Coastal Edge Line

Coast, coastal edge line and coastal strip

The shoreline is the line where water meets the land, excluding floods. The coastal edge line is the landward natural boundary of areas shaped by water movement, such as sand, gravel and rock; the area between the two is the coast^[1]. The band at least 100 metres wide, measured horizontally inland from the coastal edge line, is the coastal strip^[1]. On narrow, high coasts the line runs along the top edge of the slope or cliff^[2].

The first 50 metres and the 100-metre rule

Buildings in the coastal strip may come no closer than 50 metres to the coastal edge line; the area in between may only be laid out for footpaths, promenades, rest, viewing and recreation^[1]. In a coastal strip with no implementation zoning plan, nothing at all may be built within these distances^[1]. As a rule nothing may be built on the coast itself either; the exception is public-use structures such as piers and harbours built by zoning plan decision^[1].

Who determines the line?

The coastal edge line is determined by a commission set up by the governorship and comes into force with the Ministry's approval; where it has not yet been determined, it must be determined within three months of a request^[1]. You can find your plot's position relative to the line from the municipality or the approved coastal edge line map. For a full guide, see our coastal edge line article.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Coastal Law No. 3621 (Kıyı Kanunu), Articles 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9
2. Regulation on the Implementation of the Coastal Law (Kıyı Kanununun Uygulanmasına Dair Yönetmelik), Article 4

Articles that use this term

• What Is the Coastal Edge Line in Turkey? What You Can Build on Seaside Land