Zoning › State preemptions › Georgia

Georgia Shore Protection Act — Dynamic Dune Field and Sand-Sharing System (GA)

Tracked preemption from the Georgia overlay bundle.

Overview

← All state preemptionsGeorgia overlay roll-upGeorgia zoning wikiGeorgia building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Not flagged
Effective
1979-07-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:GA
Other Georgia preemptions
Georgia Short-Term Rentals — No State PreemptionGeorgia Density / ADU / Design Review — No State PreemptionGeorgia Tree Canopy / Tree Ordinance — No Statewide PreemptionGeorgia Military Installation & Airport Compatible-Use Zoning ReviewGeorgia Local Hazard Mitigation Plan — FEMA Stafford Act §322 ComplianceGeorgia Service Delivery Strategy Act (HB 489) — Intergovernmental Coordination MandateGeorgia Groundwater Recharge Area Protection — DCA Part V Environmental Planning CriteriaGeorgia Wetlands Protection — DCA Part V Environmental Planning Criteria

Trigger predicate

When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.

AND
  • city.is_coastal_shore_protection == True
  • parcel.in_dynamic_dune_field_jurisdiction == True

Preempted fields

3 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.

FieldOpValueNote
base_districts[*].requires_spa_permitoverrideTrueAny construction, repair, or alteration of structures within the jurisdictional area requires a Shore Protection Act permit from the Shore Protection Committee of GA DNR Coastal Resources Division
base_districts[*].min_landward_dune_buffer_ftfloor_at25Landward boundary of the dynamic dune field is 25 ft landward of the most landward sand dune, the crest of a serviceable shoreline stabilization activity, or (absent both) 25 ft landward of the ordinary high-water mark
base_districts[*].min_state_property_dune_buffer_ftfloor_at100100-ft landward buffer applies to state-owned beach property

Citation

Authority source
O.C.G.A. §§12-5-230 through 12-5-248 (Shore Protection Act of 1979); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-2-2 (Shore Protection rules)
§ §§12-5-230 et seq.; §12-5-232 (definitions of sand-sharing system / dynamic dune field)
https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-12/chapter-5/article-4/part-2/

Research notes

Applies to ocean-facing barrier islands and beaches in the four ocean-front counties (Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Chatham). Jurisdiction extends from the state seaward boundary (three miles offshore) inland to the landward boundary of the dynamic dune field. Permitted activities (beach renourishment, dune crossovers, revetments, landscaping, any structure or modification) require an SPA permit. Distinct from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Act — SPA covers the ocean shore/dune system, CMPA covers tidal marshes. Cumberland Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Tybee Island all carry SPA jurisdiction.