Coastal Development: El Monte vs Long Beach
How do coastal development rules compare between El Monte, CA and Long Beach, CA?
El Monte has fewer restrictions than Long Beach.
El Monte, CA
Los Angeles County
El Monte is an inland San Gabriel Valley city approximately 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is NOT within the California Coastal Zone. The California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code Section 30000 et seq.) does not apply - no Coastal Development Permit is required for any project in El Monte.
View full El Monte rules →Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles County
Long Beach has extensive coastal zone regulated by the California Coastal Commission. Development in the coastal zone requires a Coastal Development Permit. Tree removal requires 2:1 replacement ratio within the coastal zone.
View full Long Beach rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | El Monte | Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Coastal Zone? | No - El Monte is ~25 miles inland | - |
| Coastal Development Permit required? | No | - |
| Local Coastal Program (LCP)? | Not required (PRC Section 30500 does not apply) | - |
| Coastal Commission jurisdiction? | None | - |
| Applicable water rules instead | EMMC Chapter 13.16 (Stormwater) + LA RWQCB MS4 Permit | - |
| Distance to Pacific Ocean | ~25 miles (via San Gabriel River to Long Beach) | - |
| Permit | - | Coastal Development Permit required |
| Authority | - | California Coastal Commission |
| Tree Replacement | - | 2:1 ratio in coastal zone |
| Migratory Birds | - | Protected under federal treaty act |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
El Monte FAQ
Do I need a Coastal Development Permit for my El Monte project?
No. El Monte is in the inland San Gabriel Valley and is entirely outside the California Coastal Zone as defined in Public Resources Code Section 30103. The Coastal Act does not apply, and the Coastal Commission has no jurisdiction over development in El Monte.
Why does this category appear if El Monte is not coastal?
For completeness. The San Gabriel River that runs through El Monte drains to the Pacific Ocean at Long Beach, so water-quality rules from the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board (MS4 Permit Order R4-2021-0105) still apply - but those are addressed in El Monte's Stormwater Ordinance (EMMC Chapter 13.16), not under the Coastal Act.
What if I am building on a parcel adjacent to the San Gabriel River?
Coastal Act rules still do not apply. Your project is governed by the LA County Flood Control District encroachment rules, El Monte's FEMA floodplain provisions, and EMMC Chapters 13.16/13.20 (stormwater and LID). Contact El Monte Public Works for setback and BMP requirements.
Long Beach FAQ
Do I need a coastal permit?
If your property is in Long Beach's Coastal Zone, most development requires a Coastal Development Permit.
What about the port area?
The Port of Long Beach has separate environmental and development regulations administered by the port authority.
Compare other topics
See how El Monte and Long Beach compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool