SB135: SB135 "Coastal Island Preservation Act"; enact

This bill targets Georgia's coastal islands that cannot be reached by bridge, aiming to protect their natural resources, environment, and cultural heritage. It adds a new section to Georgia's parks and recreation code (O.C.G.A. Title 12, Chapter 3) that sets a size limit on new residential construction on these islands. Under the bill, no one could build a new single-family home larger than the biggest single-family home that already existed on that island as of July 11, 1995. The bill does not set an effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws. It also gives the measure a short title, the "Coastal Island Preservation Act."

• Creates a new Georgia code section (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-13) restricting new home construction on bridgeless coastal islands.
• Makes it illegal to build a new single-family home larger than the largest such home that existed on the island as of July 11, 1995.
• Applies only to coastal islands in Georgia that are not accessible by bridge.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new restriction.
• Names the bill the 'Coastal Island Preservation Act' as its official short title.

Property owners and prospective builders on Georgia's bridgeless coastal islands, real estate developers interested in island housing, and state agencies overseeing parks and natural resources. Residents of islands with bridge access are not covered by this size restriction.

For people who own land or want to build on Georgia's remote coastal islands, this bill would cap how large a new house can be, tying it to homes that already existed decades ago. That could limit future development options and property value potential on those islands.

• Section 1 sets the short title as the 'Coastal Island Preservation Act.'
• Section 2 adds new O.C.G.A. § 12-3-13, making it unlawful to construct a new single-family residential structure exceeding the square footage of the largest such existing structure as of July 11, 1995, on coastal islands not accessible by bridge.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2025-02-11Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-10Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Donzella James (D, SD-028)Primary sponsor

• coastal development
• environmental protection
• property rights
• land use regulation