The Niedermeyer family, owners of a historic oceanside cabin in Cannon Beach, Oregon, say their property is at risk of being engulfed by sand after state officials banned them from clearing accumulated sediment. The family has maintained the property for nine decades, with their $1.4 million home built in 1936 and purchased by the Niedermeyers in the 1960s.
For over 50 years, the family reports having a city permit to remove tons of windblown sand from their yard annually. This routine maintenance, they state, also helped keep a public beach-access path clear. However, this practice was halted in 2024 when the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department implemented an updated city code that made homeowner sand removal illegal. According to the family's website, 'Save Our Cannon Beach Home,' this change has led to a 10-foot dune consuming approximately 30 feet of their backyard.
Stacy Niedermeyer expressed fear to Oregon Live, stating, "I'm very scared our house will be destroyed this winter. I don't know how to protect it." She described the situation as "petrifying" and frustrating, noting that the sand has piled up to their front porch.
The family's permit application in 2025 was denied for the first time, cited as noncompliance with the updated code. The Niedermeyers have since hired an attorney to challenge the decision in an effort to protect their home. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has been contacted for comment.