Lakeshore Protection Code Update

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Healthy shorelines are vital to water quality and animal habitat.

That's why Orange County's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is looking to strengthen policies to better protect shorelines along our natural waterbodies, including lakes, ponds, and streams.

Despite rapid and widespread growth across Central Florida, many of the County's ordinances centered on lakeshore protection have been in place for decades, largely unchanged. Orange County’s ecologists, water quality experts, and policy professionals are reviewing a variety of data and historical usage to consider the effectiveness of the existing codes and determine what changes are necessary.

What's wrong with our current lakeshore code? We will have better answers following the review, but we have observed several issues that are problematic:

  • Native vegetation not being replanted after authorized removal of invasive/exotic vegetation
  • Grandfathered “beach” shorelines leading to creation of new beaches
  • Many of the code enforcement issues stem from unauthorized lakeshore vegetation clearing, despite current policies.
  • Existing “dredge and fill” codes were not written with performance standards in mind for seawalls. The process to get a seawall permit takes too long and the standards are ill-suited for projects involving shoreline hardening.

Want to get involved? Use the tabs in the toolbar below to ask a question or leave your feedback.

Click on the image below to watch a presentation given to the Board of County Commissioners on July 30, 2024.

Healthy shorelines are vital to water quality and animal habitat.

That's why Orange County's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is looking to strengthen policies to better protect shorelines along our natural waterbodies, including lakes, ponds, and streams.

Despite rapid and widespread growth across Central Florida, many of the County's ordinances centered on lakeshore protection have been in place for decades, largely unchanged. Orange County’s ecologists, water quality experts, and policy professionals are reviewing a variety of data and historical usage to consider the effectiveness of the existing codes and determine what changes are necessary.

What's wrong with our current lakeshore code? We will have better answers following the review, but we have observed several issues that are problematic:

  • Native vegetation not being replanted after authorized removal of invasive/exotic vegetation
  • Grandfathered “beach” shorelines leading to creation of new beaches
  • Many of the code enforcement issues stem from unauthorized lakeshore vegetation clearing, despite current policies.
  • Existing “dredge and fill” codes were not written with performance standards in mind for seawalls. The process to get a seawall permit takes too long and the standards are ill-suited for projects involving shoreline hardening.

Want to get involved? Use the tabs in the toolbar below to ask a question or leave your feedback.

Click on the image below to watch a presentation given to the Board of County Commissioners on July 30, 2024.

What would you like to know?

Have questions about our efforts to improve our shoreline? Ask them here. 

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  • Share “What’s wrong with our current lakeshore code?” by definition is reactive. However, due to what the scientific community appears to be convinced will take place during the next 25-100 years namely rapid climate change and potential significant negative impact to lakeshores, “reactive”isn’t good enough. Orange County, the State of Florida, the United States, and the global community must be “proactive” including when making new laws, rules, and regulations regarding climate change. This is necessary to protect future generations! I will do whatever I can to assist. Respectfully sent, Dr. Jim Moyer, elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. P.S., I have been researching climate change for much of the last year and from my research the scientific community is in general agreement on almost everything related to rapid climate change occurring during the next 25-100 years with possible disagreement on specific details. I highly recommend that you consult with climatologists, climate modelers, atmospheric scientists, policy experts, and other experts possibly futurists to obtain expert opinions on a proactive approach to updating the Orange County lakeshore code. Furthermore, I suggest that you reach out to legal experts on climate change also such as Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Change Law Specialist Group, and Environmental Law Institute. on Facebook Share “What’s wrong with our current lakeshore code?” by definition is reactive. However, due to what the scientific community appears to be convinced will take place during the next 25-100 years namely rapid climate change and potential significant negative impact to lakeshores, “reactive”isn’t good enough. Orange County, the State of Florida, the United States, and the global community must be “proactive” including when making new laws, rules, and regulations regarding climate change. This is necessary to protect future generations! I will do whatever I can to assist. Respectfully sent, Dr. Jim Moyer, elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. P.S., I have been researching climate change for much of the last year and from my research the scientific community is in general agreement on almost everything related to rapid climate change occurring during the next 25-100 years with possible disagreement on specific details. I highly recommend that you consult with climatologists, climate modelers, atmospheric scientists, policy experts, and other experts possibly futurists to obtain expert opinions on a proactive approach to updating the Orange County lakeshore code. Furthermore, I suggest that you reach out to legal experts on climate change also such as Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Change Law Specialist Group, and Environmental Law Institute. on Twitter Share “What’s wrong with our current lakeshore code?” by definition is reactive. However, due to what the scientific community appears to be convinced will take place during the next 25-100 years namely rapid climate change and potential significant negative impact to lakeshores, “reactive”isn’t good enough. Orange County, the State of Florida, the United States, and the global community must be “proactive” including when making new laws, rules, and regulations regarding climate change. This is necessary to protect future generations! I will do whatever I can to assist. Respectfully sent, Dr. Jim Moyer, elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. P.S., I have been researching climate change for much of the last year and from my research the scientific community is in general agreement on almost everything related to rapid climate change occurring during the next 25-100 years with possible disagreement on specific details. I highly recommend that you consult with climatologists, climate modelers, atmospheric scientists, policy experts, and other experts possibly futurists to obtain expert opinions on a proactive approach to updating the Orange County lakeshore code. Furthermore, I suggest that you reach out to legal experts on climate change also such as Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Change Law Specialist Group, and Environmental Law Institute. on Linkedin Email “What’s wrong with our current lakeshore code?” by definition is reactive. However, due to what the scientific community appears to be convinced will take place during the next 25-100 years namely rapid climate change and potential significant negative impact to lakeshores, “reactive”isn’t good enough. Orange County, the State of Florida, the United States, and the global community must be “proactive” including when making new laws, rules, and regulations regarding climate change. This is necessary to protect future generations! I will do whatever I can to assist. Respectfully sent, Dr. Jim Moyer, elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. P.S., I have been researching climate change for much of the last year and from my research the scientific community is in general agreement on almost everything related to rapid climate change occurring during the next 25-100 years with possible disagreement on specific details. I highly recommend that you consult with climatologists, climate modelers, atmospheric scientists, policy experts, and other experts possibly futurists to obtain expert opinions on a proactive approach to updating the Orange County lakeshore code. Furthermore, I suggest that you reach out to legal experts on climate change also such as Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Change Law Specialist Group, and Environmental Law Institute. link

