Bill > HB4385

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide more flexible regulations for temporary erosion control structures along the Great Lakes shorelines during periods of high water levels. The legislation allows property owners to construct soft erosion control structures without a permit on the shorelines of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake St. Clair, using specific materials like biodegradable sandbags, sand-filled geotubes, or soft synthetic textile materials. Property owners must file a written notice with the department before installation, including details about the location and materials, and ensure the structure does not extend into the water or impede walkability. The structures can remain in place as long as they are mostly covered by sand and do not show signs of degradation. The bill also provides property owners with the option to later replace these soft structures with hard wall revetments, either by obtaining a permit or, in certain cases like having a septic system within 100 feet of a wave cut, without a permit. Additionally, the bill modifies penalty provisions for violations and adds new provisions about permit requirements and enforcement.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4385