ARTICLE 2. Procedure for Preparation, Approval, and Certification of Local Coastal Programs [30510. - 30526.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 2.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30510. Section 30510.

Consistent with this chapter, a proposed local coastal program may be submitted to the commission, if both of the following are met: (a) It is submitted pursuant to a resolution adopted by the local government, after public hearing, that certifies the local coastal program is intended to be carried out in a manner fully in conformity with this division. (b) It contains, in accordance with guidelines established by the commission, materials sufficient for a thorough and complete review.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30511. Section 30511.

Local coastal programs shall be submitted in accordance with the schedule established pursuant to Section 30517.5. At the option of the local government, this program may be submitted and processed in any of the following ways: (a) At one time, in which event Section 30512 with respect to time limits, resubmission, approval, and certification shall apply. However, the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, if required, other implementing actions included in the local coastal program shall be approved and certified pursuant to the standards of Section 30513. (b) In two phases, in which event the land use plans shall be processed first pursuant to Section 30512, and the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, if required, other implementing actions, shall be processed thereafter pursuant to Section 30513. (c) In separate geographic units consisting of less than the local government’s jurisdiction lying within the coastal zone, each submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), if the commission finds that the area or areas proposed for separate review can be analyzed for the potential cumulative impacts of development on coastal resources and access independently of the remainder of the affected jurisdiction.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30512. Section 30512.

(a) The land use plan of a proposed local coastal program shall be submitted to the commission. The commission shall, within 90 working days after the submittal, after public hearing, either certify or refuse certification, in whole or in part, of the land use plan pursuant to the following procedure: (1) No later than 60 working days after a land use plan has been submitted to it, the commission shall, after public hearing and by majority vote of those members present, determine whether the land use plan, or a portion thereof applicable to an identifiable geographic area, raises no substantial issue as to conformity with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). If the commission determines that no substantial issue is raised, the land use plan, or portion thereof applicable to an identifiable area, which raises no substantial issue, shall be deemed certified as submitted. The commission shall adopt findings to support its action. (2) Where the commission determines pursuant to paragraph (1) that one or more portions of a land use plan applicable to one or more identifiable geographic areas raise no substantial issue as to conformity with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200), the remainder of that land use plan applicable to other identifiable geographic areas shall be deemed to raise one or more substantial issues as to conformity with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). The commission shall identify each substantial issue for each geographic area. (3) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on the matter or matters that have been identified as substantial issues pursuant to paragraph (2). No later than 90 working days after the submittal of the land use plan, the commission shall determine whether or not to certify the land use plan, in whole or in part. If the commission fails to act within the required 90-day period, the land use plan, or portion thereof, shall be deemed certified by the commission. (b) If the commission determines not to certify a land use plan, in whole or in part, the commission shall provide a written explanation and may suggest modifications, which, if adopted and transmitted to the commission by the local government, shall cause the land use plan to be deemed certified upon confirmation of the executive director. The local government may elect to meet the commission’s refusal of certification in a manner other than as suggested by the commission and may then resubmit its revised land use plan to the commission. If a local government requests that the commission not recommend or suggest modifications which, if made, will result in certification, the commission shall refuse certification with the required findings. (c) The commission shall certify a land use plan, or any amendments thereto, if it finds that a land use plan meets the requirements of, and is in conformity with, the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). Except as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a decision to certify shall require a majority vote of the appointed membership of the commission.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30512.2. Section 30512.2.

The following provisions shall apply to the commission’s decision to certify or refuse certification of a land use plan pursuant to Section 30512: (a) The commission’s review of a land use plan shall be limited to its administrative determination that the land use plan submitted by the local government does, or does not, conform with the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). In making this review, the commission is not authorized by any provision of this division to diminish or abridge the authority of a local government to adopt and establish, by ordinance, the precise content of its land use plan. (b) The commission shall require conformance with the policies and requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) only to the extent necessary to achieve the basic state goals specified in Section 30001.5.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30513. Section 30513.

