Fresno County, CA Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

The California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.) and California Coastal Commission (PRC §30300) regulate development only within the designated Coastal Zone, which generally extends 1,000 yards inland from the mean high tide line (with wider extensions along wetlands and estuaries). Fresno County lies in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, approximately 140-180 miles from the nearest coastline (Monterey Bay/Big Sur), and has no ocean frontage. No Local Coastal Program (LCP) applies, and no Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is required anywhere in the county. Environmental review in Fresno County is governed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, PRC §21000 et seq.), the county General Plan, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) for air-quality matters under Health & Safety Code §40000. Water quality along the San Joaquin River, Kings River, and Friant-Kern Canal is administered through the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Region 5) under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Water Code §13000). The Sierra Nevada portion of the county (including parts of Sierra and Sequoia National Forests) is governed by U.S. Forest Service NEPA review, not the Coastal Act.