Pinellas County is collecting historical evidence that the public has used beaches in Indian Shores and Redington Shores for decades, building a case for those towns to adopt customary use ordinances. The bulk of data collection wraps up in late August, according to the county's customary use page.

Effort Could Unlock Federal Funding for Sand Key Nourishment

The effort matters for Clearwater-area beachgoers because it could unlock federal funding for Sand Key beach nourishment, the barrier island chain stretching from Clearwater Pass south to John's Pass. Without customary use ordinances in place, one segment failing to qualify puts the entire Sand Key project at risk of losing its federal cost-share.

Amended Army Corps Agreement Eases Easement Rules

On June 1, Pinellas County signed an amended Project Cooperation Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The deal removes the old requirement that beachfront property owners grant permanent easements explicitly including "public access and use" language. Instead, communities can satisfy federal requirements by adopting local customary use ordinances that recognize the public's long history of walking, swimming, fishing and sunbathing on those beaches.

The county said the amended agreement provides "more ways to work with property owners" on beach nourishment easements, including shorter-term construction easements paired with local ordinances.

The signing ceremony drew Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Adam Telle, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Army Corps Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly, Pinellas County Board Chair Dave Eggers and Commissioners Kathleen Peters, Brian Scott and Chris Latvala.

Indian Rocks Beach adopted a customary use ordinance in 2018. Indian Shores and Redington Shores are now considering the same step.

Lost Sand, Lost Funding: Why the Push Matters Locally

The stakes are concrete. During the county's $125.7 million emergency nourishment project authorized in June 2025, some Indian Shores and Redington Shores properties received less sand or none at all because owners could not be located or refused to sign construction easements. That project placed more than 2.5 million cubic yards of sand on Sand Key, Treasure Island and Upham Beach between August 2025 and February 2026. Previous Sand Key nourishments received a 65 percent federal cost-share through the Army Corps. Without signed easements from all property owners, the county lost that funding.

Sand Key was last fully nourished in 2012. The hurricane seasons of 2023 and 2024 caused significant additional damage.

How Residents Can Submit Historical Beach-Use Evidence

Residents, visitors and businesses can contribute:

  • Family photos or home videos showing people using the beach
  • Historical postcards and brochures
  • Newspaper clippings
  • Written personal recollections or recorded oral histories
  • Affidavits (free notary and scanning assistance available)

Submissions go through the Customary Use Reporter Map at pinellas.gov/customary-use, or by email to [email protected]. The Town of Redington Shores posted its own call-to-action page on Tuesday, listing 727-397-5538 for assistance.

Note: Email addresses submitted to the county are public records under Florida law. Residents who prefer privacy can contact the county by phone or mail instead.

The county has not announced when Indian Shores or Redington Shores town councils will vote on the ordinances. The late-August deadline marks the end of the primary data collection window, though submissions will still be accepted after that date.