Florida Department of Environmental Protection Beaches and Coastal Systems
	Coastal Planting List with Cross-section
	RP Coastal Setback Variance Application
	RP Coastal Written Condition Exception

Project Guidelines for Dune and Native Habitat Restoration Located seaward of the Gulf Beach Setback Line or Barrier Island Pass Twenty-Year Hazard Line

Section 54-723(e)(7) of Chapter 54, Article XXII of the Sarasota County Code (hereinafter referred to as the “Coastal Setback Code”), provides that the use of native plants and/or beach compatible sand fill to restore native habitat located seaward of the Gulf Beach Setback Line (GBSL) or waterward of the Barrier Island Pass Twenty-Year Hazard Line (PHL), is exempt from the need to obtain local coastal setback authorization, subject to the following conditions:

1. The restoration shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes impacts to native vegetation;
2. The restoration shall not adversely affect water quality and shall contain and stabilize disturbed soils;
3. All plants selected for the restoration shall be native and shall be appropriate to the zone of native habitat being restored;
4. The use of man-made structures (e.g., near shore artificial reefs, breakwaters, groins) for such restoration shall not be considered an exception pursuant to this Section.

In order to ensure that a proposed restoration project does not violate the provisions of the local Earthmoving, Historical and Marine Turtle Protection Codes, and meets minimum State and Federal requirements, the following design criteria shall be adhered to:

1. The fill sand shall be clean, beach-compatible in color and gradation, free of any foreign debris, and shall be obtained from a source landward of the State and Local coastal setback lines;
2. Construction shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and Sarasota County laws, codes, or rules, including those concerning coastal construction or the Endangered Species Act, 16 USC Section 1531 et. seq.. Construction during the sea turtle nesting season (May 1 through Oct. 31 of each year) could result in the take of a marine turtle, a nest, or hatchlings, which is a violation of the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act and the Federal Endangered Species Act. Such a take can only be authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the issuance of an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. Incidental take cannot be authorized at the state or local level. Therefore, any construction activity must be completed prior to the sea turtle nesting season, unless the Petitioner has obtained authorization from the appropriate agencies;
3. Construction that has been authorized by the State and Federal governments to occur during the turtle nesting season (May 1 to Oct. 31 of each year) shall be coordinated with the appropriate Sarasota County sea turtle monitoring personnel holding a current valid permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
   • Contact Jerris Foote at Mote Marine for construction on either Casey or Siesta Key 941-388-4441 extension 388.
   • Contact Sarasota County Environmental Services Business Center, Coastal Resources, for construction on Manasota Key at 941-861-5000 (ask for Coastal Resources).
4. State and federal protected plant and animal species and their nests [e.g., gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) and seaturtles] shall be protected pursuant to applicable guidelines and laws;
5. Impacts shall not occur to off-site drainage or historic resources and fill shall not be placed in lawful drainage systems

Note: Fill placed seaward of the GBSL and PHL in a manner inconsistent with dune and native habitat restoration requires either a Written Conditioned Exception (WCE), or a Coastal Setback Variance. Failure to acquire this authorization prior to construction will constitute a violation of the Code and is punishable as provided therein. Prior to filling, please contact Coastal Resources staff at the below-listed number for further information regarding the required authorization.

State, federal, and/or other local permits may be required. This notice does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to obtain any licenses or permits which may be required by federal, state, or Sarasota County laws.

• Contact Steve West of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Office of Beaches and Coastal Systems, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000,
• Tallahassee: 850-488-3180; locally: 941-861-5000 to obtain the appropriate FDEP permit application information.

Coastal Resources encourages the hand removal of all nuisance/invasive plant species, including Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada or S. sericea), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), creeping ox-eye (Wedelia trilobata) and carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) during dune restoration activities.