Coastal Works - Environment & Sustainability
Coastal Works
Coastal Works are proposed works, such as construction or dredging, that occur in, on, or over Cayman waters at or seaward of the surveyed Mean High Water Mark (MHWM), including Crown-owned canals such as Governor’s Harbour, Lime Tree Bay, SafeHaven Canal, and Snug Harbour (Hyatt) Canal.
Coastal Works typically include but are not limited to:
- Seawalls
- Docks & jetties
- Launching ramps & slipways
- Groynes & breakwaters
- Marinas
- Dredging & filling
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) will guide you through the Coastal Works Permit application process.
Yes. Cayman waters starting at or seaward of the MHWM are owned by the Crown. In accordance with Section 21 of the National Conservation Act (2013), any proposed works in Cayman waters must be approved by the Cabinet of the Cayman Islands in the form of a Coastal Works Permit issued by the Ministry with responsibility for environment (currently, the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency). The granting of a Coastal Works Permit is entirely at the discretion of Cabinet and is not guaranteed. Cabinet may approve, defer, or refuse coastal works applications.
It is illegal to conduct coastal works without a permit granted by the Cabinet and issued by the Ministry. Unpermitted works are considered an offence under Section 34 of the National Conservation Act (2013), Offenders may be liable to fines of up to KYD $500,000 and/or to imprisonment for a term of four years.
In addition, unpermitted structures, may be ordered to be removed at the expense of the offender. When a permit is applied for in relation to previously constructed, unpermitted structures, those applications may besubject to increased fees at the discretion of Cabinet.
- Download the relevant application form from the Ministry’s website. There are three application forms for new projects, and one application form for reconstruction works (see Useful Resources).
- Complete the relevant application form and gather all required documentation.
- Request an intake meeting with Ministry staff and submit the complete application package to the Ministry at coastal.works@gov.ky. Intake meetings are held on Mondays and Wednesdays, and may be held virtually or in-person at the Government Administration Building. Meeting requests should be made at least 1 business day prior to the requested meeting date. Prior to submitting their application, applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the Department of Environment (DoE) to discuss potential environmental implications of the proposed works and ways to mitigate them.
- Once the intake meeting has taken place, all required documents should be submitted to the Ministry. Incomplete application packages will not be accepted.
- Once the Ministry has confirmed that the application is complete, the application will be submitted for review by the relevant Government agencies.
- The Ministry will submit a recommendation to Cabinet based on the advice from the reviewing agencies.
- The applicant will be notified by the Ministry of Cabinet’s decision through a Notification Letter from the Ministry. This Notifcation Letter is not a Permit and does not provide authorization for works to commence. If the application is approved by Cabinet, the Notification Letter will outline any relevant conditions which must be met before the Permit is issued, such as the payment of fees or submission of revised drawings. Once all relevant conditions are met, a Coastal Works Permit will be granted to the applicant.
- The successful applicant (Permittee) or authorised agent will be required to sign the Coastal Works Permit at the Ministry. The permit outlines the agreed conditions under which works have been granted and the applicant must abide. The applicant must notify the DoE five (5) working days prior to the start of construction. The DoE will then issue two Coastal Works Notices to the applicant to be displayed at the construction site. Failure to display these notices at the site constitutes a breach of the permit and may incur penalties. A copy of the approved plans must also remain on site for inspection purposes for the duration of the works.
Measures are required during each phase of construction to reduce negative environmental impact. The proposed measures should indicate maintenance, monitoring, and all other best management practices to minimise adverse effects to the environment. A proposed site rehabilitation plan, which includes relocation and restoration activities, may also be applicable.
Construction plans with specifications must be certified by a licensed engineer, architect, or surveyor as appropriate, and must include:
- Dimensioned site plan, cross-section and elevation views indicating the following (If applicable);
- Authenticated Mean High Water Mark (not more than 12 months old);
- Location and area of proposed structure (e.g. dock, seawall, groyne) and proximity to property boundaries;
- Seabed profile with water depths (including depth at end of dock) and height of structure above the water surface (e.g. dock, groyne) Location and volume of proposed excavation or land fill areas;
- Sediment settling areas & associated drainage systems; Boundaries of significant geographical features (e.g. channels, shoals);
- Natural seabed communities (e.g. seagrass, mangroves, coral hard bottom, sand); Placement of silt screens and, Proximity to marine parks or terrestrial protected areas;
- A dimensioned cross-section & elevation views showing how the proposed works interface with the shoreline (if applicable);
- Bathymetric survey drawing of water depths in and around the proposed structure or area of excavation;
- Details of construction must include materials, equipment, and methodology, including proposed mitigation measures;
Docks must be elevated at least four (4) feet above mean sea level and must have at least half (1/2) inch spacing between planks to promote continued seagrass growth.
Side skirting should not be installed on the inner, shallow water half (i.e. the near-shore half) of the dock but is allowed to be installed on the outer, deep water half of the dock and be a minimum of one (1) inch spacing and installed at least one (1) foot above MSL.
Currently, there is no fee to apply for a Coastal Works Permit. If the application is approved, applicants may incur fees at the discretion of the Cabinet for royalties for use of Crown seabed, mitigation fee for damage to the environment, and administration and monitoring fees. These fees must be paid to the Cayman Islands Government prior to the issuance of the permit by the Ministry.
DoE Conservation Officers will monitor coastal works as they are progressing for compliance with permit conditions, to ensure no obvious damage is occurring to the environment, and required mitigation measures are working correctly.
Once works have been completed, an officer from the DoE’s Environmental Management Unit will conduct a post-construction survey and check that the works were carried out in accordance with the Coastal Works Permit (e.g.approved size and location of a dock, area of excavation), and that there were no unpermitted environmental impacts. DoE personnel should be afforded reasonable access to the project site to carry out these duties.
