PROTECT YOUR 

PROPERTY FROM 

COASTAL EROSION 
Owning a property is one of the most important investments most 

people make in their lives. We work hard to provide a home and a 

future for ourselves and our loved ones. How do you protect it when 

the coast it stands on erodes away?

Coastal erosion wears away land resulting in beach, shoreline, or 

dune loss. It may occur as a result of flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, 

or storm surge and may be long-term or short-term in scale. 

While it is not possible to prevent erosion from happening, there are some 

ways to secure your property to minimize damage and keep your home 

and your future safe. For long-term coastal erosion control, the most 

successful projects are ones that are holistic, site-specific, and protect 

multiple properties. Successful projects require planning and coordination 

with local, state, tribal, or territorial officials. When considering projects 

to mitigate coastal erosion, be sure to speak with your local and state 

agencies to understand the related laws and regulations.

Here’s how you can help protect your home from coastal erosion.
OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME

CONSULT YOUR 

COMMUNITY

Before starting physical solutions, 

check with your local officials to see 

if they have mitigation or community 

plans or suggestions for reducing 

erosion in your area. Strategic and holistic 

erosion mitigation projects can protect 

your home and those of others, too.

Property owners should 

consult with coastal 

erosion mitigation 

specialists and local 

officials before pursuing 

any mitigation options.

HABITAT 

RESTORATION

Natural coastal habitats can slow waves, reduce wave height, 

and reduce erosion. Healthy dunes and wetlands can provide 

a barrier between the water’s edge and your property, creating 

a first line of defense. The roots of plants help stabilize sand 

along a beach. Restoring coastal habitats like mangroves and 

dunes helps build healthy ecosystems which support wildlife 

populations and provide critical services like filtering and cleaning 

water. By planting beach-friendly vegetation along your property 

you can help prevent sand from being carried off by waves. 

LIVING 

SHORELINES

Living shorelines stabilize a shore by combining living 

components, such as plants, with structural elements, such 

as seawalls. Living shorelines can slow waves, reduce erosion, 

and protect coastal property.

BEACH 

NOURISHMENT

Beach nourishment involves replenishing the sand on a beach 

to widen it. However, it is a temporary solution that will not 

permanently reduce the risk of erosion. 

CONSIDER 

COASTAL EROSION 

STRUCTURES

Seawalls, revetments, bulkheads, groins and breakwaters 

may reduce erosion in the short-term. They also have very 

high initial investment costs. However, over time, they 

can have adverse impacts on the coastline. The cost of 

maintaining these structures over time is also high and should 

be accounted for when evaluating potential alternatives.

ANCHOR 

YOUR HOME

Ensure that your home is sufficiently anchored, especially if 

it’s on sand. Using piles that drive into more secure layers of 

the ground is highly recommended, especially for homes that 

are older. A retrofit may be required if a professional architect 

believes that your structure is at risk.

RELOCATE 

YOUR HOME

An expensive option, but one that will significantly reduce your 

home’s risk, is to move your home away from the coastline. 

Before embarking on this option, speak with professional 

engineers, architects, and your local officials.
INSIDE YOUR HOME

REVIEW YOUR 

HOMEOWNER’S 

INSURANCE POLICY

Taking a few minutes to check your homeowner’s insurance policy 

and making sure your coverage can help you get back on your feet 

faster after damage from coastal erosion. FEMA’s National Flood 

Insurance Program (NFIP) does not cover coastal erosion. Talk to 

your insurance agent about coverage options.

HAVE A PLAN Knowing what to do in the event of 

severe storms or flooding that can 

lead to erosion that threatens your 

home. Be sure that you know where 

valuable documents are located and 

that you have a safe location to go 

to if the structure becomes unstable.

PREPARE OR 

UPDATE A LIST 

OF YOUR HOME’S 

CONTENTS

Documenting all your belongings 

will give you peace of mind and help 

with the insurance claims process. 

Consider documenting your contents 

visually, either by taking photos of 

high-value items or walking through 

your home and videotaping your 

belongings for reference. 

On the coasts, erosion 

refers to the wearing 

away of beaches, dunes, 

or bluffs by the forces of 

waves, flowing water, and 

wind. These events can 

cause erosion to happen 

slowly over time, but 

during storm events, a 

lot of erosion can happen 

very quickly, resulting 

in drastic changes to 

the coastline. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FEMA, COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL

Learn more about how to improve the quality of construction in 

coastal areas and reduce losses related to a range of coastal hazards

fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fema55_voli_combined.pdf

FEMA BUILDING SCIENCE

Find more information about how to build along the coast

fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science

US CLIMATE RESILIENCE TOOLKIT COASTAL EROSION

Learn more about how changing conditions will impact coastal 

erosion risk 

toolkit.climate.gov/topics/coastal-flood-risk/coastal-erosion

REMEMBER: 

Because effective erosion protection is larger in 

scale, local, regional, tribal, territorial, and state 

officials play an important role in protecting property 

from coastal erosion. Through strategic policy and planning, 

officials can reduce the risk of damage due to erosion and 

drive awareness and action. Mitigation measures need to be 

tailored to your property and work for your jurisdiction. 

Always consult professionals, such as your insurance agent, 

floodplain manager, architects, engineers, contractors, or 

other experts in design and construction, before making 

changes to your home and property. Take the time to talk to 

your local and state officials about planned erosion mitigation; 

there are often regulations that oversee potential actions.