text:
(a) Every state agency that owns or manages land or water areas within the coastal zone, including public beaches, parks, natural areas, and fish and wildlife preserves, shall identify the sensitive resource values within those areas that are particularly susceptible to adverse impacts from nearby development that is not carefully planned. Every such agency shall also identify the location and type of development that would have a significant adverse impact on those sensitive resource values.

(b) Every agency subject to this section shall advise the appropriate local government of particular considerations that should be evaluated during the preparation of a local coastal program and which, in the opinion of such agency, may be necessary to protect identified sensitive resource values. In addition, the work undertaken pursuant to this section shall be completed in a timely manner in order to maximize the opportunity for the public, affected local governments, and the commission to consider this information fully during the preparation, review, and approval of the appropriate local coastal program.

(c) Work already completed pursuant to former Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 31300) of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, added by Chapter 1441 of the Statutes of 1976, and in conformity with this section, that identifies sensitive resource values within publicly owned or managed land and water areas of the coastal zone shall be considered by local government and the commission in the course of carrying out this chapter.

(d) For purposes of this section, “sensitive resource values” means those fragile or unique natural resources which are particularly susceptible to degradation resulting from surrounding development, the adverse effects of which have not been carefully evaluated, mitigated, or avoided. Examples include, but are not limited to, environmentally sensitive areas, as defined in Section 30107.5, areas uniquely suited for scientific or educational purposes, and specific public recreation areas where the quality of the recreational experience is dependent on the character of the surrounding area.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 285, Sec. 33.)


kind: section

code: PRC

text:
(a) Because of the intensity of development contemplated, the area’s steep topography and highly erodible soils, and the demonstrated impacts from development despite the utilization of mitigation measures, the Legislature finds that the threat from development to wetlands in the City of San Diego requires that a mitigation fee program be included in the city’s local coastal program. Therefore, the City of San Diego shall provide in its local coastal program for payment of a reasonable fee to the State Coastal Conservancy by applicants for a coastal development permit if the proposed development has, or is reasonably expected to have, a direct and significant effect on coastal resources within a specific geographic watershed in the coastal zone which can be mitigated through the incorporation of feasible onsite and offsite mitigation measures into the proposed development and through the mitigation fee program.

(b) Fees paid by an applicant pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deposited in an account established by the State Coastal Conservancy . None of the funds in the account shall be appropriated for any purpose not specified in this section. Except as provided in this section, any fee paid pursuant to this section may only be used to restore, replace, or improve resources or ecological systems which are adversely affected by the proposed development and with respect to which the fee constitutes partial or total mitigation. Any fees established pursuant to this section are not required for any development that is undertaken by a public agency for the purpose of providing resource enhancement or public recreation. In the event that mitigation of all development impacts cannot be feasibly carried out within the watershed, the conservancy may, with the approval of the local government and the commission, complete the mitigation for the development outside of the watershed.

(c) This section and Section 31108.5 apply only to the Los Penasquitos Lagoon area in the City of San Diego.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 198, Sec. 1.)

division: 20. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT

chapter: 6. Implementation

path: 20. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT > 6. Implementation > 2. Procedure for Preparation, Approval, and Certification of Local Coastal Programs


text: It is the intent of the Legislature, consistent with the provisions of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 31400) of Division 21, that a program to maximize public access to and along the coastline be prepared and implemented in a manner that ensures coordination among and the most efficient use of limited fiscal resources by federal, state, and local agencies responsible for acquisition, development, and maintenance of public coastal accessways. There is a need to coordinate public access programs so as to minimize costly duplication and conflicts and to assure that, to the extent practicable, different access programs complement one another and are incorporated within an integrated system of public accessways to and along the state’s coastline. The Legislature recognizes that different public agencies are currently implementing public access programs and encourages such agencies to strengthen those programs in order to provide yet greater public benefits.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 840.)

article: 3. Coastal Public Access Program

path: 20. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT > 6. Implementation > 3. Coastal Public Access Program


text:
The commission shall be responsible for the preparation of a public coastal access program which includes the elements set forth in this section and which, to the maximum extent practicable, is incorporated into the local coastal programs prepared, approved, and implemented pursuant to this division.

(a) On or before January 1, 1981, the commission shall prepare a coastal access inventory. The coastal access inventory shall be updated on a continuing basis and shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1) A list identifying lands held or operated for the purpose of providing public access to or along the coast. Each listing shall include a brief description of the type of access provided, access constraints, access facility ownership, and resources or uses for which access is provided or suitable.

(2) A list of known offers to dedicate, accepted dedications, and any other legally binding actions taken that provide opportunities for any type of public use of or access to or along the coast. Each listing shall include a brief description of the legal status of the instrument granting or otherwise providing public access, whether public access is physically available, and if not, what action is necessary to be taken to accomplish actual public use.

(3) A map showing the precise location of the listings included pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision.

(b) On or before June 1, 1980, the commission shall, in consultation with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Coastal Conservancy, and other appropriate public agencies, make recommendations to guide state, local, and to the extent permitted by law federal public agencies in the identification, development, and management of public accessways to and along the coast. The recommendations made pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the public access policies of this division and, with respect to recommendations relating to development of public accessways, consistent with the policy of protecting coastal resources.

(c) On or before January 1, 1981, and from time to time thereafter, the commission, in consultation with the State Coastal Conservancy and other affected public agencies, shall identify the public agency or agencies it deems the most appropriate agency or agencies to accept responsibility for the management of those public coastal accessways listed pursuant to subdivision (a) for which no public agency has accepted such management responsibilities. In identifying the agency or agencies most appropriate to accept public access management responsibilities, the commission shall include its best estimate of costs for the development, operation, and maintenance of such accessways and shall recommend to the Governor and the Legislature a method of funding such costs. In preparing its recommendations for funding public coastal accessway operation and maintenance costs, the commission shall develop alternative, innovative funding techniques that take into account the appropriateness of local funding for the operation and maintenance of accessways that serve primarily local needs. If the commission identifies a state agency as the appropriate agency to assume management responsibility and such agency does not accept such responsibility, the agency shall, by December 31 of the year in which the commission completes its report, advise the commission of its reasons why it did not or cannot accept such responsibility. The State Coastal Conservancy shall take those actions it deems appropriate, including necessary agreements, to negotiate or otherwise accomplish the acceptance of management responsibility by the agency identified by the commission.

article: 3. Coastal Public Access Program


text: The commission may enter into agreements with or issue grants to any public agency for the purpose of assisting the commission in meeting the requirements of this article. The commission shall, to the extent available funding permits, enter into agreements with those state agencies that currently operate some form of public coastal access program for the purpose of completing the inventory required by subdivision (a) of Section 30531. The commission shall enter into an agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy to provide the funding necessary for the conservancy to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this article and Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 31400) of Division 21.

article: 3. Coastal Public Access Program


text: The commission shall, within 10 days after receiving evidence of recordation of any offer to dedicate real property for access to or along the coast, which dedication was required as a condition to the issuance of a coastal development permit, forward a copy of such evidence and a description of such real property to the Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the State Lands Commission.

article: 3. Coastal Public Access Program


text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (e), and in addition to obtaining any other permit required by law from any local government or from any state, regional, or local agency, any person, as defined in Section 21066, wishing to perform or undertake any development in the coastal zone, other than a facility subject to Section 25500, shall obtain a coastal development permit.

(b) (1) Prior to certification of its local coastal program, a local government may, with respect to any development within its area of jurisdiction in the coastal zone and consistent with the provisions of Sections 30604, 30620, and 30620.5, establish procedures for the filing, processing, review, modification, approval, or denial of a coastal development permit. Those procedures may be incorporated and made a part of the procedures relating to any other appropriate land use development permit issued by the local government.

(2) A coastal development permit from a local government shall not be required by this subdivision for any development on tidelands, submerged lands, or on public trust lands, whether filled or unfilled, or for any development by a public agency for which a local government permit is not otherwise required.

