Seawalls, other beach property challenges in South Carolina

The curated articles address the challenges of preserving coastal areas in South Carolina amid rising sea levels and legal disputes over land use. They highlight the impact of seawalls, legal conflicts and regulatory challenges, demonstrating a tension between environmental protection and property rights.

A Hilton Head Island property owner expressed concerns about a seawall worsening beach erosion, leading to a lawsuit that was eventually settled. On Tybee Island, seawalls had previously led to steep beach access requiring ladders. Similarly, Rom Reddy, an Isle of Palms homeowner, faces a $289,000 fine for building an unauthorized seawall, which he argued was necessary to protect his property. Tensions also arose around state-enforced regulations, as explored in the case of state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, who advocated for property owners facing regulatory challenges on coastal land, arguing the regulations were too restrictive. These cases show the delicate balance between landowner rights, environmental preservation, and state intervention.

State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, a Republican from Murrells Inlet, is an advocate of protecting property rights for oceanfront landowners who run afoul of state environmental regulators. By Photo from SC Senate video archives

NO. 1: SENATOR’S RISE IN SC POLITICS COINCIDES WITH HELP FOR WEALTHY SEASIDE PROPERTY OWNERS

A conservative SC senator known for supporting property rights has become a champion for wealthy beach owners, in both the Legislature and in legal matters | Published October 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Seawalls, like this one at Debordieu, S.C., can worsen beach erosion when pounded by the waves

NO. 2: HOW SEAWALLS PROTECT HOUSES AND HOTELS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC BEACH

Seawalls have been banned in South Carolina since 1988, but miles of them were built before then. | Published October 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Isle of Palms property owner Rom Reddy has been in a dispute with state officials over construction they say was done illegally on the beach. This photo shows the property in Charleston County, where a seawall was built on the beach. Reddy says the work was legal.

NO. 3: IRATE BEACH HOUSE OWNER ACCUSES STATE OF ‘GESTAPO’ TACTICS AFTER HE’S HIT WITH HUGE FINE

Tension between a state agency and a coastal landowner has boiled over. The state has issued a near record fine. The landowner says the state is out to get him. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Miles of land along the Great Pee Dee River is targeted for protection under an agreement in the works in South Carolina. The deal would be completed by late 2025 and involve 62,000 acres in eastern South Carolina.

NO. 4: MASSIVE LAND PROTECTION EFFORT IN THE WORKS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA

Land conservation groups and state agencies are pushing to protect more than 60,000 acres in eastern South Carolina. | Published October 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

NO. 5: BEACH PROPERTY OWNER URGES SENATE TO BLOCK DIRECTOR OF AGENCY THAT FINED HIM $289,000

Veteran environmental regulator Myra Reece is under fire from a coastal property owner. Her agency fined him and now he’s speaking against her appointment as environmental department director. | Published April 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Seawalls, like this one in South Carolina., can worsen beach erosion when pounded by the waves.

NO. 6: PEOPLE ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY BUILDING ON SC BEACH TO GET STATE HELP IF SENATOR HAS HIS WAY

Sen. Stephen Goldfinch wants to help oceanfront property owners accused of violating beach protection laws. But critics say a bill he has introduced will hurt the public. | Published April 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

This beach house that is at the center of a dispute over construction of a seawall at the Isle of Palms. The house is owned by Rom Reddy. New seawalls were banned by the Legislature in 1988. By Courtesy Rom Reddy

NO. 7: JUDGE CONFIRMS SC AUTHORITY TO PROTECT BEACHES IN DISPUTE OVER ISLE OF PALMS SEAWALL

Isle of Palms property owner Rom Reddy lost a court battle over construction of a seawall at his Isle of Palms beach house after a judge said the state had authority to fine him $289,000. But Reddy isn’t deterred. | Published April 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

NO. 8: CITING EXPENSE, WEALTHY BEACH HOUSE OWNER FIRES LAWYERS IN SEAWALL DISPUTE

Days after a judge ruled against him in a coastal development case being watched by many, a wealthy Isle of Palms property owner fired his legal team, saying they were too expensive. But the judge refused Friday to delay an upcoming trial on the matter. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Isle of Palms beach house owner Rom Reddy questions former state regulator Matt Slagel during an administrative law court hearing May 6, 2025 over construction of what state regulators say was an illegal seawall at Reddy’s home. Reddy says the wall was legal and was making his case before the court, with out lawyers. By Sammy Fretwell/The State

NO. 9: ISLE OF PALMS BEACH HOUSE OWNER CONFRONTS STATE OFFICIALS OVER $289,000 SEAWALL FINE

A feisty beach house owner who says his rights are being infringed upon was in Columbia this week to argue against a $289,000 state fine over illegal construction of a seawall at the Isle of Palms. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

Development on the beach at the Isle of Palms shows a seawall extending well onto the shoreline beyond other properties. Beach house owner Rom Reddy says work he did along the beach is not in state jurisdiction. But state regulators say the construction juts onto the eroding beach and is in violation of state law. Seawalls can worsen beach erosion and block public access along the seashore. By Courtesy S.C. Department of Environmental Services and the S.C. Environmental Law Project

NO. 10: WEALTHY SC BEACH HOUSE OWNER RAILS AGAINST ‘RUSSIAN’ SYSTEM AS SEAWALL TRIAL ENDS

Isle of Palms beach house owner Rom Reddy has completed his court challenge to a $289,000 fine over what the state’s coastal protection agency says was an illegally built seawall | Published May 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sammy Fretwell

This seawall at the Isle of Palms is part of the ongoing debate over the rights of oceanfront property owners versus protection of the public beach. (Photo from April 2024) By Sammy Fretwell/The State

NO. 11: SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH PROTECTIONS ARE VITAL FOR OUR ECOLOGY AND ECONOMY | OPINION

“The beach is why so many people visit and spend money in South Carolina,” geologist Rob Young writes in a new commentary. “If we destroy the beach, we destroy all of that.” | Published June 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rob Young

NO. 12: SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH PROTECTIONS ARE HARMING PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS | OPINION

South Carolina’s beachfront management laws are not clear, not fair and not constitutionally sound, state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch writes in a new commentary. This is what he says should change. | Published June 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Stephen Goldfinch

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.