Development within Orange County's 42-mile Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit issued by the California Coastal Commission or the local jurisdiction acting under a certified Local Coastal Program.
The California Coastal Act of 1976 requires a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for most construction, grading, subdivision, intensified use, or shoreline armoring within the Coastal Zone. Cities like Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point operate under certified Local Coastal Programs and issue CDPs locally, with Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction over many decisions. Areas without a certified LCP, plus tidelands and submerged lands, are issued by the Commission directly. Orange County administers Doheny State Beach and other coastal facilities subject to public access, view protection, and ESHA habitat rules.
Building without a CDP can trigger Coastal Commission cease-and-desist orders, restoration requirements, and civil penalties up to $15,000 per day per violation.
See how Costa Mesa's coastal zone permits rules stack up against other locations.
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