Coastal Development
Environmental Rules
Building restrictions near coastlines, including setbacks from the water, dune protection rules, and coastal commission permits.
How Coastal Development Rules Differ by Place
Coconino County, AZ: Coconino County Floodplain & Watercourse Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCoconino County is landlocked high country, so 'coastal' rules mean floodplain and watercourse protection. Under ARS §48-3613, you cannot obstruct a watercourse or develop in a mapped…
Bay County, FL: Bay County Coastal Development Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPanama City Beach and Mexico Beach front the Gulf of Mexico. Under Fla. Stat. §161.053, an FDEP permit is required to build, excavate, or alter ground seaward of the coastal…
Brevard County, FL: Brevard County Coastal Setback and Beachfront Lighting Rules
Heavy RestrictionsBrevard County sets its own coastal setback line 25 feet west of the 1981 FDEP control line. No new major habitable structure may be built seaward of it, and Chapter 46 restricts…
Johnson County, IA: Johnson County Waterway & Floodway Rules
Few RestrictionsCoastal rules do not apply in Johnson County. This is landlocked eastern Iowa. Work near water here follows Iowa DNR floodway permits, local floodplain ordinances, and Army Corps rules…
Shreveport, LA: No coastal permits. Red River floodplain rules instead
Few RestrictionsShreveport sits on the Red River in northwest Louisiana, far outside the state Coastal Zone, so no Coastal Use Permit is required. Development near water is instead controlled by the…
White Plains, NY: environmental/coastal-development
Few RestrictionsNot applicable. White Plains is an inland Westchester County city with no coastline, tidal waters, or NYS DEC Coastal Erosion Hazard Area. No coastal development regulations apply.
Coastal Development Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Alabama
Heavy RestrictionsAlabama's Coastal Area Management Program, administered by ADEM under Code §9-7, regulates development in Mobile and Baldwin counties' coastal zones, requiring permits for construction…
California
Heavy RestrictionsThe California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal…
Connecticut
Heavy RestrictionsThe Connecticut Coastal Management Act (Sec. 22a-90 et seq.) requires consistency review of all development within the coastal boundary. DEEP and municipalities enforce uniform…
Delaware
Heavy RestrictionsThe 1971 Delaware Coastal Zone Act (7 Del.C. Chapter 70) prohibits new heavy industry within the designated coastal zone and requires a state Coastal Zone Permit from DNREC for…
District of Columbia
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial-improvement projects inside DC's Anacostia Waterfront Development Zone must meet the District's integrated environmental design standards, green…
Florida
Heavy RestrictionsFlorida regulates construction seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line through state permits, with uniform standards administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Georgia
Heavy RestrictionsGeorgia's Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and Shore Protection Act require state permits for development affecting marshes, beaches, and dunes, with authority concentrated in the…
Hawaii
Heavy RestrictionsHawaii's Coastal Zone Management law requires Special Management Area permits for development near the shoreline. State sets minimum standards while counties process most permits…
Illinois
Heavy RestrictionsThe Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program regulates Lake Michigan shoreline development, applying uniform permit requirements along the entire Illinois…
Indiana
Some RestrictionsBuilding a permanent structure in, or removing water or material from, Lake Michigan or any Indiana navigable waterway requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources under…
Louisiana
Heavy RestrictionsThe State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978 (La. R.S. 49:214.21 et seq.) requires Coastal Use Permits for development within the Louisiana Coastal Zone. The Department…
Maine
Heavy RestrictionsMaine coastal development is governed by 38 MRS § 1801 (Coastal Management Policies declared under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972), the mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act…
Massachusetts
Heavy RestrictionsMassachusetts regulates all tidelands and coastal development statewide under Chapter 91 (MGL c.91) and 310 CMR 9.00, requiring state licenses for structures and fill in tidelands…
Michigan
Heavy RestrictionsMichigan's Part 323 NREPA preempts local coastal rules in designated high-risk erosion, flood-risk, and environmental areas along the Great Lakes.
