San Francisco has extensive shoreline regulations as a coastal city. Development along the waterfront is governed by the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the California Coastal Act. Most shoreline development requires multiple permits.
San Francisco's shoreline is regulated by multiple agencies. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) has jurisdiction over San Francisco Bay shoreline and requires permits for any development within 100 feet of the bay shoreline. The California Coastal Commission regulates the Pacific Ocean coastline under the Coastal Act. The San Francisco Planning Department administers the Waterfront Special Area Plan, which governs land use and development standards along the Embarcadero and waterfront areas. The city also enforces sea level rise adaptation policies that may restrict new construction in vulnerable shoreline areas. Development proposals near the shoreline require environmental review under CEQA and may need permits from BCDC, the Coastal Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the city.
Unauthorized shoreline development can result in enforcement actions from BCDC, the Coastal Commission, and the city, including fines, restoration orders, and cease-and-desist orders. BCDC violations can result in fines up to $30,000 per day.
San Francisco, CA
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See how San Francisco's shoreline management rules stack up against other locations.
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