(a) The local government shall submit to the commission the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, where necessary, other implementing actions that are required pursuant to this chapter. (b) If within 60 working days after receipt of the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and other implementing actions, the commission, after public hearing, has not rejected the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or other implementing actions, they shall be deemed approved. The commission may only reject zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or other implementing actions on the grounds that they do not conform with, or are inadequate to carry out, the provisions of the certified land use plan. If the commission rejects the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or other implementing actions, it shall give written notice of the rejection specifying the provisions of land use plan with which the rejected zoning ordinances do not conform or which it finds will not be adequately carried out together with its reasons for the action taken. (c) The commission may suggest modifications in the rejected zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or other implementing actions, which, if adopted by the local government and transmitted to the commission, shall be deemed approved upon confirmation by the executive director. (d) The local government may elect to meet the commission’s rejection in a manner other than as suggested by the commission and may then resubmit its revised zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and other implementing actions to the commission. (e) If a local government requests that the commission not suggest modifications in the rejected zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or other implementing ordinances, the commission shall not do so.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30514. Section 30514.

(a) A certified local coastal program and all local implementing ordinances, regulations, and other actions may be amended by the appropriate local government, but no such amendment shall take effect until it has been certified by the commission. (b) Any proposed amendments to a certified local coastal program shall be submitted to, and processed by, the commission in accordance with the applicable procedures and time limits specified in Sections 30512 and 30513, except that the commission shall make no determination as to whether a proposed amendment raises a substantial issue as to conformity with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) as would otherwise be required by Section 30512. In no event shall there be more than three of these submittals of proposed amendments in any calendar year. However, there are no limitations on the number of amendments included in each of the three submittals. (c) The commission, by regulation, shall establish a procedure whereby proposed amendments to a certified local coastal program may be reviewed and designated by the executive director of the commission as being minor in nature or as requiring rapid and expeditious action. That procedure shall include provisions authorizing local governments to propose amendments to the executive director for that review and designation. Proposed amendments that are designated as being minor in nature or as requiring rapid and expeditious action shall not be subject to subdivision (b) or Sections 30512 and 30513 and shall take effect on the 10th working day after designation. Amendments that allow changes in uses shall not be so designated. (d) (1) The executive director may determine that a proposed local coastal program amendment is de minimis if the executive director determines that a proposed amendment would have no impact, either individually or cumulatively, on coastal resources, is consistent with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200), and meets the following criteria: (A) The local government, at least 21 days prior to the date of submitting the proposed amendment to the executive director, has provided public notice, and provided a copy to the commission, that specifies the dates and places where comments will be accepted on the proposed amendment, contains a brief description of the proposed amendment, and states the address where copies of the proposed amendment are available for public review, by one of the following procedures: (i) Publication, not fewer times than required by Section 6061 of the Government Code, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the proposed amendment. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas. (ii) Posting of the notice by the local government both onsite and offsite in the area affected by the proposed amendment. (iii) Direct mailing to the owners and occupants of contiguous property shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. (B) The proposed amendment does not propose any change in land use or water uses or any change in the allowable use of property. (2) At the time that the local government submits the proposed amendment to the executive director, the local government shall also submit to the executive director any public comments that were received during the comment period provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1). (3) (A) The executive director shall make a determination as to whether the proposed amendment is de minimis within 10 working days of the date of submittal by the local government. If the proposed amendment is determined to be de minimis, the proposed amendment shall be noticed in the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission, in accordance with Section 11125 of the Government Code, and any public comments forwarded by the local government shall be made available to the members of the commission. (B) If three members of the commission object to the executive director’s determination that the proposed amendment is de minimis, the proposed amendment shall be set for public hearing in accordance with the procedures specified in subdivision (b), or as specified in subdivision (c) if applicable, as determined by the executive director, or, at the request of the local government, returned to the local government. If set for public hearing under subdivision (b), the time requirements set by Sections 30512 and 30513 shall commence from the date on which the objection to the de minimis designation was made. (C) If three or more members of the commission do not object to the de minimis determination, the de minimis local coastal program amendment shall become part of the certified local coastal program upon adjournment of the commission meeting on that date. (4) The commission, after a noticed public hearing, may adopt guidelines to implement this subdivision, which shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law and from Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The commission shall file any guidelines adopted pursuant to this paragraph with the Office of Administrative Law. (e) For purposes of this section, “amendment of a certified local coastal program” includes, but is not limited to, any action by a local government that authorizes the use of a parcel of land other than a use that is designated in the certified local coastal program as a permitted use of the parcel.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30514.1. Section 30514.1.

