Some communities emphasize certain types of water dependent uses, such as commercial fishing, recreational boating, specific industries or traditional working waterfront activities that enhance historic preservation efforts. The New England states originally developed harbor management plans to deal with the functional requirements of harbors, such as delineation of mooring space, rules for operating vessels and allocation of use for public facilities. More recently, harbor management plans have focused on the preservation and promotion of water-dependent uses. These plans influence land-use permit decisions and may result in amendments to zoning ordinances or adoption of other ordinances for implementing the plan. Outside the North Atlantic region, harbor management planning has not been used extensively for protecting water-dependent uses.
Most states give priority to water-dependent uses when planning shoreline development.
Local tax policies can also influence land use-decisions. Waterfront land values have escalated, and the traditional basis for property taxes is a parcel's market value for its highest and best use. Use value taxation allows assessment based on the income-producing capacity of the existing use, however, not the market value of the property for a more profitable use. Public funding has financed capital improvements for infrastructure required by water dependent uses. New England cities such as Boston, Portland and Provincetown have used public funds to revitalize fishing piers to retain or attract fishing fleets.