WHAT IS A WETLAND BUFFER? WHAT IS A CONSTRUCTION SETBACK?
A wetland buffer is an area of land immediately adjacent to a wetland that is set aside as a transition zone to protect the wetland from impacts caused by development of adjacent upland areas. A construction setback is a ten (10) ft-wide area of land adjacent to a buffer that is set aside to protect the buffer from impacts due to construction and maintenance activities. In Martin County, negative impacts are not allowed in wetlands and wetland buffers, except as specifically provided for in Section 4.3 of the County’s Wetland Protection LDR. Regulations pertaining to wetland buffers and setbacks are explained in the LDR.
