Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation to Protect Local Beach Access and Expedite Coastal Restoration

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL - On June 24, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1622, legislation that restores local authority to recognize recreational customary use of Florida’s beaches and streamlines beach restoration efforts in small Gulf Coast counties.

“Senate Bill 1622 protects public beach access and streamlines beach restoration in Gulf Coast counties,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I was happy to be in Santa Rosa Beach to sign this legislation—it is a win for recreation, for tourism and for future generations.”

Under SB 1622, counties and cities can once again adopt ordinances recognizing recreational customary use, such as walking, fishing and swimming without having to obtain costly judicial declarations on a parcel-by-parcel basis. The bill repeals a 2018 law that limited the ability of local governments to uphold long-standing public beach access traditions.

The legislation also improves the process for restoring eroded beaches in certain Gulf Coast counties for those with fewer than 275,000 residents and at least three municipalities, by allowing the state to use the mean high-water line as the erosion control line, eliminating duplicative procedures that delay critical restoration projects.

In addition, SB 1622: 

• Grants the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the authority to advance restoration work in areas already declared critically eroded as of August 2024;
   
• Ensures that beach renourishment investments are directed toward real restoration efforts;
   
• Clarifies that the state is not expanding public ownership beyond what is already recognized by law, protecting private property rights while advancing projects in the public interest. 

Governor DeSantis also highlighted his administration’s continued investments in Florida’s beaches, noting more than $550 million dedicated to beach renourishment since 2019. Following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Ian, Nicole, and Idalia, the state moved swiftly to fund recovery and repair efforts. This year’s budget includes an additional $53 million to bolster Florida’s shoreline following Hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Debby. 

Florida’s beaches and near-shore coastal waters contribute more than $50 billion annually in tourism impact, support over 900,000 jobs, and serve as Florida’s first line of defense during hurricanes.