Georgia Statewide Rule
Georgia Coastal Marshlands and Shore Protection Statewide Permits
Key Facts
- Acts
- Coastal Marshlands & Shore Protection
- Regulator
- DNR Coastal Resources Division
- Trigger
- Activity in marsh/dune
- Civil penalty
- Up to $10,000 per day
Summary
Georgia's Coastal Marshlands Protection Act and Shore Protection Act require state permits for development affecting marshes, beaches, and dunes, with authority concentrated in the Coastal Resources Division.
No person shall remove, fill, dredge, drain, or otherwise alter any marshlands or construct or locate any structure on or over marshlands in this state within the estuarine area thereof without first obtaining a permit from the committee or, in the case of minor alteration of marshlands, the commissioner.
Full Breakdown
O.C.G.A. Title 12, Chapter 5, Article 4 (Coastal Marshlands Protection Act) and Article 5 (Shore Protection Act) require state permits before any building, dredging, filling, or alteration in marshlands or within the dynamic dune field of barrier islands. The Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Shore Protection Committee, staffed by the DNR Coastal Resources Division, review applications. Single-family residences on highground may be exempt from marshlands review but still subject to local zoning and erosion control. Local governments cannot authorize uses that bypass state coastal permits.
Violations & Penalties
Unpermitted coastal development can lead to civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, restoration orders, and misdemeanor liability under the enforcement provisions at O.C.G.A. 12-5-291 et seq.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Georgia coastal city approve a dock without a state permit?
Are beachfront pools regulated by Georgia state law?
Sources
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