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

Monterey County's Coastal Zone covers roughly 90 miles of coastline from the Santa Cruz County line at the Pajaro River south to the San Luis Obispo County line south of Big Sur. Under Cal. Public Resources Code section 30600, any 'development' in the Coastal Zone - construction, demolition, change of intensity of use, grading, vegetation removal, or land division - requires a Coastal Development Permit. The County administers CDPs through MCC Chapter 20.70 under its certified Local Coastal Program. Permit types include: Categorical Exclusion (minor projects in pre-approved categories), Coastal Administrative Permit (most ministerial projects including ADUs), Coastal Development Permit (most discretionary projects), and Combined Development Permit (where multiple Title 20 permits are combined). Decisions are appealable to the California Coastal Commission for development between the sea and first public road (statewide appeal area), within 100 feet of wetlands, within 300 feet of the mean high tide line, and certain other 'appeal zone' areas. Big Sur projects face additional scrutiny under the Big Sur Coast LUP (1986), which preserves the area as 'open space, a small residential community, and agricultural ranching' and severely limits viewshed-visible development. Pebble Beach (Del Monte Forest LUP) has its own LUP coordinated with the Pebble Beach Company. Vegetation removal of native species in Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA) requires CDP and CEQA review.