A new law signed by Governor DeSantis on Tuesday could change who owns parts of Fort Myers Beach, sparking concern among property owners who believe they own the land from their homes to the Gulf.
Watch as Fort Myers Beach Community Correspondent, Anvar Ruziev, reports from the Estero Island shoreline.
New Florida law could impact beachfront property rights on Fort Myers Beach
The legislation overrides older statutes and allows the state to create a new erosion control line if a shoreline is designated “critically eroded.” Any sand added seaward of that line would become state land.
On Fort Myers Beach, where many homes have deeds that extend to the waterline, property owners are expressing concerns about potential impacts.
“There is no erosion down there. And, and you know, so, [we] the property owners all contested that, and the state removed that erosion control line,” said Edward Rood, beachfront property owner and Marine Environmental Task Force Member.
Rood said he and his neighbor previously filed a lawsuit to protect their property rights…