A new Florida law aimed at anticipating and adapting to the likelihood of rising seas and increased coastal flooding will require project-specific sea-level impact projection (SLIP) studies for publicly funded coastal construction. The law, which goes into effect in 2021, will require “state-financed constructors”—defined as the public entity “that commissions or manages” a construction project with state funding—to procure these SLIP studies as part of the project’s approval process. To be overseen by the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), the law specifically applies to “major structures” built in Florida’s coastal building zone, which includes several designated regions abutting most the state’s coastlines.

The state law prescribes numerous requirements for the new SLIP studies, which must “use a systematic, interdisciplinary and scientifically accepted approach.” Studies must also assess damage risks from flooding, inundation and wave action, taking into account the increased storm risk anticipated over the next 50 years, or the expected life of the structure, whichever is less.