(c) If prior to certification of its local coastal program, a local government does not exercise the option provided in subdivision (b), or a development is not subject to the requirements of subdivision (b), a coastal development permit shall be obtained from the commission or from a local government as provided in subdivision (d).

(d) After certification of its local coastal program or pursuant to the provisions of Section 30600.5, a coastal development permit shall be obtained from the local government as provided for in Section 30519 or Section 30600.5.

(e) This section does not apply to any of the following projects, except that notification by the agency or public utility performing any of the following projects shall be made to the commission within 14 days from the date of the commencement of the project:

(1) Immediate emergency work necessary to protect life or property or immediate emergency repairs to public service facilities necessary to maintain service as a result of a disaster in a disaster-stricken area in which a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(2) Emergency projects undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public agency to maintain, repair, or restore an existing highway, as defined in Section 360 of the Vehicle Code, except for a highway designated as an official state scenic highway pursuant to Section 262 of the Streets and Highways Code, within the existing right-of-way of the highway, damaged as a result of fire, flood, storm, earthquake, land subsidence, gradual earth movement, or landslide, within one year of the damage. This paragraph does not exempt from this section any project undertaken, carried out, or approved by a public agency to expand or widen a highway damaged by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, land subsidence, gradual earth movement, or landslide.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 825, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1997.)

chapter: 7. Development Controls

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 20. CALIFORNIA COASTAL ACT > 7. Development Controls > 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) In the event that an applicant for a coastal development permit had, prior to January 1, 1982, received from the appropriate local government final discretionary approval to proceed with a proposed development, but had not been issued a coastal development permit prior to that date, the provisions of subdivision (b) or (c) shall apply to any requirements for housing for persons or families of low or moderate income which may be applicable to the proposed development.

(b) In the event that the commission has approved an application for a coastal development permit, but the applicant has not complied with conditions in regard to such housing which were imposed by the commission as part of its approval, the applicant shall do either of the following:

(1) Comply with the housing and other applicable conditions imposed by the commission, in which event the coastal development permit shall be issued and the provisions of Section 65590 of the Government Code shall not apply to the development.

(2) Apply to the appropriate local government as provided in Section 65590.1 of the Government Code to have that local government apply the requirements of Section 65590 of the Government Code to the proposed development, in which event, no condition previously imposed by the commission with respect to such housing shall be applicable to the proposed development.

(c) In the event that application has not been acted upon prior to January 1, 1982, the commission shall process the application as otherwise required by this division, but shall not impose any condition or requirement with respect to housing for persons or families of low or moderate income on the proposed development. The applicant shall apply to the appropriate local government as provided in Section 65590.1 of the Government Code to have that local government apply the requirements of Section 65590 of the Government Code to the proposed development. The commission, at its discretion, may defer action on this application until the local government has acted to apply the requirements of Section 65590 of the Government Code. The time limits otherwise applicable to commission action on this application shall be stayed during any such period of deferral. If however any such application is for a conversion of a residential dwelling as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 65590 of the Government Code, the commission shall not defer processing of such application but shall defer the final issuance of a coastal development permit until the local government has applied the requirements of Section 65590 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 43, Sec. 15.5. Effective February 17, 1982.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Before the certification of a local coastal program and notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a) of Section 30519, after the effective date of this section, the authority for issuance of coastal development permits provided for in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) shall be delegated to local governments pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(b) Except for any development specified in subdivision (b) of Section 30519 and Section 30601 or with respect to any development proposed by any state agency, the authority for issuance of coastal development permits provided for in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) shall be delegated to the respective local governments within 120 days after (1) the effective date of certification of a land use plan pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 30500) or (2) the effective date of this section, whichever occurs last. This delegation shall only apply with respect to those areas governed by the certified land use plan or a certified portion of the land use plan, applicable to an identifiable geographic area.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, after delegation of authority to issue coastal development permits pursuant to subdivision (b), a coastal development permit shall be issued by the respective local government or the commission on appeal, if that local government or the commission on appeal finds that the proposed development is in conformity with the certified land use plan.

(d) Any action taken by a local government on a coastal development permit application pursuant to the provisions of this section may be appealed to the commission pursuant to Section 30602. The commission shall hear an appeal brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, unless it determines that the local government action taken raises no substantial issue as to conformity with the certified land use plan. For purposes of this subdivision, failure by any local government to act within any time limit specified in this division shall constitute an “action taken.”

(e) The commission shall, following a public hearing and within 90 days after the effective date of this section, adopt minimum standards for public notice, hearing, and appeal procedures to govern local government review of coastal development permit applications pursuant to this section. The standards shall, as nearly as practical, follow the standards required for local agencies after certification of local coastal programs for appealable developments and shall ensure that the notice and hearing required for the coastal development permit can be provided at the same time as the notice and hearing requirements for other local land use decisions that may be necessary for the project requiring the permit. Within 60 days before assumption of authority for issuance of coastal development permits pursuant to this section, the local government shall provide drafts of all procedures for issuance of coastal development permits to the executive director of the commission. Delegation of the authority to issue coastal development permits pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not occur until the local government has provided copies of all the adopted procedures for the issuance of coastal development permits to the executive director of the commission. Any amendments to the procedures shall also be furnished to the executive director for their information.

(f) Before the delegation of authority to issue coastal development permits as provided in subdivision (b), a local government, after appropriate notice and hearing, shall adopt an ordinance prescribing the procedures to be used in issuing coastal development permits. Each ordinance shall incorporate at least the minimum standards for public notice, hearings, and appeals established by the commission pursuant to subdivision (e). In addition, each ordinance shall contain provisions that prohibit the issuance of a coastal development permit for any development that may conflict with the ordinances that are being prepared to implement the certified land use plan.

(g) In order to expedite certification of complete local coastal programs and the transfer of coastal development controls to local government, the commission shall, on request from a local government, prepare the ordinances necessary for that local government to implement the coastal permit responsibilities of this division.

(h) The time limits set forth in subdivision (b) shall be extended, by right, for not more than 90 days if a local government, by resolution of its governing body, so requests.

(i) The provisions of this section and of any local ordinance enacted pursuant thereto shall have no further force or effect or application after that local government’s local coastal program has been certified and taken effect pursuant to the provisions of this division.

(j) This section shall become inoperative and shall have no force or effect on the date, if any, of a final judicial decision that its provisions are inconsistent with the requirements of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), as amended.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 102, Sec. 7. (SB 856) Effective January 1, 2026. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (j).)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The Legislature finds that some new cost may be incurred by local governments when the authority to issue coastal development permits is delegated to these local governments as provided in Section 30600.5. It is the intent of the Legislature that during the period prior to certification of a local government’s local coastal program these new costs shall be funded as provided in this section.

(b) If a local government has been delegated authority to issue coastal development permits as provided in Section 30600.5, any new costs incurred by reason thereof shall be recovered from fees charged to individual permit applicants. Such fees shall cover only those costs which meet all of the following criteria:

(1) The costs are attributable to the actual issuance of coastal development permits, including a pro rata share of general administrative costs.

(2) The costs would not have been incurred except for the delegation of authority to issue coastal development permits as provided in Section 30600.5.

(3) The costs are of a type which would not normally be incurred by the local government in carrying out its land use planning and regulatory responsibilities pursuant to other provisions of law.

(c) A local government may elect not to levy fees as provided in this section. If the local government does not levy such fees, it shall not be eligible to be reimbursed for such costs pursuant to other provisions of law.

(d) After certification of its local coastal program, each respective local government shall be reimbursed for costs associated with implementation of that local coastal program as provided in Article 4 (commencing with Section 30350) of Chapter 4.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 43, Sec. 17. Effective February 17, 1982.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall apply:

(1) “Applicant” means a public agency or a nonprofit organization, as that term is defined in Section 31013.

(2) “Habitat restoration project” means a project proposed for the sole purpose of restoring or enhancing the ecological function, biodiversity, or resiliency of native habitat.

(3) “Public access project” means a project with the primary purpose of creating, enhancing, expanding, or restoring public amenities that provide access to or along the coast.

