on top. Breaching the rules of a national park, nature reserve or bird protection area can bring fines or imprisonment, and there landing can be banned outright. On the water the Maritime Code requirement of good seamanship also applies to speed and wash near shores and swimmers.
📎 Official sources
- Swedish EPA · Right of public access on water →
- Swedish EPA · Shore protection →
- Environmental Code (1998:808) · Riksdagen →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I swim anywhere?
Yes, at shores lying outside someone's plot and zone of domestic peace, as long as you do not disturb the residents. Jetties and boathouses belonging to a plot are private and may not be used.
How close to a house can I moor?
There is no fixed limit in metres. It is decided by whether the residents are disturbed, not by an exact distance, and the zone of domestic peace normally does not extend out over the water.
How long can I anchor?
A night or two, no more. To stay longer you need the landowner's permission, and you must leave the spot when the owner needs it.
Can I use a private jetty?
No. Jetties and boathouses belonging to a plot are private and not covered by the right of public access. The fact that the jetty happens to be empty gives you no right to moor.
What is shore protection?
A protection, generally 100 metres and in some cases extended to 300 metres, that restricts building and interventions near the shore. It does not stop you from swimming or coming ashore.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I swim anywhere sweden”
- “right of public access on water”
- “moor at dock temporarily”
- “anchor a night or two”
- “shore protection 100 metres”
- “private dock public access”