Miami Beach locked in state backing for a $541 million, 10-year plan to protect and manage its shoreline.

Florida's Acquisition and Restoration Council, known as the ARC, unanimously approved the city's updated Beachfront Management Plan, the city announced Sept. 3. The plan had appeared on the ARC's Aug. 14 meeting agenda under Lease No. 3595. The city's announcement did not specify the exact vote date.

The approval matters because the ARC oversees how cities manage state-owned coastal land. Without its sign-off, Miami Beach could not move forward with the decade of shoreline projects outlined in the plan.

Updated plan expands beach access, tightens erosion controls

The updated framework strengthens erosion control and dune management while expanding public access and accessibility accommodations required under the Americans with Disabilities Act along the beachfront. It also sets rules for ocean rescue services, beach maintenance, concession operations and special event permits.

Miami Beach's beaches and dunes serve as the front line protecting more than $62.4 billion in taxable property value against storm surge and sea level rise, according to the city.

In 2024, roughly 10.4 million overnight visitors came to Miami Beach and spent $10.43 billion locally, according to the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

City commission, advisory group shaped plan over past year

The City Commission created a Beachfront Management Plan Ad Hoc Advisory Group under Resolution No. 2025-33977 to review the update. Commissioner Alex Fernandez sponsored a Feb. 25 resolution amending and restating the group, changing its composition.

The vote drew praise from the mayor. "This unanimous approval empowers us to take bold, long-term action to defend our coastline and preserve our world-class beaches for generations to come," Mayor Steven Meiner said in a statement.

Commission reconvenes Sept. 10 as funding details await release

The City Commission returns from its August recess for its next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 10. The $541 million budget is described as a conservative estimate; specific project timelines and funding sources were not detailed in the city's announcement.

Residents can attend Commission meetings or follow the city's official channels to weigh in as beachfront projects advance.