The goal of this project was to gather and present the information necessary to provide municipal officials with a basic understanding of public shoreline access rights and the steps that can be taken to provide adequate public access to the coast. The booklet discusses the necessity of balancing concerns about protecting fragile coastal resources, neighborhood privacy, safety, and legal liability, with the need for free or low-cost public shoreline access. The legal framework is clearly laid out and followed by steps municipalities can take to identify existing and potential access sites, and ensure ongoing access for CT residents of non-coastal towns, and out-of-state residents. The booklet provides municipal officials with practical information about acquisition of important waterfront property, conservation easements, transfers of development rights, liability waivers, zoning regulations, permit conditions, and public education in the coastal zone.