Beach homeowner permits and repair
Beach Recovery Newsletter
The county will issue a beach recovery newsletter with updates regarding progress and upcoming efforts. Sign up to receive the newsletter.
Reimbursement Grant Available
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) opened an online application portal on Feb. 1, for the Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program at floridadep.gov/hurricane. The program is designed to address coastal beach erosion incurred as a result of preparation for or damage due to Hurricanes Ian or Nicole. The program will provide reimbursement for eligible projects to qualified applicants who own an eligible residential property as outlined in the program guidelines. Coastal homeowners seeking to apply are encouraged to submit an application. For more information, contact DEP at 850-245-8558 or hrrgp@floridadep.gov.
Information in response to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, 2022
- FDEP Hurricane Ian Emergency Response for Volusia County [PDF]
- 22-2602 - Hurricane Ian Second Amended Emergency Final Order [PDF]
- Amended EFO for Subtropical Storm Nicole; OCG 22-2740 (floridadep.gov)
- Volusia County Emergency Declaration (volusia.org)
- Potential Sand Sources as of 11/30/2022 [PDF]
- Potential Sand Sources Map [PDF]
- Consultant List [PDF]
Post-disaster beach recovery information and emergency permit requirements
Vehicular access to Volusia County beaches for the purposes of repair and construction requires authorization from Environmental Management.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has delegated to Volusia County the ability to permit temporary, non-structural measures to prevent additional beach erosion and to conduct minor repairs to beach walkovers and seawall components. Activities included for County emergency permitting include:
- Placement of beach-compatible sand (up to 700 cubic yards)
- Installation of sandbags weighing no more than 100 pounds and filled with beach compatible material
- Installation of 4’ high temporary sheet pile or wooden walls without tiebacks, anchors, or caps. These structures must be removed within 60 days of installation.
- Minor repairs to existing walkovers, and armoring structures
These activities are authorized through a Stand-Alone Beach and Dune Permit from the County.
The following cannot be authorized to be used for long term private property protection by Volusia County:
- Coquina rocks, concrete Jersey barriers, rubble and construction debris (broken concrete, etc.)
- Non-beach compatible sand
- Hesco barriers
- Geotextile tubes or sand filled bags over 100 lbs
- Landscaping cloth or material
- Construction fence
You can apply in person, via e-mail or on-line through Connect Live at: https://www.volusia.org/services/growth-and-resource-management/environmental-management/permitting/beach-dune-permit.stml
The Beach and Dune application requires engineered drawings, notarized forms, and a current survey. These items are not required for temporary emergency permits. However, we do need:
- A site plan (does not have to be engineered, signed, or sealed)
- A description of the proposed work, including what materials will be used
- A plan for what types of vehicles may need to be used on the beach and a plan for vehicle and equipment staging
- An indication if the homeowner or a contractor will be doing the work
- Current photos of the property’s erosion/dune/seawall
- A recent survey (if possible, not a requirement during application)
- Proof of ownership/Owner Authorization Form
- Staging locations for vehicles, equipment, and dumpsters as applicable
The County has waived permit fees and is expediting permit issuance in the order of receipt of application provided we have all the documentation necessary.
The FDEP is the primary permitting agency for permanent coastal construction activities and repairs. This includes:
- Placement of temporary armoring for activities not delegated to County to authorize such as rock revetments and use of sandbags over 100lbs or other non-traditional methods to prevent erosion
- Reconstruction of seawalls, and installing new coastal armoring where non previously existed
- Permanent shoring of buildings
- Placement of more than 700 cubic yards of beach compatible sand
Please also find at the link below an FDEP CCCL Emergency Permit Application, which may be helpful if you want or need to apply for Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) emergency permitting:
FDEP Contacts
- CCCL Program: www.FloridaDEP.gov/CCCL; CCCL@FloridaDEP.gov; phone 850-245-2094
- CCCL Program Administrator: Doug Aarons, phone 850-245-7672
- CCCL Environmental Administrator: Celora Jackson, phone 850-245-7668
- Coastal Armoring Permits: Derek Bellamy, phone 850-245-8419
- CCCL Permit Managers: contact information
- CCCL Emergency Permitting Page: www.FloridaDEP.gov/CCCL
- Guidance to Local Governments for Emergency Temporary Coastal Armoring and Other Measures Seaward of the CCCL
- Post-Hurricane Recovery Sand Specifications
Local non-contravene letter for DEP permitting
The DEP requires a letter from local governments that the proposed activity complies with the local zoning codes. This letter is often called a “non-contravene” letter or “Letter of no objection”. For properties in unincorporated Volusia County please use the following link for instructions: Zoning Verification Letter Application (volusia.org). For properties located within a city, please contact the city’s permitting department [PDF].
If within a City or Town, contact your local building department to verify if you need any required building permits to conduct your activity. Residents of unincorporated Volusia County may also need a county building department permit for beach work. City residents should check with the appropriate office.
