CEHA Communities
Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Communities (PDF) are located on the shorelines of New York. They are designated areas by New York State to protect the shoreline and nature based features from erosion.
Coastal Erosion Hazard Area has two types of enforcement, Certified communities and state administered communities.
Before construction starts:.
- Certified communities need to contact your municipality. Permit information, including CEHA, is available at your local building or zoning department.
- State administered need to contact DEC for permit application requirements.
For both Certified and state administered CEHA communities several government agencies may need permits in order to complete your project. These include DEC, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of State, Office of General Services, among others.
Certified community?
If your project is in a Certified community contact your municipality before you start your project. Certified communities have a CEHA permit process for their municipality. Certified communities enforce regulated activities within CEHA in their community. These communities have adopted local Coastal Erosion Management ordinance, or local law. Local government use the power of police, if needed, to enforce the regulated activities within a Coastal Erosion Hazard Area. The local programs meet the minimum standards of section 505.17 of 6 NYCRR Part 505 (leaves DEC website).
Requirements of Certified Communities
The Certified community administers their own CEHA Program. They submit an assessment of their program. This is required. Every year, this assessment reports on annual CEHA activity. The law is in the Environmental Law, Coastal Erosion Management Section per 6 NYCRR Part 505.19 (leaves DEC website).
Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) Community Annual Assessment Form
To submit the CEHA Community Annual Assessment Form (PDF) via online at Coastal@dec.ny.gov or print and mailed to:
NYSDEC
Division of Water, Coastal Section
Bureau of Flood Protection and Dam Safety - 4th Floor
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3504.
If you need additional space, the Supplemental Regulated Activities Form (PDF) can be used to list additional local CEHA activities. Please include with the Local CEAH Management Program Annual Assessment Form as necessary.
Community Assistance Visits
Technical assistance is available to assists Certified communities. Help is available with program administration, enforcement, or interpretation. Please contact Coastal Erosion Management at (518) 402-8185 for more information.
Floodplain Management Resources
Professional development workshops and trainings for local floodplain administrators.
