Washington, DC Environmental Rules: Shoreline Management (2026)

C. Law 21-282 (effective May 19, 2017), sets the District's framework for protecting its rivers, wetlands and shoreline. 03 is the operative shoreline directive: the Mayor, acting through the rulemaking authority in subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, must issue rules requiring shoreline protection measures and must promote living shoreline projects in those rules to the maximum extent possible. 01, pins down what that means in practice: a 'living shoreline project' is defined as shoreline protection measures that use non-structural stabilization practices to control shore erosion by trapping sediment, filtering pollution, and providing aquatic and terrestrial habitat, while 'shoreline protection measures' generally are defined as coastal engineering activities that reduce the risk of flooding, erosion, or inundation of land and structures.

04 bans introducing listed invasive plants or nonindigenous nuisance species into the District or District waters. 05, which lets the Mayor inspect records and sites with the owner's consent or, if refused, seek a search warrant from the DC Superior Court. 06 backs the whole chapter with civil infraction penalties, fines and fees under Title 2, Chapter 18, plus cost-recovery for the District's investigation and eradication expenses, and authorizes the Attorney General to sue in Superior Court for damages and injunctive relief.