Although Federal Law No. 7.661/1988 provides that states can legally institute coastal management plans, more than 30 years have passed since that law was enacted and the state of Rio de Janeiro still does not have a specific law on the subject. Bill 216/2011, which aims to establish the Rio de Janeiro State Coastal Management Plan, is currently being processed by the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly, and it is possible to identify many opportunities for improvement in its text, which could incorporate lessons learned from practical experience of coastal management in Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere. This research assessed the status of implementation of coastal management actions in the state of Rio de Janeiro using the Decalogue for the Management of Coastal Areas. The results of this diagnosis enabled recommendations to be put forward to support a review of Bill 216/2011.