Minnesota
Some RestrictionsDevelopment along Minnesota's Lake Superior shoreland outside Duluth must meet the standards in the North Shore Management Plan, set statewide by Minnesota Rules 6120.2800, subpart 1a…
Mississippi
Heavy RestrictionsMississippi's Coastal Wetlands Protection Act gives the Department of Marine Resources exclusive authority to permit dredging, filling, or alteration of coastal wetlands in Hancock…
New Hampshire
Heavy RestrictionsNew Hampshire RSA 483-B establishes statewide minimum standards for development within 250 feet of public waters, including the Atlantic coast, lakes, ponds, and fourth-order streams…
New Jersey
Heavy RestrictionsThe Coastal Area Facility Review Act gives the New Jersey DEP exclusive permit jurisdiction over development in the coastal zone, applying uniform statewide standards regardless of…
New York
Heavy RestrictionsNew York Executive Law Article 42 and the Coastal Management Program require state and local agency actions in designated coastal areas to be consistent with statewide coastal policies…
North Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsThe Coastal Area Management Act, N.C.G.S. 113A-100 through 113A-134.3, requires CAMA permits for development in 20 coastal counties and Areas of Environmental Concern, preempting local…
Ohio
Heavy RestrictionsOhio Revised Code Chapter 1506 grants the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Office of Coastal Management exclusive authority over Lake Erie shore structures, erosion areas, and…
Oregon
Heavy RestrictionsOregon's Beach Bill (ORS 390.605-390.770) and Statewide Planning Goals 16-19 give the state primary control over development on ocean shores, estuaries, dunes, and coastal headlands…
Rhode Island
Heavy RestrictionsThe Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) under RIGL Chapter 46-23 holds primary jurisdiction over development within the coastal zone, preempting inconsistent local…
South Carolina
Heavy RestrictionsSouth Carolina's Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act gives SCDES (formerly DHEC's OCRM) exclusive permit authority over critical areas in the eight coastal counties. State critical-area…
Texas
Some RestrictionsTexas prohibits damaging, destroying, or removing a sand dune or its vegetation seaward of a dune protection line or within a critical dune area unless a permit authorizes the work…
Virginia
Heavy RestrictionsThe Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act mandates 100-foot vegetated buffers along tidal waters and tributaries in 84 covered Tidewater localities, with state-set criteria local ordinances…
Washington
Heavy RestrictionsWashington's Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58) requires Shoreline Substantial Development Permits for most construction within 200 feet of marine and freshwater shorelines statewide.
Wisconsin
Heavy RestrictionsWisconsin's NR 115 sets minimum shoreland zoning standards along navigable waters, and the Public Trust Doctrine protects Great Lakes shores. Counties must adopt rules at least as…
Cities & Counties with Coastal Development Rules
70 locations
California
Florida
Louisiana
New York
North Carolina
Other Environmental Rules Topics
Stormwater Management
Requirements for managing rainwater runoff on your property, including retention basins, permeable surfaces, and drainage plans.
Erosion Control
Rules to prevent soil erosion during construction and landscaping, including required sediment barriers and ground cover standards.
Flood Zones
Building requirements for properties in FEMA flood zones, including elevation standards, flood insurance mandates, and construction limits.
Shoreline Management
Regulations for properties along lakes, rivers, and coastlines, including buffer zones, dock permits, and vegetation requirements.
Sea Wall & Bulkhead
Requirements for maintaining sea walls, bulkheads, and retaining structures on waterfront properties, including inspection schedules and repair obligations.
Mangrove Protection
Rules protecting mangrove trees and coastal vegetation, including trimming restrictions, removal prohibitions, and required setbacks from mangrove habitat.
Boat Dock Permits
Permits required to build or modify boat docks, lifts, and davits on waterfront properties, including size limits, setbacks, and environmental reviews.
Defensible Space
Mandated vegetation clearance zones around homes in fire hazard zones, including the 100-ft Zone 0/1/2 model used by California and other wildfire-prone states.
Vehicle Idling Restrictions
Limits on how long heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and passenger cars may idle, including bans near schools and residential areas.
Climate Emergency Mobilization
Local climate-emergency declarations and mobilization plans, including building electrification mandates, gas-hookup bans in new construction, and reach codes.
Sustainable Procurement
City rules requiring sustainable, recycled, or low-emissions products in municipal purchasing, and how those rules trickle down to contractors and concessions.
Cool Pavement
Reflective-coating road treatments deployed by LA Bureau of Street Services to reduce surface temps; pilot streets and expansion plans under Cool Streets LA.
Cool Roof Requirements
Mandatory high-reflectance roofing materials for new construction and reroofs. LA Green Building Code thresholds and Title 24 Pt 6 baseline.
Heat Island Mitigation
Citywide programs to reduce urban heat, tree canopy goals, cool surfaces, shade structures at bus stops, and cooling-center requirements during heat waves.
Flood Elevation Requirements
FEMA NFIP minimum base flood elevation (BFE) construction standards for properties in mapped flood zones, including freeboard requirements above BFE.