El Monte, CA Environmental Rules: Coastal Development (2026)
Key Facts
- 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)
Summary
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.
Coastal Act of 1976). PRC Section 30103(b) directed the Coastal Commission to prepare and adopt more detailed 1:24,000 scale Coastal Zone Boundary (CZB) maps, which occurred March 1, 1977. These 161 adopted maps provide the official basis for all other representations of the landward CZB. The digital version of the CZB created by developing this data is a conformed copy of the official boundary, and in some locations reflects legislative changes and Coastal Commission minor adjustments adopted from time to time since March 1977. Limitations of Use: The boundary depicted in the attached file ('s) was digitized from the official 1:24,000 scale Coastal Zone Boundary maps, however, there are sev
Full Breakdown
The California Coastal Act of 1976 (Public Resources Code Sections 30000-30900) created the California Coastal Commission and established the Coastal Zone - a band of land generally extending inland 1,000 yards from the mean high tide line (and up to 5 miles in significant coastal estuarine, habitat, and recreational areas), as mapped in PRC Section 30103 and the Coastal Zone Boundary maps. 0276 W) sits in the San Gabriel Valley approximately 25 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and is entirely outside the mapped Coastal Zone.
As a result, no Coastal Development Permit (CDP) under PRC Section 30600 is required for any development in El Monte, the City does not maintain a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) under PRC Section 30500, and the Coastal Commission has no permit jurisdiction over El Monte projects. 20), and floodplain (EMMC Title 15 / FEMA FIRM) ordinances. Discharges to the San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo flow ultimately to Long Beach Harbor and are regulated by the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board under the MS4 Permit (Order R4-2021-0105).
Violations & Fines
Not applicable - the California Coastal Act does not apply to El Monte. Construction activities in El Monte are regulated by the El Monte Municipal Code and California Building Code, not by the Coastal Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Coastal Development Permit for my El Monte project?
Why does this category appear if El Monte is not coastal?
What if I am building on a parcel adjacent to the San Gabriel River?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Monte
California rules heatmap·Compare El Monte to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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Coastal Development in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle coastal development.