Coastal Setback Lines - Conclusions Drawn from a Review of Current State Practices

Coastal construction setback (or control) lines are featured in many state coastal management plans. They are intended to restrict construction and other activities to areas of safety from erosion and flooding. They also serve to preserve environmental quality and aesthetics, as well as cultural resources. A review of implicit and explicit considerations of setback in 22 states reveals some general trends in terms of objectives, criteria, implementation strategies, and administrative procedures procedures. Although the establishment of coastal setback lines depends on the nature of the coastal zone concerned, it is clear that experience obtained in the various coastal states can be of great value as the pressure of exploitation increases in this critical area.