(b) At the request of an applicant for a coastal development permit, a city or county may waive or reduce a coastal development permit fee for a public access project or habitat restoration project. If a city or county rejects a fee waiver or fee reduction request, the applicant may, notwithstanding Section 30519, submit the coastal development permit application directly to the commission.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impact, address, or change a local coastal plan or program.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 280, Sec. 1. (AB 2160) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Where, prior to delegation of coastal permit authority pursuant to Section 30519, a modification of a refinery facility or petrochemical facility is necessary to comply with a goal, policy, or requirement of an air pollution control district, the State Air Resources Board, or the Environmental Protection Agency to provide for reformulated or alternative fuels, that modification shall require a coastal development permit from the commission only, notwithstanding the option afforded local governments under subdivision (b) of Section 30600.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 535, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
Prior to certification of the local coastal program and, where applicable, in addition to a permit from local government pursuant to subdivision (b) or (d) of Section 30600, a coastal development permit shall be obtained from the commission for any of the following:

(1) Developments between the sea and the first public road paralleling the sea or within 300 feet of the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high tide line of the sea where there is no beach, whichever is the greater distance.

(2) Developments not included within paragraph (1) located on tidelands, submerged lands, public trust lands, within 100 feet of any wetland, estuary, stream, or within 300 feet of the top of the seaward face of any coastal bluff.

(3) Any development which constitutes a major public works project or a major energy facility.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1981, Ch. 1173, Sec. 21.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 30519, the commission may process and act upon a consolidated coastal development permit application if both of the following criteria are satisfied:

(1) A proposed project requires a coastal development permit from both a local government with a certified local coastal program and the commission.

(2) The applicant, the appropriate local government, and the commission, which may agree through its executive director, consent to consolidate the permit action, provided that public participation is not substantially impaired by that review consolidation.

(b) The standard of review for a consolidated coastal development permit application submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall follow Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200), with the appropriate local coastal program used as guidance.

(c) The application fee for a consolidated coastal development permit shall be determined by reference to the commission’s permit fee schedule.

(d) To implement this section, the commission may adopt guidelines, in the same manner as interpretive guidelines adopted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 30620.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 294, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2007.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) (1) The commission shall process a consolidated coastal development permit for any new development that requires a coastal development permit and that is associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the construction and operation of offshore wind energy projects, and transmission facilities needed for those projects, located in the coastal zone, as defined in this division. Section 30601.3 applies to a consolidated coastal development permit pursuant to this section, except that paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 30601.3 does not apply, and provided that public participation is not substantially impaired by the review of the consolidated coastal development permit.

(2) Upon receipt of an application for purposes of this subdivision, the commission shall forward the application to local governmental agencies having land use and related jurisdiction in the area in which the project would occur. The local governmental agencies may review the application and submit comments on, among other things, applicable provisions of the local coastal program and other appropriate aspects of the design, construction, or operation of the proposed site and related facility.

(3) The commission shall coordinate with affected local governmental agencies to incorporate or otherwise address their recommendations in the final consolidated coastal development permit, including measures to address impacts from offshore wind development and respond to community needs, consistent with this division.

(4) The commission shall engage with federally recognized and nonfederally recognized California Native American tribes with fisheries that could be affected by future development associated with a lease for an offshore wind energy project on all elements of the lessees’ project development process, including measures to address impacts from offshore wind development and respond to community needs, consistent with the commission’s tribal consultation policy.

(5) To avoid duplication and to increase regulatory efficiency, the commission and the State Lands Commission shall coordinate with relevant local, state, and federal agencies to encourage and facilitate the preparation of joint environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000)) and the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) for projects proposed pursuant to this section.

(b) (1) The State Lands Commission shall be the lead agency for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act for offshore wind energy projects pursuant to this division and shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all environmental documents required by law.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not affect the determination of which entity shall serve as a lead agency for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act for projects undertaken pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 30700).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 386, Sec. 3. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Where the applicant for a coastal development permit is not the owner of a fee interest in the property on which a proposed development is to be located, but can demonstrate a legal right, interest, or other entitlement to use the property for the proposed development, the commission shall not require the holder or owner of any superior interest in the property to join the applicant as coapplicant. All holders or owners of any other interests of record in the affected property shall be notified in writing of the permit application and invited to join as coapplicant. In addition, prior to the issuance of a coastal development permit, the applicant shall demonstrate the authority to comply with all conditions of approval.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 43, Sec. 18. Effective February 17, 1982.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Prior to certification of its local coastal program, any action taken by a local government on a coastal development permit application may be appealed by the executive director of the commission, any person, including the applicant, or any two members of the commission to the commission. The action shall become final at the close of business on the 20th working day from the date of receipt of the notice required by subdivision (c) of Section 30620.5, unless an appeal is submitted within that time. Regardless of whether an appeal is submitted, the local government’s action shall become final if an appeal fee is imposed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 30620 and is not deposited with the commission within the time prescribed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 669, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1996.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) After certification of its local coastal program, an action taken by a local government on a coastal development permit application may be appealed to the commission for only the following types of developments:

(1) Developments approved by the local government between the sea and the first public road paralleling the sea or within 300 feet of the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high tideline of the sea where there is no beach, whichever is the greater distance.

(2) Developments approved by the local government not included within paragraph (1) that are located on tidelands, submerged lands, public trust lands, within 100 feet of any wetland, estuary, or stream, or within 300 feet of the top of the seaward face of any coastal bluff.

(3) (A) Developments approved by the local government not included within paragraph (1) or (2) that are located in a sensitive coastal resource area.

(B) This paragraph shall not apply to a residential development project.

(4) (A) Any development approved by a coastal county that is not designated as the principal permitted use under the zoning ordinance or zoning district map approved pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 30500).

(B) This paragraph shall not apply to a residential development project.

(C) For purposes of this paragraph, “coastal county” shall not include a local government that is both a city and county.

(5) Any development that constitutes a major public works project or a major energy facility.

(b) (1) The grounds for an appeal pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be limited to an allegation that the development does not conform to the standards set forth in the certified local coastal program or the public access policies set forth in this division.

(2) The grounds for an appeal of a denial of a permit pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) shall be limited to an allegation that the development conforms to the standards set forth in the certified local coastal program and the public access policies set forth in this division.

(c) An action described in subdivision (a) shall become final at the close of business on the 10th working day from the date of receipt by the commission of the notice of the local government’s final action, unless an appeal is submitted within that time. Regardless of whether an appeal is submitted, the local government’s action shall become final if an appeal fee is imposed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 30620 and is not deposited with the commission within the time prescribed.

(d) (1) A local government taking an action on a coastal development permit shall send notification of its final action to the commission by certified mail, or by electronic mail pursuant to paragraph (2), within seven calendar days from the date of taking the action.

(2) (A) In order for a local government to notify the commission via electronic mail of an action on a coastal development permit, the notification shall be sent from a verifiable local government electronic mail account, and shall be received in the electronic mailbox designated by the commission on its internet website for receipt of that notification.

(B) For the purposes of determining the 10th working day from the date of receipt of notice by the commission under subdivision (c), notice received by the commission by electronic mail after the close of business shall be considered received on the next working day.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 22, Sec. 64. (AB 130) Effective June 30, 2025.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) In any city and county which so requests, the commission may adjust the inland boundary of the area within which the issuance of coastal development permits may be appealed to the commission pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 30603. Any such adjustment shall be made solely to avoid the circumstance of having the boundary of that area bisect an individual parcel of property. The adjustment may be made landward or seaward, but shall be the minimum distance necessary, consistent with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200), to avoid bisecting a parcel of property.

(b) If the commission subsequently finds that the circumstances which warranted a boundary adjustment pursuant to subdivision (a) have changed, it may, after notice to the city and county, readjust the boundary so that it is consistent with the changed circumstances. The requirements of subdivision (a) shall apply to any such boundary adjustment.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 43, Sec. 20. Effective February 17, 1982.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Prior to certification of the local coastal program, a coastal development permit shall be issued if the issuing agency, or the commission on appeal, finds that the proposed development is in conformity with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) and that the permitted development will not prejudice the ability of the local government to prepare a local coastal program that is in conformity with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). A denial of a coastal development permit on grounds it would prejudice the ability of the local government to prepare a local coastal program that is in conformity with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) shall be accompanied by a specific finding that sets forth the basis for that conclusion.

