If a property owner in a coastal area wants to stop people from walking on a beach in front of their property, what is likely to happen in court?

In many coastal areas, public access to beaches is a legal right that is often upheld by courts. The property line typically extends only to the high-water mark, meaning that the land below this mark is generally considered public territory and accessible for public use, including walking on the beach. This legal principle is established to protect the coastline for public recreational use and environmental conservation.

When a property owner attempts to prevent the public from accessing beach areas that fall beyond their property line, courts are likely to rule that the owner's rights are limited to the high-water mark. Thus, since the public has historically enjoyed beach access in many regions, the owner's chances of successfully gaining a restraining order to keep individuals off the beach in front of their property are low. Instead, the law is designed to ensure that beaches remain accessible to everyone, fortifying the rationale behind the decision-making process in these cases.