Beach nourishment projects in Dare County are designed to last approximately five years under normal conditions. At the end of each five-year interval, renourishment (maintenance) projects are necessary to restore the shoreline. 

Upcoming Projects

*Please note that this information is subject to change. More detailed information regarding any plans and potential schedules for future renourishment/maintenance projects in Dare County will be provided as it becomes available. 

Latest Beach Nourishment Updates

March 10, 2026 Update:

Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video highlighting the upcoming beach nourishment project scheduled to take place in the villages of Buxton and Avon on Hatteras Island in the summer of 2026. 

February 12, 2026 Update:

During the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Dare County Chief Financial Officer Matt Motyka shared an overview of the county’s Beach Nourishment Model before providing an update on the projects that are scheduled for 2026, which include those planned to take place within the unincorporated villages of Buxton and Avon on Hatteras Island, as well as the Town of Nags Head. 

Due to rising construction and dredging costs since the most recent nourishment projects were completed in 2022, the county is reviewing and refining its funding model to ensure the Beach Nourishment Fund remains sustainable. Costs are increasing faster than revenues flowing into the fund, which is supported primarily by the Occupancy Tax. 

Motyka also noted that there is uncertainty regarding FEMA reimbursement for the planned 2026 beach nourishment projects in Buxton and Avon. If FEMA funding is not received, the county would have fewer financial resources available for the project, which would result in a consequential reduction in the volume of sand placed on the beach. The county is therefore evaluating two scenarios—one that factors in FEMA funding being received and one that does not.

As next steps, Motyka shared that the Town of Nags Head voted at its February 4, 2026 meeting  to proceed with its 2026 beach nourishment project. Additionally, he requested that the Dare County Board of Commissioners authorize an allocation of $13,067,426 from the county’s Beach Nourishment Fund to support the Town of Nags Head project. The Dare County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the allocation, advancing plans for the 2026 nourishment efforts.

Public Meeting Announcement (February 11, 2026):

Dare County will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 to provide general information and answer questions from the community about the Buxton beach nourishment project that is scheduled to begin this summer. The meeting will be held at the Fessenden Center, which is located at 46830 N.C. Highway 12 in Buxton—and also livestreamed on the Dare County YouTube channel for those who are unable to attend in person. For more information about the public meeting, click here.

May 2025 Update:

Permitting and design work for the beach nourishment projects scheduled to take place in 2026 in Avon and Buxton are ongoing. Erosion rates are being monitored and will impact the volume of sand that is placed on each beach. Both projects are currently expected to begin in the early summer of 2026. Additional information will be posted once further details are available.

January 2025 Update:
The Dare County Board of Commissioners voted during its January 6, 2025 meeting to authorize Dare County Finance Director David Clawson to sign the Designation of Applicant’s Agent (DAA) and State-Applicant Disaster Assistance Agreement (SAA). These agreements are necessary to apply to receive federal and state funding following loss of sand in the project area in Buxton during Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 last September.  

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared Dare County eligible for disaster assistance due to the storm’s impacts, which resulted in approximately 175,000 cubic yards of sand loss in Buxton. A post-storm survey conducted by Coastal Science and Engineering placed the cost of replacing this sand at $10.2 million. If the funding is approved, the county plans to integrate this effort into its larger 2026 maintenance project, leveraging efficiencies and cost savings.

2026-2027 Beach Nourishment Project Schedule