(b) After certification of the local coastal program, a coastal development permit shall be issued if the issuing agency, or the commission on appeal, finds that the proposed development is in conformity with the certified local coastal program.

(c) Every coastal development permit issued for any development between the nearest public road and the sea or the shoreline of any body of water located within the coastal zone shall include a specific finding that the development is in conformity with the public access and public recreation policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

(d) No development or any portion thereof that is outside the coastal zone shall be subject to the coastal development permit requirements of this division, nor shall anything in this division authorize the denial of a coastal development permit by the commission on the grounds the proposed development within the coastal zone will have an adverse environmental effect outside the coastal zone.

(e) No coastal development permit may be denied under this division on the grounds that a public agency is planning or contemplating to acquire the property, or property adjacent to the property, on which the proposed development is to be located, unless the public agency has been specifically authorized to acquire the property and there are funds available, or funds that could reasonably be expected to be made available within one year, for the acquisition. If a permit has been denied for that reason and the property has not been acquired by a public agency within a reasonable period of time, a permit may not be denied for the development on grounds that the property, or adjacent property, is to be acquired by a public agency when the application for such a development is resubmitted.

(f) The commission shall encourage housing opportunities for persons of low and moderate income. In reviewing residential development applications for low- and moderate-income housing, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code, the issuing agency, or the commission on appeal, may not require measures that reduce residential densities below the density sought by an applicant if the density sought is within the permitted density or range of density established by local zoning plus the additional density permitted under Section 65915 of the Government Code, unless the issuing agency or the commission on appeal makes a finding, based on substantial evidence in the record, that the density sought by the applicant cannot feasibly be accommodated on the site in a manner that is in conformity with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) or the certified local coastal program.

(g) The Legislature finds and declares that it is important for the commission to encourage the protection of existing and the provision of new affordable housing opportunities for persons of low and moderate income in the coastal zone.

(h) When acting on a coastal development permit, the issuing agency, or the commission on appeal, may consider environmental justice, or the equitable distribution of environmental benefits throughout the state.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 578, Sec. 4. (AB 2616) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) To promote greater efficiency for the planning of any public works or state university or college or private university development projects, and as an alternative to project-by-project review, public works plans or state university or college or private university long-range development plans may be submitted to the commission for review in the same manner prescribed for the review of local coastal programs as set forth in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 30500).

(b) If a public works plan or long-range development plan is submitted before certification of the local coastal programs for the jurisdictions affected by the proposed plan, the commission shall certify whether the proposed plan is consistent with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

(c) The commission shall, by regulation, provide for the submission and distribution to the public, before public hearings on a proposed public works plan or long-range development plan, detailed environmental information sufficient to enable the commission to determine the consistency of the plan with the policies of this division.

(d) If a public works plan is submitted after the certification of local coastal programs, the plan shall be certified by the commission only if it finds, after full consultation with the affected local governments, that the proposed plan is in conformity with certified local coastal programs in jurisdictions affected by the proposed public works.

(e) Each state university or college or private university shall coordinate and consult with local government in the preparation of long-range development plans so as to be consistent, to the fullest extent feasible, with the appropriate local coastal program.

(f) Where a public works plan or long-range development plan has been certified by the commission, any subsequent review by the commission of a specific project contained in the certified plan shall be limited to imposing conditions consistent with Sections 30607 and 30607.1.

(g) (1) When considering the certification of, or an amendment to, a long-range development plan, the commission shall prioritize the provision of active transportation and public transportation facilities over vehicle parking spaces.

(2) For student, faculty, or staff housing facilities proposed for inclusion in a long-range development plan, or subject to commission review under a long-range development plan, the commission shall defer to the state university or college or private university in determining the number of vehicle parking spaces necessary for residents of those facilities.

(h) A certified long-range development plan may be amended by the state university or college or private university, but no amendment shall take effect until it has been certified by the commission. Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to, and processed by, the commission in the same manner as prescribed for amendment of a local coastal program.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 256, Sec. 1. (AB 357) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The executive director of the commission may determine that a proposed amendment to a public works plan or long-range development plan submitted by a state university or college or private university is de minimis if the executive director determines that the proposed amendment would have no impact, either individually or cumulatively, on coastal resources and is consistent with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

(b) (1) The executive director shall make a determination as to whether the proposed amendment is de minimis within 10 working days of the date of a complete submittal by the state university or college or private university. If the proposed amendment is determined to be de minimis, the proposed amendment shall be noticed in the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission.

(2) If three members of the commission object to the executive director’s determination that the proposed amendment is de minimis, the proposed amendment shall be set for public hearing in accordance with the procedures specified by regulation for amendments to public works plans and long-range development plans or, at the request of the state university or college or private university, be returned to the state university or college or private university. If the proposed amendment is set for public hearing, any applicable time requirements shall commence from the date on which the objection to the de minimis determination was made.

(3) If three or more members of the commission do not object to the de minimis determination, the amendment shall become part of the certified public works plan or long-range development plan upon adjournment of the commission meeting on that date.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 256, Sec. 2. (AB 357) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: The commission shall track and publish on a public portion of its internet website any public works plans or long-range development plans, amendments to public works plans or long-range development plans, and notices of impending development submitted by a state university or college or private university to the commission for approval. Information provided to the public shall include at least a description of the plan, plan amendment, or notice of impending development, the status of the plan, plan amendment, or notice of impending development in the approval process, any conditions imposed by the commission for approval of the plan, plan amendment, or notice of impending development, and the length of time to approval or denial of the plan, plan amendment, or notice of impending development. Information on the internet website shall be updated no less than monthly.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 256, Sec. 3. (AB 357) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Prior to the commencement of any development pursuant to Section 30605, the public agency proposing the public works project, or state university or college or private university, shall notify the commission and other interested persons, organizations, and governmental agencies of the impending development and provide data to show that it is consistent with the certified public works plan or long-range development plan. No development shall take place within 30 working days after the notice.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 600, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Any permit that is issued or any development or action approved on appeal, pursuant to this chapter, shall be subject to reasonable terms and conditions in order to ensure that such development or action will be in accordance with the provisions of this division.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Where any dike and fill development is permitted in wetlands in conformity with Section 30233 or other applicable policies set forth in this division, mitigation measures shall include, at a minimum, either acquisition of equivalent areas of equal or greater biological productivity or opening up equivalent areas to tidal action; provided, however, that if no appropriate restoration site is available, an in-lieu fee sufficient to provide an area of equivalent productive value or surface areas shall be dedicated to an appropriate public agency, or the replacement site shall be purchased before the dike or fill development may proceed. The mitigation measures shall not be required for temporary or short-term fill or diking if a bond or other evidence of financial responsibility is provided to assure that restoration will be accomplished in the shortest feasible time.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1088, Sec. 1. Effective September 29, 1992.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Conditions requiring housing for persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, which were incorporated into a coastal development permit issued prior to January 1, 1982, may, at the request of the permittee, be amended or modified by the commission or by a local government having the authority to issue coastal development permits. In approving those amendments or modifications, only those conditions and requirements authorized by Section 65590 of the Government Code may be imposed on the permittee.

(b) Any person who, prior to January 1, 1982, has been issued a coastal development permit which contains requirements for low- and moderate-income housing but who, prior to January 1, 1982, has not performed substantial work on the development site (such as grading, installation of streets, sewers, or utilities, or construction of major buildings) may elect to proceed under either of the following options:

(1) To proceed pursuant to all of the requirements of the coastal development permit, in which event the provisions of subdivision (a) shall apply to any subsequent request to amend or alter the coastal development permit in regard to housing requirements.

