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.
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