Chino, CA Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)

The California Coastal Zone is defined by Public Resources Code §30103 as land and water along the coast from the Oregon border to the Mexican border, extending seaward to the state's outer jurisdiction limit and inland generally 1,000 yards from mean high tide (up to 5 miles or the first major ridgeline in significant areas). Chino lies entirely outside this zone — it is approximately 40+ miles inland in the Santa Ana River watershed. Projects in Chino that would otherwise be 'coastal development' under PRC §30106 (subdivisions, building, grading, change of intensity of use) are governed solely by Chino's local zoning (Title 20), building (Title 15), and subdivision (Title 16) codes, plus CEQA for discretionary actions. The California Coastal Commission has no jurisdiction here. Note: while Chino is not coastal, it is upstream in the Santa Ana River watershed — pollution discharges from Chino eventually reach the Pacific via the Santa Ana River through Orange County, so stormwater controls (see Stormwater category) do exist to protect downstream coastal waters.