(2) To proceed without complying with the housing requirements contained in the coastal development permit, in which event the housing requirements for the development shall be governed by Section 65590 of the Government Code.

(c) No new coastal development permit or amendment to any existing permit for a sewer project shall be denied, restricted, or conditioned by the commission in order to implement housing policies or programs.

(d) Nothing in this section authorizes or requires the modification of or amendment to any terms or conditions of any previously issued coastal development permit which guarantees housing opportunities for persons and families of low or moderate income where the term or condition has been met through an agreement executed and recorded on or before January 1, 1982, between an applicant and the commission. For previously approved or issued permits which involve new construction of less than 10 residential units, an executed and recorded agreement guaranteeing housing opportunities for persons or families of low or moderate income, which has not been implemented by the transfer of an interest in real property or payment of a fee to a public agency or nonprofit association for the purpose of providing these housing opportunities, shall be voided if the applicant records the notice provided by the executive director of the commission. Further, nothing in this section impairs the commission’s authority to deny, restrict, or condition new permits or amendments to existing permits based on any requirement of this division.

(e) Nothing in this section authorizes or requires the modification of or amendment to any terms or conditions in Permit #P-80-419 issued by the commission with respect to the reservation or administration of sewer capacity for affordable housing in the San Mateo County local coastal program.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1500, Sec. 1.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Within the City of San Diego, the commission shall not impose or adopt any requirements in conflict with the provisions of the plan for the protection of vernal pools approved and adopted by the City of San Diego on June 17, 1980, following consultation with state and federal agencies, and approved and adopted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 892, Sec. 1.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) A coastal development permit for sand replenishment requires the project applicant to provide onsite monitoring and supervision during the implementation of the permit.

(b) A permit subject to subdivision (a) may not be issued until the project applicant provides the issuing agency with a plan for onsite monitoring and supervision during the implementation of the permit.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 285, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The commission shall, when assessing or directing the use of any reclaimed in-lieu fees for any coastal development project, consider the lower cost coastal accommodations assessment required to be prepared pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 31413.

(b) (1) The commission may reclaim any in-lieu fee assessed that has not been expended within seven years of the date of its deposit with the appropriate entity, and reassign any such fee for use for one or more projects that are consistent with Section 30213, including lower cost coastal accommodations funded under Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 31411), if the executive director makes a written determination that the original intent of the in-lieu fee will be better utilized by the reassignment to those projects.

(2) This subdivision is not intended, and shall not be construed, to authorize the commission to alter or abrogate coastal development permit conditions in a manner that would violate a provision of this division or any other law.

(c) For purposes of this section, “in-lieu fee” means any fee paid as a condition for issuance of a coastal development permit to mitigate impacts associated with the development of lower cost coastal visitor-serving projects.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 838, Sec. 2. (AB 250) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: No person who has obtained a vested right in a development prior to the effective date of this division or who has obtained a permit from the California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission pursuant to the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (former Division 18 (commencing with Section 27000)) shall be required to secure approval for the development pursuant to this division. However, no substantial change may be made in the development without prior approval having been obtained under this division.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 591. Effective January 1, 2007.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text: Where, prior to January 1, 1977, a permit was issued and expressly made subject to recorded terms and conditions that are not dedications of land or interests in land for the benefit of the public or a public agency pursuant to the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (commencing with Section 27000), the owner of real property which is the subject of such permit may apply for modification or elimination of the recordation of such terms and conditions pursuant to the provisions of this division. Such application shall be made in the same manner as a permit application. In no event, however, shall such a modification or elimination of recordation result in the imposition of terms or conditions which are more restrictive than those imposed at the time of the initial grant of the permit. Unless modified or deleted pursuant to this section, any condition imposed on a permit issued pursuant to the former California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (commencing with Section 27000) shall remain in full force and effect.

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), no state land that is located between the first public road and the sea, with an existing or potential public accessway to or from the sea, or that the commission has formally designated as part of the California Coastal Trail, shall be transferred or sold by the state to any private entity unless the state retains a permanent property interest in the land adequate to provide public access to or along the sea. In any transfer or sale of real property by a state agency to a private entity or person pursuant to this section, the instrument of conveyance created by the state shall require that the private entity or person or the entity or person’s successors or assigns manage the property in such a way as to ensure that existing or potential public access is not diminished. The instrument of conveyance shall further require that any violation of this management requirement shall result in the reversion of the real property to the state.

(b) This section shall not apply to the transfer of state land to a nonprofit organization that exists for the purposes of preserving lands for public use and enjoyment and meets the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 831.5 of the Government Code.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a), state lands between the first public road and the sea, that are under the possession and control of the Department of Parks and Recreation or the State Coastal Conservancy, may be transferred or sold if the department or the conservancy makes one or more of the following findings at a noticed public hearing relating to the transfer or sale of the property:

(1) The state has retained or will retain, as a condition of the transfer or sale, permanent property interests on the land providing public access to or along the sea.

(2) Equivalent or greater public access to the same beach or shoreline area is provided for than would be feasible if the land were to remain in state ownership.

(3) The land to be transferred or sold is an environmentally sensitive area with natural resources that would be adversely impacted by public use, and the state will retain permanent property interests in the land that may be necessary to protect, or otherwise provide for the permanent protection of, those resources prior to or as a condition of the transfer or sale.

(4) The land to be transferred or sold has neither existing nor potential public accessway to the sea.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with the management responsibilities of state resource agencies, including, but not limited to, the responsibilities to ensure public safety and implement the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code).

(e) As used in this section, “state land” means any real property in which the state or any state agency has an ownership interest including, but not limited to, a fee, title, easement, deed restriction, or other interest in land. It does not include land in which a city, county, city and county, or district has an ownership interest.

(f) Nothing in this section is intended to restrict a private property owner’s right to sell or transfer private property.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 822, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, no coastal development permit shall be required pursuant to this chapter for the following types of development and in the following areas:

(a) Improvements to existing single-family residences; provided, however, that the commission shall specify, by regulation, those classes of development which involve a risk of adverse environmental effect and shall require that a coastal development permit be obtained pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Improvements to any structure other than a single-family residence or a public works facility; provided, however, that the commission shall specify, by regulation, those types of improvements which (1) involve a risk of adverse environmental effect, (2) adversely affect public access, or (3) involve a change in use contrary to any policy of this division. Any improvement so specified by the commission shall require a coastal development permit.

(c) Maintenance dredging of existing navigation channels or moving dredged material from those channels to a disposal area outside the coastal zone, pursuant to a permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

(d) Repair or maintenance activities that do not result in an addition to, or enlargement or expansion of, the object of those repair or maintenance activities; provided, however, that if the commission determines that certain extraordinary methods of repair and maintenance involve a risk of substantial adverse environmental impact, it shall, by regulation, require that a permit be obtained pursuant to this chapter.

(e) Any category of development, or any category of development within a specifically defined geographic area, that the commission, after public hearing, and by two-thirds vote of its appointed members, has described or identified and with respect to which the commission has found that there is no potential for any significant adverse effect, either individually or cumulatively, on coastal resources or on public access to, or along, the coast and, where the exclusion precedes certification of the applicable local coastal program, that the exclusion will not impair the ability of local government to prepare a local coastal program.

(f) The installation, testing, and placement in service or the replacement of any necessary utility connection between an existing service facility and any development approved pursuant to this division; provided, however, that the commission may, where necessary, require reasonable conditions to mitigate any adverse impacts on coastal resources, including scenic resources.

(g) (1) The replacement of any structure, other than a public works facility, destroyed by a disaster. The replacement structure shall conform to applicable existing zoning requirements, shall be for the same use as the destroyed structure, shall not exceed either the floor area, height, or bulk of the destroyed structure by more than 10 percent, and shall be sited in the same location on the affected property as the destroyed structure.

(2) As used in this subdivision:

(A) “Disaster” means any situation in which the force or forces which destroyed the structure to be replaced were beyond the control of its owner.

(B) “Bulk” means total interior cubic volume as measured from the exterior surface of the structure.

