Florida Opens Door for 3D Printed Seawalls — New Law Paves Way for Living Shoreline Tech

Florida just gave a boost to a new kind of coastal protection — and 3D printing companies are right in the middle of it.

On March 19, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 302, a measure focused on coastal protection and nature-based solutions. The law makes it easier to approve "living shoreline" projects, sets clearer rules for nature-based solutions, and connects them to funding through the state's Resilient Florida initiative, which has more than $200 million available for coastal protection projects.

This opens the door to newer approaches, including 3D printed seawalls and hybrid structures, alongside more traditional methods such as mangroves and artificial reefs.

KIND Designs Leading the Charge

One of the companies already working in this space is KIND Designs, a Miami-based startup that prints "living seawalls." These structures are designed not just to stop erosion, but to act like artificial reefs, helping marine life grow while reducing wave energy.

The company has been working with municipalities and coastal projects across Miami Beach and Miami. Their systems are designed to be cost-competitive with traditional seawalls while adding environmental benefits.

"While the new law is a step forward, its real impact will depend on how it is implemented," said Anya Freeman, founder of KIND Designs. Existing regulations often limit seawall extensions to around 18 inches, which can make it harder to use more complex, nature-based designs.

Other Players in the Space

Florida is not starting from scratch. Several projects and companies are already working on nature-based coastal protection:

• Reef Arches — developing engineered reef structures designed to rebuild shorelines and support marine life
• REEFLINE project — building an underwater reef system in Miami Beach as part of a larger coastal protection effort
• University of Miami — developing advanced reef structures designed to absorb wave energy

Why This Matters for 3D Printing

Governments are starting to fund what's known as "nature-based infrastructure" — and the new Florida law connects these projects to real funding. With $200 million already allocated, the state is signaling that it's serious about supporting innovative approaches to coastal protection.

For the 3D printing industry, this represents a genuine opportunity to move beyond prototyping and into infrastructure-scale production. Companies that have been developing ocean-friendly printed structures now have a clearer path to government contracts and municipal projects.