Ohio 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 submerged lands, preempting local control of shoreline development.
Under ORC 1506.10, the state of Ohio holds the bed of Lake Erie in trust for the public, and any structure, fill, or modification on submerged lands or below the ordinary high water mark requires a submerged lands lease or permit from ODNR. ORC 1506.06 designates Coastal Erosion Areas where setbacks and construction restrictions apply to protect property and the lake, and structures within these mapped zones require a permit. Shore structures such as seawalls, revetments, and piers require ODNR Coastal Management Section approval, and federal Clean Water Act 401 certification is administered by Ohio EPA.
Building unauthorized structures on submerged lands or in a Coastal Erosion Area can result in removal orders, daily civil penalties under ORC 1506.99, and forfeiture of unauthorized fill. ODNR may also seek restoration of the public trust resource.
See how Sunbury's coastal development rules stack up against other locations.
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