(C) “Structure” includes landscaping and any erosion control structure or device which is similar to that which existed prior to the occurrence of the disaster.

(h) Any activity anywhere in the coastal zone that involves the conversion of any existing multiple-unit residential structure to a time-share project, estate, or use, as defined in Section 11212 of the Business and Professions Code. If any improvement to an existing structure is otherwise exempt from the permit requirements of this division, no coastal development permit shall be required for that improvement on the basis that it is to be made in connection with any conversion exempt pursuant to this subdivision. The division of a multiple-unit residential structure into condominiums, as defined in Section 783 of the Civil Code, shall not be considered a time-share project, estate, or use for purposes of this subdivision.

(i) (1) Any proposed development which the executive director finds to be a temporary event which does not have any significant adverse impact upon coastal resources within the meaning of guidelines adopted pursuant to this subdivision by the commission. The commission shall, after public hearing, adopt guidelines to implement this subdivision to assist local governments and persons planning temporary events in complying with this division by specifying the standards which the executive director shall use in determining whether a temporary event is excluded from permit requirements pursuant to this subdivision. The guidelines adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall be exempt from the review of the Office of Administrative Law and from the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(2) Exclusion or waiver from the coastal development permit requirements of this division pursuant to this subdivision does not diminish, waive, or otherwise prevent the commission from asserting and exercising its coastal development permit jurisdiction over any temporary event at any time if the commission determines that the exercise of its jurisdiction is necessary to implement the coastal resource protection policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 697, Sec. 18. Effective January 1, 2005.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Prior to certification of the applicable local coastal program, no coastal development permit shall be required for the construction of a single-family residence on any vacant lot meeting the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) and located in a specified area designated by the commission pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b) Within 60 days from the effective date of this section, the commission shall designate specific areas in the coastal zone where the construction of a single-family residence on a vacant lot meeting the criteria set forth in subdivision (c) shall not require a coastal development permit. Areas shall be designated for the exclusion provided for in this section if construction of single-family residences within the area to be designated has no potential, either individually or cumulatively, for significant adverse impacts on highly scenic resources of public importance, on environmentally sensitive areas, on prime agricultural land or on agricultural lands currently in production, or on public access to or along the coast.

In addition, if septic tanks will be required or used, an area identified as having septic tank problems by the appropriate regional water quality control board or the State Water Resources Control Board in an approved basin plan or by other formal action of such board may not be designated for exclusion pursuant to this section.

(c) Within areas designated pursuant to subdivision (b), no coastal development permit shall be required for the construction of a single-family residence on any vacant lot which meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Is not located between the first public road and the sea or immediately adjacent to the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high tide line where there is no beach.

(2) Is a legal lot as of the effective date of this section and conforms with the minimum lot size and lot use designations of the applicable general plan and zoning ordinances.

(3) Is not located within an area known to the affected local government, or designated by any other public agency, as a geologic hazard area or as a flood hazard area, or, if located within such an area, it has been determined by the affected local government to be a safe site for the construction of a single-family residence.

(4) Is no more than 250 feet from an existing improved road adequate for use throughout the year.

(5) Can be served by an adequate water supply that is legally available for use either by means of a well or by means of a connection to a water system with sufficient capacity to serve such lot or lots; provided, that no such connection shall require the extension of an existing water main which would have the capacity of serving four or more additional single-family residential structures.

(d) The commission shall, within 120 days from the effective date of this section, specify uniform criteria that shall be used to determine the location of “the first public road” and the inland extent of any beach for purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

(e) Within 30 days after the 120-day period specified in subdivision (b), the commission shall report to the Legislature and the Governor what has been done to carry out the provisions of this section.

(f) The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding any other provision of this division to the contrary.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 919.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Any person wishing to construct a single-family residence on a vacant lot within an area designated by the commission pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 30610.1 shall, prior to the commencement of construction, secure from the local government with jurisdiction over the lot in question a written certification or determination that the lot meets the criteria specified in subdivision (c) of Section 30610.1 and is therefore exempt from the coastal development permit requirements of this division. A copy of every certification of exemption shall be sent by the issuing local government to the commission within five working days after it is issued.

(b) If the commission does not designate the areas within the coastal zone as required by subdivision (b) of Section 30610.1 within the 60 days specified therein, a local government may make the certification authorized by subdivision (a) of this section without regard to the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 30610.1.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 285, Sec. 35.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Whenever the commission determines (1) that public access opportunities through an existing subdivided area, which has less than 75 percent of the subdivided lots built upon, or an area proposed to be subdivided are not adequate to meet the public access requirements of this division and (2) that individual owners of vacant lots in those areas do not have the legal authority to comply with public access requirements as a condition of securing a coastal development permit for the reason that some other person or persons has legal authority, the commission shall implement public access requirements as provided in this section.

(b) The commission, on its own motion or at the request of an affected property owner, shall identify an area as meeting the criteria specified in subdivision (a). After an area has been identified, the commission shall, after appropriate public hearings adopt a specific public access program for the area and shall request that the State Coastal Conservancy, established pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000), implement the program. The access program shall include, but not be limited to, the identification of specific land areas and view corridors to be used for public access, any facilities or other development deemed appropriate, the commission’s recommendations regarding the manner in which public access will be managed, and the types of permitted public uses. The State Coastal Conservancy shall, pursuant to its authority, implement the public access program.

(c) The State Coastal Conservancy shall be authorized to expend funds when appropriated from the Coastal Access Account for the purchase of lands and view easements and to pay for any development needed to carry out the public access program specified in subdivision (a). Not more than 5 percent of the amount of funds necessary to carry out each public access program may be provided as a grant to the State Coastal Conservancy for its administrative costs incurred in carrying out the access program.

(d) The State Coastal Conservancy may enter into any agreement it deems necessary and appropriate with any state or local public agency or with a private association authorized to perform those functions for the operation and maintenance of any access facilities acquired or developed pursuant to this section.

(e) Every person receiving a coastal development permit or a certificate of exemption for development on any vacant lot within an area designated pursuant to this section shall, prior to the commencement of construction, pay to the commission, for deposit in the Coastal Access Account, an “in-lieu” public access fee. The amount of each fee shall be determined by dividing the cost of acquiring the specified lands and view easements by the total number of lots within the identified area. The proportion of the acquisition cost that can be allocated to lots built upon pursuant to permits that were not subject to public access conditions under this division or the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (former Division 18 (commencing with Section 27000)) shall be paid from the Coastal Access Account. An “in-lieu” public access fee may be in the form of an appropriate dedication, in which event the lots to which the dedication can be credited shall not be counted toward the total number of lots used in arriving at the “in-lieu” public access fee share for each remaining lot.

(f) For purposes of determining the acquisition costs specified in subdivision (e), the State Coastal Conservancy may, in the absence of a fixed price agreed to by both the State Coastal Conservancy and the seller, specify an estimated cost based on a formal appraisal of the value of the interest proposed to be acquired. The appraisal shall be conducted by an independent appraiser under contract with the State Coastal Conservancy and shall be completed within 120 days of the adoption of the specific public access program by the commission pursuant to subdivision (b). The appraisal shall be deemed suitable for all purposes of the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850 of the Government Code)). For every year following public acquisition of the interests in land specified as part of a public access program and prior to payment of the required “in-lieu” fee, a carrying cost factor equal to 5 percent of the share attributable to each lot shall be added to any unpaid “in-lieu” public access fee, provided, however, that a lot owner may pay the “in-lieu” public access fee at any time after public acquisition in order to avoid payment of the carrying cost factor.

(g) No provision of this section may be applied within any portion of the unincorporated area in the County of Sonoma, commonly known as the Sea Ranch.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 293. Effective January 1, 2005.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) Upon establishment of an acquisition cost pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 30610.3, the commission shall review the area in question to determine if all or some portion of that area meets the criteria specified in subdivision (b) of Section 30610.1 for areas within which no coastal development permit will be required from the commission for construction of single-family residences. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 30610.1, lots, other than those immediately adjacent to any beach or to the mean high tide line where there is no beach, can be included in this exclusion area. If the commission determines an area designated pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 30610.3 meets that criteria, the area shall be designated as one wherein no coastal development permit from the commission shall be required for the construction of single-family residences.

