Office of Coastal Management
105 West Shoreline Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-626-7980
1-888-OhioCMP
Fax: 419-626-7983
coastal@dnr.state.oh.us

ohiodnr.com/coastal 
website inquiries

Coastal Management

Laws and Regulations

To help achieve the goal of attaining and sustaining a healthy coast and lake by balancing use and conservation, working guidelines have been established to manage coastal areas. These guidelines include laws, regulations and program documents. Links on this page are a list of existing, draft and/or proposed laws, regulations and programs that guide coastal management in Ohio.

ODNR Responsibilities assigned to the Office of Coastal Management

• Ohio Coastal Management Program Document
• Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1506: Coastal Management
• Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 1501-6: Lease of Lake Erie Submerged Lands

• Permits and Leases - Coastal Development Overview Webpage
  • Coastal Permits and Leases Application
  • Coastal Guidance Information (factsheets as a PDF)
  • Shore Structure Permits Webpage
  • Submerged Lands Leases Webpage
  • Local Resolution or Ordinance Webpage
  • Coastal Erosion Area Permits Webpage
  • Coastal Consistency Webpage
  • Erosion Control Loans Webpage
  • Engineering and Surveying Contacts PDF
  • Lake Erie Watersnake Post-Delisting Guidelines for Construction, Development and Land Management (August 2011 from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

• Lake Erie Salvage Permits for abandoned, submerged watercraft or aircraft
  
• Offshore Wind Energy information
  
• Draft Regulations: This page will be used to present proposed revisions to Ohio Administrative Code Rules 1501-6-01 to 1501-6-40 and to present proposed revisions to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1506.
  
• Timeline for Merrill vs. State of Ohio | Submerged Lands Leasing Program

Other state of Ohio laws, regulations and programs that may be applicable to ODNR's coastal development responsibilities:

• Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water Rules and Laws
  • Section 401 Water Quality Certification and Isolated Wetland Permitting Section
  • Section 401 Water Quality Certification Application - Ohio EPA

• Ohio Clean Marinas Program - best management practices

Federal laws, regulations and programs that may be applicable to ODNR's coastal development responsibilities:

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces federal clean water and safe drinking water laws, provides support for municipal wastewater treatment plants, and takes part in pollution prevention efforts aimed at protecting watersheds and sources of drinking water.
  
  • Clean Water Act of 1972:
    
    • U.S. Code Title 33 – Chapter 26: Water Pollution Prevention and Control
    • EPA Water Home Page
      • EPA Water Regulatory Topics
      • Summary of the Clean Water Act of 1972
      • Water Quality and 401 Certification
      • EPA Region 5 Water Programs
      • EPA Water Quality Standards for Ohio

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management within the NOAA National Ocean Service is the lead federal agency implementing the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
  • U.S. Code Title 16 Chapter 33—Coastal Zone Management

• Endangered Species Act
• Federal Powers Act
• National Environmental Powers Act
• National Historic Preservation Act

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District rules on coastal development
    • Ohio Permit Application Form
    • Ohio Permit Application Instructions
    • Ohio Permit Application Checklist
  • Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C 403)
  • Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344)
  • Publication: Living on the Coast - Protecting Investments on Shore Property in the Great Lakes (2.25 MB document takes a few minutes to download)