Alternative Text Description for Coastal Building Zone (CBZ)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map depicts the possible extent of the Coastal Building Zone (CBZ) of Florida, a regulatory boundary defined by Florida Statutes. The CBZ represents areas along Florida's coastline where specific construction and activity requirements apply, based on criteria that vary depending on the presence of a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) and whether the area is on the mainland or a coastal barrier island. The map shows a continuous zone extending along Florida's entire coastline, from the Panhandle through the peninsula to the Florida Keys.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and portions of neighboring states including Georgia and Alabama. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa on the west coast, and Miami in the southeast. The Coastal Building Zone follows Florida's entire coastline along both the Atlantic Ocean (eastern shore) and the Gulf of America (western and southern shores), extending through all coastal counties. The Florida Keys island chain in the southernmost portion of the state is completely encompassed within the zone. Regional context includes Tallahassee in the Panhandle region, Gainesville in north-central Florida, and various coastal communities such as Panama City, Cape Coral, Palm Coast, and Coral Springs.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Coastal Building Zone forms a continuous regulatory boundary that follows Florida's entire coastline with varying widths depending on local geographic and regulatory conditions. The zone is widest along coastal barrier islands where it can extend up to 5,000 feet inland or cover entire islands. In mainland areas with established Coastal Construction Control Lines, the zone extends 1,500 feet landward from those lines. The entire Florida Keys region within Monroe County is included in the zone. The pattern demonstrates comprehensive coastal regulation coverage, with no significant gaps in the protected coastal areas, emphasizing Florida's extensive coastline vulnerability and the state's regulatory approach to coastal development and construction.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Coastal Building Zone (CBZ)

This layer represents the regulatory boundary defining areas subject to coastal construction requirements under Florida law.

Coastal Building Zone Boundary (black dashed line with white fill pattern)

Appearance:

The zone is depicted with a black dashed boundary line forming an irregular polygon that encompasses coastal areas. The interior uses a white fill with a dashed pattern to distinguish it from the base map.

Distribution:

The zone extends continuously along Florida's entire Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of America coastlines, from the Alabama-Florida border in the northwest, southward along the Gulf coast to the Florida Keys, then northward along the Atlantic coast to the Georgia-Florida border near Jacksonville.

Notable locations:

The zone encompasses all of the Florida Keys island chain, showing complete coverage in Monroe County. Significant coastal urban areas within or adjacent to the zone include Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Panama City, Cape Coral, Orlando's coastal proximity, and Palm Coast. The zone follows natural coastal features including barrier islands and mainland shorelines.

Spatial patterns:

The zone width varies based on regulatory criteria, appearing narrower in some mainland sections and broader where it covers entire coastal barrier islands. The boundary follows natural coastline irregularities including bays, inlets, and peninsular features. In the Panhandle region near Panama City, the zone extends inland along the coastal configuration. The southern tip near Miami and throughout the Keys shows comprehensive coverage of the island geography.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Coastal Building Zone boundaries are determined by different criteria depending on local conditions. In mainland areas with a Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL), the zone extends from the Mean High Water line to 1,500 feet landward from the CCCL. On coastal barrier islands with a CCCL, the zone extends from the Mean High Water line to either 5,000 feet landward from the CCCL or encompasses the entire island, whichever is less. In mainland areas without a CCCL, the zone includes all land seaward from the most landward boundary of the velocity zone (V-zone) fronting the Gulf of America or Atlantic Ocean. On coastal barrier islands without a CCCL, the zone extends from the Mean High Water line to the landward boundary of the island. All land area in the Florida Keys within Monroe County is included in the CBZ regardless of other criteria. Coastal barrier islands are defined as geological features surrounded by marine waters fronting the open waters of the Gulf of America or Atlantic Ocean, not separated from the mainland by artificial channelization.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data is maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and represents the possible extent of the Coastal Building Zone based on Florida Statutes sections 161.54 (Definitions) and 161.55 (Requirements for activities or construction within the coastal building zone). The zone boundaries were delineated using criteria that vary by geographic location and the presence of regulatory control lines. For issues with this data, users can contact Jeohusua Lugo at Jeohusua.Lugo@FloridaDEP.gov. Data source layer name: CBZ_JUN21.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided for this map view.

Scale Information:

The map shows a state-wide view appropriate for understanding the overall extent and distribution of the Coastal Building Zone across Florida's entire coastline. This scale is suitable for policy planning and general regulatory awareness rather than site-specific determinations.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data layer is dated June 2021 (CBZ_JUN21).

Limitations:

This polygon depicts the "possible extent" of the Coastal Building Zone, suggesting that site-specific determinations may require additional verification. The delineation depends on accurate identification of coastal barrier islands, Mean High Water lines, Coastal Construction Control Lines where present, and velocity zones. Users should verify regulatory boundaries for specific locations before making development or construction decisions.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida with emphasis on coastal areas, extending from the Georgia border in the northeast to the Alabama border in the northwest, and including the full extent of the Florida Keys in the south. Portions of neighboring states Georgia and Alabama are shown for geographic context but are not part of the Florida Coastal Building Zone.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.