(b) Prior to the commencement of construction of any single-family residence within an area designated pursuant to this section, a certificate of exemption must be obtained pursuant to Section 30610.2 and the appropriate “in-lieu” public access fee shall be paid.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 592. Effective January 1, 2007.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) (1) By July 1, 2027, the commission shall, pursuant to the requirements of subdivision (e) of Section 30610, and in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, identify infill areas within at least three local jurisdictions that currently do not have a certified local coastal program, wherein development of a residential housing project comprised entirely of units, excluding managers’ units, that are deed-restricted for persons of very low-, low-, or moderate-income shall be categorically excluded from the requirement to obtain a coastal development permit.

(2) The categorical exclusion described in this subdivision shall remain in effect until June 30, 2037. The categorical exclusion described in paragraph (1) shall be of no further force or effect within an identified jurisdiction if the certification of the applicable local coastal program occurs on or before June 30, 2037.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 13244 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, each of the areas identified by the commission pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be effective upon the commission certifying the exclusion pursuant to the two-thirds vote of its appointed members.

(c) (1) In identifying categorical exclusion areas within the jurisdictions described in subdivision (a), the commission, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, shall do both of the following:

(A) Select jurisdictions located in various regions of the coast.

(B) Select jurisdictions that vary in population size from one another.

(2) In identifying the categorical exclusion infill areas described in subdivision (a), the commission, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, shall do all of the following:

(A) Identify the largest feasible categorical exclusion areas.

(B) Ensure the areas affirmatively further fair housing, consistent with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 8899.50 of the Government Code.

(C) Consider each selected jurisdiction’s inventory of sites in its housing element prepared pursuant to Section 65583 of the Government Code.

(D) Avoid sites that are projected to be impacted by sea level rise and associated coastal hazards.

(d) Nothing in this section shall exempt a qualifying residential housing project proposed in a categorical exclusion area from obtaining a land use entitlement approval otherwise required by the local jurisdiction pursuant to Division 1 (commencing with Section 65000) of Title 7 of the Government Code.

(e) Before commencing construction of a proposed residential housing project that is categorically excluded from the permit requirements of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a), the development proponent shall request, and the commission shall issue, a notice of exclusion documenting that the proposed project is categorically excluded from the requirement to obtain a coastal development permit.

(f) On or before August 1, 2027, the commission shall post on its internet website clearly defined maps of the categorical exclusion areas established pursuant to this section.

(g) (1) On or before January 1, 2035, the commission shall submit a report to the Legislature identifying the number of projects that were constructed or that are currently under construction that were categorically excluded from the permit requirements of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(3) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the requirement for submitting a report imposed by this subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2039.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 416, Sec. 1. (SB 484) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
Urban land areas shall, pursuant to the provisions of this section, be excluded from the permit provisions of this chapter.

(a) Upon the request of a local government, an urban land area, as specifically identified by such local government, shall, after public hearing, be excluded by the commission from the permit provisions of this chapter where both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The area to be excluded is either a residential area zoned and developed to a density of four or more dwelling units per acre on or before January 1, 1977, or a commercial or industrial area zoned and developed for such use on or before January 1, 1977.

(2) The commission finds both of the following:

(i) Locally permitted development will be infilling or replacement and will be in conformity with the scale, size, and character of the surrounding community.

(ii) There is no potential for significant adverse effects, either individually or cumulatively, on public access to the coast or on coastal resources from any locally permitted development; provided, however, that no area may be excluded unless more than 50 percent of the lots are built upon, to the same general density or intensity of use.

(b) Every exclusion granted under subdivision (a) of this section and subdivision (e) of Section 30610 shall be subject to terms and conditions to assure that no significant change in density, height, or nature of uses will occur without further proceedings under this division, and an order granting an exclusion under subdivision (e) of Section 30610, but not under subdivision (a) of this section may be revoked at any time by the commission, if the conditions of exclusion are violated. Tide and submerged land, beaches, and lots immediately adjacent to the inland extent of any beach, or of the mean high tide line of the sea where there is no beach, and all lands and waters subject to the public trust shall not be excluded under either subdivision (a) of this section or subdivision (e) of Section 30610.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1087, Sec. 8. Effective September 26, 1980.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is in the public interest to provide by statute for the resolution of the lengthy and bitter dispute involving development of existing legal lots within the unincorporated area of Sonoma County, commonly known as the Sea Ranch. The reasons for the need to finally resolve this dispute include the following:

(1) Acknowledgment by the responsible regulatory agencies that development of existing lots at Sea Ranch can proceed consistent with the provisions of this division and other applicable laws provided certain conditions have been met. Development has been prevented at considerable costs to property owners because these conditions have not been met.

(2) That it has been, and continues to be, costly to Sea Ranch property owners and the public because of, among other reasons, extensive and protracted litigation, continuing administrative proceedings, and escalating construction costs.

(3) The need to provide additional public access to and along portions of the coast at the Sea Ranch in order to meet the requirements of this division. The continuation of this dispute prevents the public from enjoying the use of those access opportunities.

(4) The commission is unable to refund 118 “environmental deposits” to property owners because coastal development permit conditions have not been met.

(5) It appears likely that this lengthy dispute will continue unless the Legislature provides a solution, and the failure to resolve the dispute will be unfair to property owners and the public.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that because of the unique circumstances of this situation, the provisions of this section constitute the most expeditious and equitable mechanism to ensure a timely solution that is in the best interest of property owners and that is consistent with this division.

(c) If the Sea Ranch Association and Oceanic California, Inc. desire to take advantage of the terms of this section, they shall, not sooner than April 1, 1981, and not later than July 1, 1981, deposit into escrow deeds and other necessary documents that have been determined by the State Coastal Conservancy before their deposit in escrow to be legally sufficient to convey to the State Coastal Conservancy enforceable and nonexclusive public use easements free and clear of liens and encumbrances for the easements specifically described in this subdivision. Upon deposit of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) into the same escrow account by the State Coastal Conservancy, but in no event later than 30 days after the deeds and other necessary documents have been deposited in the escrow account, the escrow agent shall transmit the five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), less the escrow, title, and administrative costs of the State Coastal Conservancy, in an amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), to the Sea Ranch Association and shall convey the deeds and other necessary documents to the State Coastal Conservancy. The conservancy shall subsequently convey the deeds and other necessary documents to an appropriate public agency that is authorized and agrees to accept the easements. The deeds specified in this subdivision shall be for the following easements:

(1) In Unit 34A, a 30-foot wide vehicle and pedestrian access easement from a point on State Highway 1, 50 feet north of mile post marker 56.75, a day parking area for 10 vehicles, a 15-foot wide pedestrian accessway from the parking area continuing west to the bluff-top trail, and a 15-foot wide bluff-top pedestrian easement beginning at the southern boundary of Gualala Point County Park and continuing for approximately three miles in a southerly direction to the sandy beach at the northern end of Unit 28 just north of Walk-on Beach together with a 15-foot wide pedestrian easement to provide a connection to Walk-on Beach to the south.

(2) In Unit 24, a day parking area west of State Highway 1, just south of Whalebone Reach, for six vehicles, and a 15-foot wide pedestrian accessway over Sea Ranch Association common areas crossing Pacific Reach and continuing westerly to the southern portion of Shell Beach with a 15-foot wide pedestrian easement to connect with the northern portion of Shell Beach.

(3) In Unit 36, a 30-foot wide vehicle and pedestrian accessway from State Highway 1, mile post marker 53.96, a day parking area for 10 vehicles, and a 15-foot wide pedestrian accessway from the parking area to the beach at the intersection of Units 21 and 36.

(4) In Unit 17, adjacent to the intersection of Navigator’s Reach and State Highway 1, 75 feet north of mile post marker 52.21, enough land to provide day parking for four vehicles and a 15-foot wide pedestrian accessway from the parking area to Pebble Beach.

