# Fla. Stat. § 161.021: 161.021 Definitions > Florida · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.021 ## Section - **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 161.021 - **Heading:** 161.021 Definitions - **Jurisdiction:** Florida - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Florida Code / Title XI / Chapter 161 / Part I / Section 161.021 ## Text In construing these statutes, where the context does not clearly indicate otherwise, the word, phrase, or term: (1) “Access” or “public access” as used in ss. 161.041, 161.052, and 161.053 means the public’s right to laterally traverse the sandy beaches of this state where such access exists on or after July 1, 1987, or where the public has established an accessway through private lands to lands seaward of the mean high tide or water line by prescription, prescriptive easement, or any other legal means, development or construction shall not interfere with such right of public access unless a comparable alternative accessway is provided. (2) “Beach and shore preservation,” “erosion control, beach preservation and hurricane protection,” “beach erosion control” and “erosion control” includes, but is not limited to, erosion control, hurricane protection, coastal flood control, shoreline and offshore rehabilitation, and regulation of work and activities likely to affect the physical condition of the beach or shore. (3) “Beach nourishment” means the maintenance of a restored beach by the replacement of sand. (4) “Beach restoration” means the placement of sand on an eroded beach for the purposes of restoring it as a recreational beach and providing storm protection for upland properties. (5) “Board of trustees” means the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund. (6) “Coastal construction” includes any work or activity which is likely to have a material physical effect on existing coastal conditions or natural shore and inlet processes. (7) “Department” means the Department of Environmental Protection. (8) “Emergency” means any unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural causes which endangers the health, safety, or resources of the residents of the state, including damages or erosion to any shoreline resulting from a hurricane, storm, or other such violent disturbance. (9) “Inlet sediment bypassing” includes any transfer of sediment from an inlet or beach to another stretch of beach for the purpose of nourishment and beach erosion control. (10) “Local government” means a county, municipality, community development district, or independent special taxing district. History: s. 1, ch. 65-408; ss. 25, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 43, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 78-257; s. 1, ch. 86-138; s. 11, ch. 87-97; s. 17, ch. 94-356; s. 2, ch. 2000-346; s. 1, ch. 2007-99. ## Nearby sections - [Fla. Stat. § 161.011 161.011 Short title.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.011.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.021 161.021 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.021.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.031 161.031 Personnel and facilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.031.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.041 161.041 Permits required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.041.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.042 161.042 Coastal construction and excavation in barrier beach inlets.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.042.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.051 161.051 Coastal construction by persons, firms, corporations, or local authorities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.051.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.052 161.052 Coastal construction and excavation; regulation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.052.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.053 161.053 Coastal construction and excavation; regulation on county basis.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.053.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.054 161.054 Administrative fines; liability for damage; liens.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.054.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.055 161.055 Concurrent processing of permits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.055.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.061 161.061 Coastal construction serving no public purpose, endangering human life, health, or welfare, or becoming unnecessary or undesirable.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.061.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.071 161.071 Prosecuting officers to assist enforcement of this part.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.071.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.081 161.081 Powers of Department of Legal Affairs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.081.md) - [Fla. Stat. § 161.082 161.082 Review of innovative technologies for beach nourishment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.082.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXI_C161_PI_S161.021. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.