About CBRS UnitsThe Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 and subsequent amendments designated relatively undeveloped coastal barriers along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, U.S. Virgin Island, and Puerto Rico coasts as part of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), and made these areas ineligible for most new federal expenditures and financial assistance. CBRA encourages the conservation of hurricane prone, biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting federal expenditures and financial assistance that encourage development, such as federal flood insurance. The CBRA does not prohibit or regulate development. Development can still occur within the CBRS provided that private developers or other non-federal parties bear the full cost.
The CBRS includes two types of units, System Units and Otherwise Protected Areas (OPAs). System Units are predominately comprised of privately owned areas, though they may also contain areas that are held for conservation and/or recreation. Most new Federal expenditures and financial assistance, including Federal flood insurance, are prohibited within System Units. OPAs are predominantly comprised of conservation and/or recreation areas, though they may also contain private areas that are not held for conservation and/or recreation. OPAs are denoted with a “P” at the end of the unit number. The only Federal spending prohibition within OPAs is the prohibition related to Federal flood insurance.
For more information visit the CBRS webpage and the CBRS Unit metadata.You may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the Coastal Barrier Resources Act by emailing CBRA@fws.gov or calling 703-358-2171.
The "CBRS Validation Tool" is an automated tool accessible through the CBRS Mapper that allows any user (e.g., surveyors, property owners, insurance agents, real estate agents, Federal agencies, etc.) to select a particular location and produce a document entitled "CBRS Mapper Documentation" which indicates whether that location is within or outside of the CBRS. For locations within the CBRS, the documentation produced by the tool indicates the flood insurance prohibition date and the System Unit establishment date (where applicable). This documentation can be used to either obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program for eligible structures or to otherwise document a location's status within or outside of the CBRS for other purposes (e.g., real estate transactions or applications for Federal financial assistance).
Please note that the CBRS Validation Tool will not provide in/out CBRS documentation for locations that are within the "CBRS Buffer Zone" (i.e., areas within about 20 feet of a CBRS boundary). Such locations require a "CBRS Property Determination" letter from the Service (click here for additional information).
Any use of trade, firm or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Version 2.1.3
CBRS units extend seaward out to either the 20 or 30 foot bathymetric contour (depending on the location of the unit). The true seaward extent of the units is not shown in the CBRS mapper. For additional information, please contact CBRA@fws.gov
You have clicked within the CBRS Buffer Zone. The CBRS Buffer Zone represents the area
immediately adjacent to the CBRS boundary where users are advised to contact the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an official determination as to whether the property
or project site is located "in" or "out" of the CBRS. For information
on obtaining an official CBRS property determination, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/cbra/Determinations.html.
For more information on project consultations, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/cbra/Consultations.html.
For more information on project consultations, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/cbra/Consultations.html.
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