Department of Environmental Conservation

D E C banner

Resiliency and Economic Development Guidance

In order to build resilience, reduce the risk of future property damage, and minimize habitat impacts, the DEC has compiled general guidelines for coastal design and development projects. The goal of these guidelines is to share technical data, regulatory guidance, best practices, and available resources for development along the dynamic shorelines of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

These guidelines can be found in New York State REDI: Building Resilience in Recovery - Homeowners Program Guidance for Shoreline Management on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River (PDF) and Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Coastal Development Fact Sheet (PDF). DEC has compiled various tools and datasets that can aid property owners in the design and permitting of Coastal Development. The links to this information can be found in the "Additional Resources" section at the bottom of this page.

For any questions regarding DEC Permits for coastal development, please contact your Regional Permit Administrator. Contact information for the Regional Permit Administrators in each Region can be found at: DEC Regional Permit Administrators.

Additional Resources

NYS Permitting and Regulatory Standards:

  • DEC Permits: Determine if your project will need a permit and learn about the application process.
  • New York Department of State (DOS) (leaves DEC website): Coastal Consistency review aligns the federal and state actions so they are consistent with State coastal policies and local waterfron revitalization programs.. Determine if your project is in the coastal area, if your project will need a consistency review and learn what you need to do if you have a consistency determination. Other factors to consider when planning and constructing your project.
  • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) (leaves DEC website): Permit information and contact information for your area to make the determination if you need a permit.
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (leaves DEC website): Permit requirements for floodplain development - click on Navigation and type in Permit for Floodplain Development.
  • DOS Building codes (leaves DEC website): NYS code enforcement and administration regulations.

Wetland Considerations:

(links leave DEC Website)

Floodplain Management Guidance:

  • National Flood Insurance Program: (leaves DEC website) (click on Navigation and type in National Flood Insurance Program) Explains the need for insurance to reduce the impact of flooding costs.
  • Special Flood Hazard Area: (leaves DEC website) (click on Navigation and type in Special Flood Hazard Area) Provides National Flood Insurance Program guidance and requirements.
  • Flood Insurance Rate Map: (leaves DEC website) (click on Navigation and type in Flood Insurance Rate Map) Defines and gives guidance on Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) which is an official map by FEMA of specific communities which have special hazard areas and/or the risk premium zones applicable to a certain community.
  • CRRA Flood Risk Management (PDF) Guidance: Guide to ongoing efforts to address climate change-related considerations in building and planning.
  • FEMA Coastal Work Map Viewer: (leaves DEC website) Interactive map of work in process for coastlines.

Maps:

(links leave DEC Website)

Digital Data:

(links leave DEC Website)

Data Analysis:

(links leave DEC Website)

Planning for Shoreline Stabilization

Natural and Nature Based Features Design

Structural Based Features Design

Other considerations for design


  • PDF Help
  • For help with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-8185.
  • Contact for this Page
  • NYSDEC
    Division of Environmental Permits
    625 Broadway
    Albany, NY 12233
    518-402-9167
    Send us an email
  • This Page Covers
  • Page applies to Great Lakes region