The City of Los Angeles manages approximately 15 miles of coastline through its Local Coastal Program and the California Coastal Act. Development in the coastal zone, including Venice, Playa del Rey, San Pedro, and Pacific Palisades, requires Coastal Development Permits. The city enforces setback requirements, public access provisions, and environmental protections for beaches, wetlands, and bluffs.
Los Angeles's shoreline management is governed by the California Coastal Act and the city's certified Local Coastal Program (LCP), which includes specific plans for areas such as Venice, Playa del Rey, and San Pedro. Development within the Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit (CDP), processed through the Department of City Planning. The city's coastal areas include diverse environments including sandy beaches, coastal bluffs (particularly in Pacific Palisades and San Pedro), and the Ballona Wetlands. Blufftop development is subject to geotechnical review and setback requirements based on erosion rates. The LCP includes policies requiring preservation of public access to beaches, protection of coastal views, and minimizing development impacts on sensitive coastal habitats. Development near the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve is subject to heightened environmental review. New construction in coastal flood zones must comply with FEMA requirements and city flood hazard regulations. The California Coastal Commission retains appeal jurisdiction over certain CDPs and has independent enforcement authority for violations of the Coastal Act.
Violations of coastal development regulations may result in enforcement by both the City of Los Angeles and the California Coastal Commission. Penalties can include fines, restoration orders, and removal of unpermitted development. The Coastal Commission can impose daily penalties for ongoing violations.
Los Angeles, CA
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See how Los Angeles's shoreline management rules stack up against other locations.
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