Dune Vegetation Cost Share Program Administrative Process – Beach Grass

The Importance of Dune Vegetation

Currituck County recognizes the importance of dune vegetation and dune nourishment. Oceanfront property owners are eligible for reimbursement of the cost to purchase, install and fertilize American Beach Grass plants through participation in the Dune Vegetation Cost Share Program.

Cost Share

Grantees are eligible for reimbursement of the cost to purchase, install and fertilize American Beach Grass plants (beach grass). Grantees are required to plant and fertilize at least 10 beach grass plants per linear foot of oceanfront property and will be reimbursed $1.00 per linear foot of planted oceanfront property.

Requests shall be based on the total linear feet of oceanfront property. For example: a lot that is 100’ wide is eligible for reimbursement of $100. Grantees shall not be reimbursed more than $2,000 regardless of total linear feet of oceanfront property.

Eligible Applicants

• Any owner of privately owned oceanfront property with a frontal dune
• Any owner of privately owned property with a frontal dune
  • The frontal dune is deemed to be the first mound of sand located landward of the ocean beach having sufficient vegetation, height, continuity and configuration to offer protection.

Applications

Eligible applicants shall submit an online application.

Applications will be reviewed by County Staff and notice to selected applicants will be provided. If requests exceed funds available, the applications will be reviewed according to the Competitive Review Process.

Procedures

Selected applicants will be required to complete and submit a grant agreement and W9.

Once the grant agreement has been executed, it will be returned to the Grantee along with detailed instructions. The Grantee shall plant and fertilize beach grass plants according to the required specifications and notify the County of completion. Grantees are responsible for the entire process including arranging beach grass purchase & installation through independent contractors.

Plants shall be installed by Tuesday, April 15, 2025 and an inspection must be requested by Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

County staff will perform a site inspection within 2 weeks of notification to confirm dune vegetation has been properly planted at the correct location according to the required specifications. Upon satisfactory inspection of the Grantee’s property, the Currituck County Finance Department will reimburse the grant funds.

Grantees that do not complete plant installation or request a site inspection will not be reimbursed.

Competitive Review Process

If requests exceed the total funds available, County Staff will perform site visits and score applications according to the following table. Projects with the highest total score will receive priority until funds are exhausted.