Orange County manages coastal shoreline through OC Public Works and the California Coastal Commission. Unincorporated coastal areas require Coastal Development Permits for construction near the shoreline. Beach nourishment and erosion control projects are managed at the county level.
Unincorporated coastal areas of Orange County fall under California Coastal Act jurisdiction administered by the California Coastal Commission. Development within the Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit (CDP). OC Public Works manages county-maintained beaches and the Dana Point Harbor area. Beach nourishment projects to combat erosion are coordinated between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission, and OC Public Works. Sea level rise planning affects low-lying unincorporated coastal parcels. The county's Local Coastal Program (LCP) governs land use decisions in the Coastal Zone. Shoreline protective devices (seawalls, riprap) require CDPs and are disfavored under the Coastal Act in favor of managed retreat and natural solutions. Newport Bay and its surrounding wetlands receive additional environmental protections. Contact the Coastal Commission South Coast District at (562) 590-5071 or OC Public Works at (714) 647-3200.
Development without a CDP in the Coastal Zone: enforcement action by the Coastal Commission including cease and desist orders, removal requirements, and fines up to $15,000 per day. Unauthorized shoreline armoring may require removal.
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County exempts one small detached non-habitable accessory structure - a shed - per 7,200 square feet of building site area from accesso...
Orange County, CA
Carports in unincorporated Orange County are governed by Section 7-9-70.3(d) of the Codified Ordinances, which requires carports to comply with main-building...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County allows the conversion of an existing garage, carport, or accessory structure into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) under Section...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County requires every pool/spa deeper than 18 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches (5 ft) high under California Health...
Orange County, CA
Unincorporated Orange County allows ADUs on any residentially zoned lot under OC Zoning Code (Title 7, Division 9) and California Government Code §65852.2 (A...
Orange County, CA
Orange County does not levy a general gross-receipts business tax in unincorporated areas; businesses obtain a county business license tied to zoning, while ...
See how Orange County's shoreline management rules stack up against other locations.
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