Alabama'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 near beaches, dunes, and tidal waters that local cities cannot waive.
The Alabama Coastal Area Management Act (Code §9-7-10 et seq.) places Mobile and Baldwin counties under ADEM's Coastal Programs Branch. Activities seaward of the Construction Control Line, in coastal wetlands, or within tidal waters require ADEM Coastal Zone Consistency review and often Coastal Construction Control permits. Standards address dune protection, sea turtle lighting, vegetation buffers, and elevation. State permits run concurrent with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 review. Local jurisdictions like Gulf Shores or Orange Beach may impose stricter setbacks but cannot reduce ADEM coastal protections.
Unpermitted coastal construction can be ordered removed at the owner's expense, with daily ADEM penalties accruing.
See how Madison's coastal development rules stack up against other locations.
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