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Monroe County, NY Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified April 2026

Key Facts

Shoreline
42 mi Lake Ontario
CEHA
6 NYCRR Part 505
LWRPs
5 Monroe towns
REDI
$300M+ resilience

Summary

Monroe County has 42 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline. NYS Coastal Erosion Hazard Area law applies. Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, Hamlin have LWRPs. Post-2017/2019 flooding saw major armor projects.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Monroe County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) serves as the Office of Planning and Development’s primary program for working in partnership with waterfront communities across the State to address local and regional (coastal or inland) waterway issues, improve water quality and natural areas, guide development to areas with adequate infrastructure and services away from sensitive resources, promote public waterfront access, and provide for redevelopment of underutilized waterfronts. How it Works Plan LWRPs begins with a planning process that centers on developing a vision for the future of the waterfront. Execute LWRPs are approved on three levels of government through local adoption; Secretary of State approval; and federal concurrence from NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management for coastal LWRPs. Implement Once an LWRP is approved and in place, municipalities are eligible for implementation funds through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to begin to implement identified and prioritized projects. Planning for Resilience Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience A collection of model local laws developed to help local governments be more resilient to sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding. Models may be adapted to meet the resilience needs of the community and be incorporated into the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.

Source: NYS DOS LWRP ProgramView official code

Full Breakdown

Monroe County's 42 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and Irondequoit Bay coastal zones are regulated under NY DEC's Coastal Erosion Hazard Areas (CEHA) Act (ECL Article 34, 6 NYCRR Part 505). CEHA permits required for construction, excavation, or shoreline armoring within designated erosion hazard areas. New York State Department of State (DOS) approves Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRPs) for Rochester, Greece, Irondequoit, Webster, and Hamlin. High lake levels in 2017 (Plan 2014) and record flooding in 2019 triggered major REDI (Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative) projects - over $300 million in shoreline protection along Lake Ontario. Fire Island-style CBRA does not apply to Great Lakes. DEC also regulates wetlands along Braddock Bay, Irondequoit Bay, and Genesee River.

Violations & Fines

Unpermitted CEHA work: DEC fines up to $10,000 per day under ECL §71-2503. Demolition possible. Wetland violations: $1,000 to $25,000 per day. LWRP inconsistency: project denial.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are typical penalties for violating coastal development rules?
Most Monroe County environmental violations start with a written warning followed by escalating civil fines for repeat offenses. Specific dollar amounts and any criminal-misdemeanor exposure depend on the section of code; consult Monroe County's municipal code or staff for the current penalty schedule.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Monroe County

All Monroe County rules

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