(5) In Unit 8, a 30-foot wide vehicle and pedestrian accessway from State Highway 1, mile post marker 50.85, a day parking area for 10 vehicles and a 15-foot wide pedestrian accessway from the parking area to Black Point Beach.

(6) With respect to each of the beaches to which access will be provided by the easements specified in this subdivision, an easement for public use of the area between the line of mean high tide and either the toe of the adjacent bluff or the first line of vegetation, whichever is nearer to the water.

(7) Scenic view easements for those areas specified by the executive director, as provided in subdivision (d), and which easements allow for the removal of trees in order to restore and preserve scenic views from State Highway 1.

(d) The executive director of the commission shall, within 30 days after the effective date of this section, specifically identify the areas along State Highway 1 for which the scenic view easements provided for in paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) will be required. In identifying the areas for which easements for the restoration and preservation of public scenic views will be required, the executive director shall take into account the effect of tree removal so as to avoid causing erosion problems. It is the intent of the Legislature that only those areas be identified where scenic views to or along the coast are unique or particularly beautiful or spectacular and which thereby take on public importance. The restoration and preservation of the scenic view areas specified pursuant to this subdivision shall be at public expense.

(e) Within 30 days after the effective date of this section, the executive director of the commission shall specify design criteria for the height, site, and bulk of any development visible from the scenic view areas provided for in subdivision (d). This criteria shall be enforced by the County of Sonoma if the deeds and other necessary documents specified in subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy. This criteria shall be reasonable so as to enable affected property owners to build single-family residences of substantially similar overall size to those that property owners who are not affected by these criteria may build or have already built under the Sea Ranch Association’s building design criteria. The purpose of the criteria is to ensure that development will not substantially detract from the specified scenic view areas.

(f) On and after the date on which the deeds and other necessary documents deposited in escrow pursuant to subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy, no additional public access requirements shall be imposed at the Sea Ranch pursuant to this division by any regional commission, the commission, any other state agency, or any local government. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the provision of the access facilities specified in this subdivision shall be deemed adequate to meet the requirements of this division.

(g) The realignment of internal roads within the Sea Ranch shall not be required by any state or local agency acting pursuant to this division. However, appropriate easements may be required by the County of Sonoma to provide for the expansion of State Highway 1 for the development of turnout and left-turn lanes and for the location of a bicycle path, when the funds are made available for those purposes. The Legislature finds and declares that this subdivision is adequate to meet the requirements of this division to ensure that new development at the Sea Ranch will not overburden the capacity of State Highway 1 to the detriment of recreational users.

(h) No coastal development permit shall be required pursuant to this division for the development of supplemental water supply facilities determined by the State Water Resources Control Board to be necessary to meet the needs of legally permitted development within the Sea Ranch. The commission, through its executive director, shall participate in the proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board relating to these facilities and may recommend terms and conditions that the commission deems necessary to protect against adverse impacts on coastal zone resources. The State Water Resources Control Board shall condition any permit or other authorization for the development of these facilities so as to carry out the commission’s recommendation, unless the State Water Resources Control Board determines that the recommended terms or conditions are unreasonable. This subdivision shall become operative if the deeds and other necessary documents specified in subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy.

(i) Within 90 days after the effective date of this section, the commission, through its executive director, shall specify criteria for septic tank construction, operation, and monitoring within the Sea Ranch to ensure protection of coastal zone resources consistent with the policies of this division. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board shall review the criteria and adopt it, unless it finds the criteria or a portion thereof is unreasonable. The regional board shall be responsible for the enforcement of the adopted criteria if the deeds and other necessary documents specified in subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy.

(j) Within 60 days after the date on which the deeds and other necessary documents deposited in escrow pursuant to subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy, the commission shall refund every Sea Ranch “environmental deposit” together with any interest earned on the deposit to the person, or the person’s designee, who paid the deposit.

(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after the date on which the deeds and other necessary documents deposited in escrow pursuant to subdivision (c) have been conveyed to the State Coastal Conservancy, a coastal development permit shall not be required pursuant to this division for the construction of any single-family residence dwelling on any vacant, legal lot existing at the Sea Ranch on the effective date of this section. With respect to any other development for which a coastal development permit is required within legally existing lots at the Sea Ranch, no conditions may be imposed pursuant to this division that impose additional public access requirements or that relate to supplemental water supply facilities, septic tank systems, or internal road realignment.

(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if on July 1, 1981, deeds and other necessary documents that are legally sufficient to convey the easements specified in subdivision (c) have not been deposited in an escrow account, the provisions of this section shall no longer be operative and shall have no force or effect and thereafter all the provisions of this division in effect before enactment of this section shall again be applicable to any development within the Sea Ranch.

(m) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the provisions for the settlement of this dispute, especially with respect to public access, as set forth in this section provide an alternative to and are equivalent to the provisions set forth in Section 30610.3. The Legislature further finds that the provisions of this section are not in lieu of the permit and planning requirements of this division but rather provide for an alternative mechanism to Section 30610.3 for the resolution of outstanding issues at the Sea Ranch.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 97, Sec. 20. (SB 1497) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that a dispute exists at the Hollister Ranch in the County of Santa Barbara with respect to the implementation of public access policies of this division and that it is in the interest of the state and the property owners at the Hollister Ranch to resolve this dispute in an expeditious manner. The Legislature further finds and declares that public access should be provided in a timely manner and that in order to achieve this goal, while permitting property owners to commence construction, the provisions of this section are necessary to promote the public’s welfare.

(b) For purposes of Section 30610.3 and with respect to the Hollister Ranch public access program, the in-lieu fee shall be thirty-three thousand dollars ($33,000) for each permit, adjusted annually for inflation pursuant to the consumer price index. Upon payment by the applicant for a coastal development permit of this in-lieu fee to the State Coastal Conservancy for use in implementing the public access program, the applicant may immediately commence construction if the other conditions of the coastal development permit, if any, have been met. No condition may be added to a coastal development permit that was issued before the effective date of this section for any development at the Hollister Ranch.

(c) The State Coastal Conservancy and the State Lands Commission shall use their full authority provided under law to implement, as expeditiously as possible, the public access policies and provisions of this division at the Hollister Ranch in the County of Santa Barbara.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 692, Sec. 2. (AB 1680) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) This section applies only if the governing body of a local government elects to designate the commission as the processing and permitting authority for purposes of this section.

(b) In order to expedite the processing of an application for a coastal development permit for a motion picture, television, or commercial production project in the coastal zone, the governing body of a local government with a certified local coastal program may elect to designate the commission as the appropriate authority to process and issue a coastal development permit for a temporary, nonrecurring location set, if the production activity, including preparation, construction, filming, and set removal at the site will not exceed 190 days, in accordance with the following procedures:

(1) The applicant shall submit a copy of the commission’s coastal development permit application, or the local coastal development permit application, to the local government. The governing body of the local government may elect to designate the commission as the processing and permitting authority on a project-by-project basis. The governing body may designate the local coastal administrator or other designee as the decisionmaking authority to decide the projects that will be transmitted to the commission for processing and permitting.

(2) If the governing body of the local government elects to designate the commission as the processing and permitting authority for a project, all documents and changes submitted to the commission during the course of the application process shall also be submitted to the local government for informational purposes. The local government may transmit any recommendations it may have for the project to the commission.

(3) If the commission issues an administrative permit for a project, rather than a coastal development permit, the local coastal administrator, other designee, or governing body, as the case may be, may object to the commission regarding the issuance of that permit.

(4) The applicant shall obtain all local noncoastal use permits in connection with the project. The approval of the commission’s coastal development permit shall be conditioned on the approval of the local noncoastal permits.

(5) The applicant shall transmit all complaints and comments from residents and business owners in connection with the filming activity to the commission for consideration prior to the approval of the application.

(6) The applicant shall obtain all other applicable permits required by state and federal jurisdictions in connection with the project.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 491, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2000.)

article: 1. General Provisions