Many homes and other structures have been destroyed along areas of the Great Lakes subject to shore erosion processes. This destruction has resulted in severe financial loss to property owners. Public losses to recreation facilities, roads and other public works have also occurred. Structures threatened by erosion must either be moved landward (where possible), protected by costly shore protection or lost.

High risk erosion areas are those shorelands of the Great Lakes and connecting waters where recession of the zone of active erosion has been occurring at a long-term average rate of one foot or more per year. The erosion can be caused from one or several factors. High water levels, storms, wind, ground water seepage, surface water runoff, and frost are important factors causing erosion. The high risk erosion area regulations establish required setback distances to protect new structures from erosion for a period of 30 to 60 years, depending on the size, number of living units and type of construction. Other setback requirements are applicable for home restorations and additions to existing structures.  Any person or local government agency proposing to erect, install, move, or enlarge a permanent structure on a parcel must obtain a permit prior to the commencement of construction. 

Local units of government may adopt a zoning ordinance for high risk erosion areas which, if approved by the Department, replaces the need for a state high risk erosion area permit. (Other state permits such as those required for critical dune areas, wetlands or shore protection may still be necessary from the Department.) The Department then monitors the performance of the community and provides technical assistance.

Approximately 300 miles of shoreline are classified as high risk erosion area. Updates of the recession rate studies, which form the basis of the setbacks, are periodically conducted to reflect changing water levels and shore protection efforts.  The high risk erosion area program increases consumer awareness of the danger of shore erosion and allows staff to provide advice and technical assistance to many citizens living with the dynamic Great Lakes Shorelines.  

Status: Presently about 7,500 individual property owners are affected by setback requirements. Inquiries regarding designation and required setback distances for a specific property should be directed to the contacts listed above.  The property's tax identification number, as well as the county, township and section in which the property is located, is required for staff to verify designation and determine property-specific setbacks.  All citizens benefit from the program's efforts to reduce the need for public disaster assistance, promote consumer protection, and reduce the loss of natural resources.