Contact the Volusia County HCP Office at (386) 238-4668 or (386) 257-6000 ex. 21319 prior to conducting any beach work activity to ensure that all relevant parties are notified of work being done.
Potential Sand Sources for Beach and Dune Restoration
The following is a list of potential sand sources. Please not that these sources have been identified as having material to meet DEP standards for beach compatibility for Volusia County beaches. All sand brought on to county beaches must be approved by Volusia County Environmental Management and must meet DEP beach sand standards for beach compatibility to the native beach sand.
Property protection, repair and replacement activities
To assess what is needed to conduct work at your beachfront property, follow these steps:
- Refer to the CCCL Post-Storm Public Information Handout (PDF from floridadep.gov) to determine what authorizations are needed for the activity you wish to conduct. The County is permitting these activities through a Beach and Dune permit. Please apply through this web page at Beach and Dune Permit (volusia.org) If your activity is exempt from permitting, keep a copy of the paperwork outlining the exempt activity while conducting the work.
- If within a City or Town, contact your local building department to obtain any required building permits to conduct your activity. Residents of unincorporated Volusia County may also need a county building department permit for beach work. City residents should check with the appropriate office.
- Contact the Volusia County HCP Office at (386) 238-4668 or (386) 257-6000 ex. 21319 prior to conducting any beach work activity to ensure that all relevant parties are notified of work being done.
Beachside residents and commercial properties clean-up guidance
As Volusia County coastal residents begin storm related cleanup, construction and repairs, it’s important to understand that storm debris should be brought to the public right of way, the area that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement for collection. Coastal residents should not place debris on the beach as Volusia County will not collect it; debris on the beach causes environmental and safety concerns, obstructs traffic, hinders cleanup, and makes it difficult for emergency and contractor vehicles to pass. Debris that washes ashore west of the toe of dune or west of a previously existing seawall is the responsibility of the private property owner.
Debris associated with damaged seawalls, dune walkovers, or other private structures will not be removed by the County. The associated private property owners are responsible for demolition of the structure, repair of the structure, and legal disposal of the debris associated with the structure.
Individuals who hire a contractor to handle large debris, household and seawall damage must make sure the contractor is licensed and insured and knows he or she is required to take all debris to the Tomoka Landfill in Port Orange at 1990 Tomoka Farms Road or the West Volusia Transfer Station in DeLand at 3151 E. New York Ave. Contractors are required by law to dispose of debris properly; they cannot place it in the right of way or on the beach.
Residents must sort debris into separate piles for vegetative debris (leaves, branches and cut trees), construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, furniture, fences, drywall) and appliances and white goods (refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, stoves). Do not place vegetative debris in plastic yard waste bags. The storm debris removal contractor will leave bagged debris for weekly residential yard waste collection since plastic bags cannot be disposed of by the storm debris contractor. If you have a small amount of yard debris, normal collection rules will apply. Debris piles that are mixed will not be collected.
A toll-free hotline number has been set up for unincorporated residents to call with storm debris questions. The number is 800-291-1205 and can be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
No permit is required to remove private property debris from the beach. All private property items are the responsibility of the upland property owners and should be removed from the beach as soon as possible. If vehicle access onto the beach is needed to retrieve large items, contact Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) staff at (386) 238-4668 or (386) 257-6000 ex. 21319.
Windblown sand removal from properties
No permit is required to remove windblown sand from properties. All sand should be placed back on to the beach free of debris (landscaping materials, glass, concrete, etc.) Sand should be placed away from marked sea turtle nests and in a natural formation along the sea wall or upper portion of the beach.
Dune Restoration Projects
The county encourages residents to help rebuild the beach. Purchasing beach compatible sand, installing sand fence and planting native beach vegetation at your property, may be exempt from permitting requirements. However, some activities do require permits or coordination with HCP staff. Therefore, residents should call staff to discuss plans prior to conducting any of these activities. Sand for dune restoration projects must be obtained from a state approved, beach compatible sand source and be free of construction debris. Sand fencing must be placed in accordance with sand fencing guidelines (not parallel to the ocean) and all plants used must be native and beach compatible.
Seaweed
Seaweed should not be removed from the beach as it is beneficial in helping the beach rebuild naturally by trapping sand and providing nutrients to recruiting plants. It can be raked with hand tools only and must remain on the beach unless otherwise permitted by FDEP. For mechanical beach cleaning, raking or seaweed removal, a FDEP permit is required. The County does not conduct any of these activities. The only mechanical grading completed by the County is at the vehicle access ramps where seaweed is left on the beach outside of the ramp corridors only.
Links for additional helpful information
- Volusia County Permits
- Sand Fencing Guidelines
- Building Back the Sand Dunes
- Beach and Dune Walkover Guidelines
- Native Beach and Dune plants
- Volusia County Beach and Dunes ordinance
For additional information, call Volusia County Environmental Management at 386-736-5927.