Coastal Sector Laws and Regulations
This tab includes laws, legislation, regulations, agency guidance, and executive orders relevant to the coastal sector.
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October 9, 2023
Senate Bill 272, Sea Level Rise: Planning and Adaptation, was approved by California Governor Newsom on October 7, 2023 and requires local governments in coastal zones in California to develop a sea level rise plan. The local sea level rise plans are to be integrated with other local or regional planning efforts overseen by either the California Coastal Commission or the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), depending on where in the state the local government is located.
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May 22, 2023
In 2023, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee issued Executive Order 23-07, “Rhode Island Resilience,” establishing a state Chief Resilience Officer in the Department of Environmental Management.
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November 2022
In November of 2022, New York voters approved the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which authorizes the creation of state debt and state bonds for “preserving, enhancing, and restoring” the natural resources of New York and reducing the impacts of climate change.
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October 2022
In October 2022, the South San Francisco, CA City Council, updated its zoning code to incorporate a Flood Plain/Sea Level Rise (SLR) overlay district intended to “mitigate the impacts of sea level rise, and protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents of [South San Francisco]. ” The additional purposes of the overlay district are to “limit the potential impact of coastal flooding and erosion patterns on coastal development,” adapt to climate change, create adaptation strategies with a priority on long-term resilience, “establish standards consistent with the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District,” introduce “flood-proof” construction to South San Francisco, and restore creek ecologies to build resilience.
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June 16, 2022
This report is composed of 24 individual case studies developed by Georgetown Climate Center to support, Greauxing Resilience at Home: A Regional Vision
Authors or Affiliated Users: Katie Spidalieri , Suhasini Ghosh , Katherine McCormick , Jennifer Li
Resource Category: Solutions
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June 16, 2022
Norfolk, Virginia is a coastal city whose history, economy, and culture are deeply tied to its location on the water. Facing new challenges of increased flooding and sea-level rise due to climate change, Norfolk has responded by developing a host of planning and zoning initiatives that are informed by these new risks and designed to increase the city’s resilience against them. Norfolk’s efforts are an example of how various tools, including a comprehensive plan, a long-range plan, and an updated zoning ordinance, can be used together to build an integrated strategy for local resilience. Norfolk also serves as an example of adaptive planning, in which new needs and priorities that arise over time are integrated as appendices to the city’s comprehensive plan. For example, several appendices to Norfolk’s comprehensive plan were developed to assist developers with housing design challenges that were not addressed in the original comprehensive plan.
Overall, Norfolk’s efforts show how developing a long-range strategy centered on the communities’ priorities can inform zoning rules that implement that vision. Other jurisdictions may look to Norfolk as an example of how local governments can orient and integrate planning and zoning initiatives toward increasing long-term resilience to the impacts of flooding. This case study is one of 24 case studies featured in a report written by the Georgetown Climate Center, Greauxing Resilience at Home: A Collection of Lessons and Case Studies from Louisiana and Beyond
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June 16, 2022
Greauxing Resilience at Home: A Regional Vision is an innovative legal, planning, and policy resource to promote community resilience through housing and nature-based solutions in places where flooding, extreme weather events, and other factors are driving population changes and transitions. It was developed by Capital Region Planning Commission and Georgetown Climate Center, in collaboration with policymakers, community members, and other stakeholders in Region Seven of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative
Authors or Affiliated Users: Katie Spidalieri , Rachelle Sanderson , Suhasini Ghosh , Annie Bennett , Katherine McCormick , Jennifer Li
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May 3, 2022
In 2022, the Florida state legislature passed House Bill 7053, codifying the Office of Resilience and position of Chief Resilience Officer, which were first created by Executive Order in 2019. The purpose of the Office is to review all flood resilience and mitigation activities in the state and coordinate flood resilience and mitigation efforts with federal, state, and local governmental entities. The bill also provides for the duties of the CRO, who is appointed by the governor and leads the Office of Resilience.
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2022
The Borough of Avalon, New Jersey updated their Floodplain Ordinance in 2022 by passing Ord. No. 849-2022, incorporating expanded areas subject to regulation and heightened standards designed to better ensure flood protection of structures.
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December 6, 2021
In December 2021, the City of Burlingame, California, passed Title 25 into its zoning ordinance, creating guidelines and development performance standards for ensuring public access and resilience to flooding and sea-level rise. These standards include minimum buffer zones, shoreline building and infrastructure elevation requirements, drainage standards, and real estate disclosure requirements.
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