One of the many perks of living in the Sunshine State is our beaches. Access to the ocean is often from a public park and has long been viewed as a public amenity and free natural resource for both residents and visitors. Questions about the assumption of public access arise, however, when reaching the coastline involves crossing private property.

Earlier in 2018, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 631, a new law which went into effect July 1. The law was created to resolve disputes between owners of private oceanfront land and local governments by creating a streamlined standard to clarify possession of real property.