Who Owns the Beach?
Residents of an area of Florida’s coastline have been up in arms after the state began adding sand to miles of eroded beaches in Florida’s panhandle. Homeowners said they should have exclusive access to the newly created beach as their property deeds entitled them to the beach at the front of their homes.
The Florida Supreme Court ruled against them, however, saying that the owners had rights only to the old land and that the state owned the coast land under the sea on to which the sand was added. The owners said that the larger beach would bring unwanted visitors, damaging their property values. They have demanded compensation as a result of the court’s decision.