3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Monterey County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Any development in the Monterey County Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) under MCC Title 20 Chapter 20.70 and the California Coastal Act (Cal. Public Resources Code section 30600). The Coastal Zone covers Big Sur, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley coastal portions, Pebble Beach (Del Monte Forest), the Monterey Peninsula coast, Marina, Moss Landing, and Pajaro Dunes. The Big Sur Land Use Plan is among the most restrictive in California.
State Code
Information on Digital Coastal Zone Boundaries: The original 1977 Coastal Zone Boundary maps were mylar (drafting film) copies of 161 USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles with an inked boundary added.
Monterey County Code Chapter 16.16 (Reduction of Flood Damage and Management of Coastal Zones) is the Countywide Floodplain Ordinance, required for participation in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Development within the 100-year floodplain (Zone A, AE) or within 200 feet of a riverbank requires a Use Permit. Key flood-prone areas include the Salinas River, Pajaro River, Carmel River, and coastal lagoons.
Coastal shoreline development in Monterey County is governed by MCC Title 20 (Coastal Implementation Plan) and the County's certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) - including the Big Sur Coast LUP, Carmel Area LUP, Del Monte Forest LUP, and North County LUP. Shoreline armoring (seawalls, riprap) generally requires a Coastal Development Permit and is allowed only to protect pre-1977 structures or essential public infrastructure. The Big Sur Coast LUP bars almost all shoreline alteration.
1 cities in Monterey County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Monterey County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Monterey County Ordinance Hub →