CT coastal permitting

The State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (aka CT-DEEP, DEEP) is the lead state agency responsible for regulating work and development in coastal/tidal waters and tidal wetlands. The most common limit of the DEEP's jurisdiction is called the Coastal Jurisdiction Line (aka CJL), which is a specific ground elevation above sea level. Each coastal city/town in Connecticut has it's own CJL elevation. The DEEP issues coastal permits for various activities and development that extend into their jurisdiction, including such projects as beach nourishment, boat lifts, bulkheads, docks, dredging, groins, moorings, seawalls, and tidal wetland restoration. There are several types of DEEP coastal permits, each one intended for a certain type of coastal activity. Shore Design specializes in providing professional design and permitting services across all types of DEEP coastal permits.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District (aka USACE, ACOE, NAE, Army Corps) is the lead federal agency responsible for regulating civilian work and development in waters of the United States, which often covers the same jurisdiction as the DEEP. The Army Corps typically reviews the DEEP coastal permit application, which means a second application is often not required. Shore Design understands the Army Corps coastal permitting process and can help navigate this important step in the approval process.

Cities, town, and some associations in Connecticut often regulate coastal work by issuing a coastal site plan approval or special permit, which are types of zoning permits. In addition, some municipalities require building permits. These local approvals typically come after state and federal coastal permits have been issued. Because local permitting requirements vary across municipalities, it is a good practice to confirm what permits are required (if any) by reviewing the current zoning regulations and/or consulting directly with the land use department. Shore Design understands local permitting requirements and can navigate this final step in the approval process.

The DEEP General Permit for Minor Coastal Structures is a set of regulations intended to streamline and expedite approval of specific minor new coastal structures. These coastal structures include construction of small residential docks (aka 4/40 dock), residential beach access stairs, boat moorings (in towns with no harbormaster), osprey platforms, buoys or navigational markers, swim floats, pump-out facilities, and scientific monitoring devices. Shore Design understand the nuances of this General Permit and can help determine if your project is eligible.

The DEEP Structures, Dredging & Fill permit (aka full or individual permit) is for new activities and structures that would not impact tidal wetland vegetation and are not eligible for a General Permit for Minor Coastal Structures or a Certificate of Permission (aka COP). Typical activities and structures covered by this coastal permit include new residential docks, new commercial docks, and new public docks; new bulkheads, new seawalls, and new dredging. 

The DEEP Structures, Dredging & Fill and Tidal Wetlands permit is for new activities and structures that may/would impact tidal wetland vegetation and are not eligible for a General Permit for Minor Coastal Structures or a Certificate of Permission (aka COP). Typical activities and structures covered by this coastal permit include new residential docks, new commercial docks, and new public docks; new bulkheads, new seawalls, and new dredging.