    “What’s wrong with our current lakeshore code?” by definition is reactive. However, due to what the scientific community appears to be convinced will take place during the next 25-100 years namely rapid climate change and potential significant negative impact to lakeshores, “reactive”isn’t good enough. Orange County, the State of Florida, the United States, and the global community must be “proactive” including when making new laws, rules, and regulations regarding climate change. This is necessary to protect future generations! I will do whatever I can to assist. Respectfully sent, Dr. Jim Moyer, elected Orange Soil and Water Conservation District 2 Supervisor. P.S., I have been researching climate change for much of the last year and from my research the scientific community is in general agreement on almost everything related to rapid climate change occurring during the next 25-100 years with possible disagreement on specific details. I highly recommend that you consult with climatologists, climate modelers, atmospheric scientists, policy experts, and other experts possibly futurists to obtain expert opinions on a proactive approach to updating the Orange County lakeshore code. Furthermore, I suggest that you reach out to legal experts on climate change also such as Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Climate Change Law Specialist Group, and Environmental Law Institute.

    Dr. Jim asked 15 days ago

    Thank you, Dr. Moyer, for your thoughtful comments and for your leadership on soil and water conservation issues.

    We appreciate your engagement and willingness to assist as this process continues. Be sure to follow this Engage Orange page for more information as we move forward. 

     

  • Share Can you please share the link to the video that has been previously shared and where can we find the language that is being proposed to the changes in codes. At what stage is this proposal to code change and how do I stay informed with its status and input. Thank you ! on Facebook Share Can you please share the link to the video that has been previously shared and where can we find the language that is being proposed to the changes in codes. At what stage is this proposal to code change and how do I stay informed with its status and input. Thank you ! on Twitter Share Can you please share the link to the video that has been previously shared and where can we find the language that is being proposed to the changes in codes. At what stage is this proposal to code change and how do I stay informed with its status and input. Thank you ! on Linkedin Email Can you please share the link to the video that has been previously shared and where can we find the language that is being proposed to the changes in codes. At what stage is this proposal to code change and how do I stay informed with its status and input. Thank you ! link

    Can you please share the link to the video that has been previously shared and where can we find the language that is being proposed to the changes in codes. At what stage is this proposal to code change and how do I stay informed with its status and input. Thank you !

    STG asked 21 days ago

    Hey STG,

    Thanks for your questions! The video you reference has been added to the main Engage Orange page for this program: Lakeshore Protection Code Update | Engage Orange County

    As for your other questions, we expect to have an update with more details available soon. Be sure to check out the monthly newsletter sent to all registered Engage Orange users for updates on programs. They generally go out the last Monday of each month.

    Thanks, 

  • Share Thank you for your link to the video in response to my question. It was incredibly informative. on Facebook Share Thank you for your link to the video in response to my question. It was incredibly informative. on Twitter Share Thank you for your link to the video in response to my question. It was incredibly informative. on Linkedin Email Thank you for your link to the video in response to my question. It was incredibly informative. link

    Thank you for your link to the video in response to my question. It was incredibly informative.

    environmentalgirl asked 4 months ago

    You're welcome! That's what we are here for :) 

Page last updated: 13 Feb 2026, 03:41 PM