The commission shall adopt the findings or provide a written explanation or written notice, as appropriate, required by Sections 30512, 30512.2, and 30513 to support its action no later than 60 days after the date on which action was taken.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30515. Section 30515.

Any person authorized to undertake a public works project or proposing an energy facility development may request any local government to amend its certified local coastal program, if the purpose of the proposed amendment is to meet public needs of an area greater than that included within such certified local coastal program that had not been anticipated by the person making the request at the time the local coastal program was before the commission for certification. If, after review, the local government determines that the amendment requested would be in conformity with the policies of this division, it may amend its certified local coastal program as provided in Section 30514. If the local government does not amend its local coastal program, such person may file with the commission a request for amendment which shall set forth the reasons why the proposed amendment is necessary and how such amendment is in conformity with the policies of this division. The local government shall be provided an opportunity to set forth the reasons for its action. The commission may, after public hearing, approve and certify the proposed amendment if it finds, after a careful balancing of social, economic, and environmental effects, that to do otherwise would adversely affect the public welfare, that a public need of an area greater than that included within the certified local coastal program would be met, that there is no feasible, less environmentally damaging alternative way to meet such need, and that the proposed amendment is in conformity with the policies of this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30516. Section 30516.

(a) Approval of a local coastal program shall not be withheld because of the inability of the local government to financially support or implement any policy or policies contained in this division; provided, however, that this shall not require the approval of a local coastal program allowing development not in conformity with the policies in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200). (b) Where a certified port master plan has been incorporated in a local coastal program in accordance with Section 30711 and the local coastal program is disapproved by the commission, that disapproval shall not apply to the certified port master plan.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30517. Section 30517.

The commission may extend, for a period of not to exceed one year, any time limitation established by this chapter for good cause.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30517.5. Section 30517.5.

(a) Within 60 days from the effective date of this section, the commission shall establish a schedule for the submittal of all land use plans that have not been submitted, pursuant to Section 30501, to a former regional commission or the commission on or before July 1, 1981. This schedule shall be based on the commission’s assessment, in consultation with local governments, of each local government’s current status and progress. The schedule shall specify that submittals may not be made sooner than nor later than certain specified dates and in no event later than January 1, 1983. (b) If a local government fails to meet the schedule established pursuant to subdivision (a), the commission may take any of the following actions: (1) Waive the deadlines for commission action on a submitted land use plan, or any portion thereof, as set forth in Sections 30511 and 30512. (2) Prepare and adopt, after a public hearing but not sooner than January 1, 1984, a land use plan for the land area within the local government’s jurisdiction. After adoption of the land use plan, the commission shall determine the permissibility of proposed developments pursuant to the provisions of the adopted plan. The affected local government may choose to adopt, in whole or in part, the commission’s prepared and adopted land use plan in which event the commission shall certify the plan, in whole or in part, or it may continue to prepare its own land use plan consistent with the provisions of this chapter. (3) Report the matter to the Legislature with recommendations for appropriate action.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30517.6. Section 30517.6.

(a) Within 30 days after the certification of a land use plan, or any portion thereof, the commission shall, after consultation with the appropriate local government, establish a date for that local government to submit the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, where necessary, other implementing actions. In no event shall that date be later than January 1, 1984. (b) If a local government fails to meet the schedule established pursuant to subdivision (a), the commission may waive the deadlines for commission action on submitted zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, where necessary, other implementing actions, as set forth in Sections 30511 and 30513.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30519. Section 30519.

(a) Except for appeals to the commission, as provided in Section 30603, after a local coastal program, or any portion thereof, has been certified and all implementing actions within the area affected have become effective, the development review authority provided for in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) shall no longer be exercised by the commission over any new development proposed within the area to which the certified local coastal program, or any portion thereof, applies and shall at that time be delegated to the local government that is implementing the local coastal program or any portion thereof. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to any development proposed or undertaken on any tidelands, submerged lands, or on public trust lands, whether filled or unfilled, lying within the coastal zone, nor shall it apply to any development proposed or undertaken within ports covered by Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 30700) or within any state university or college within the coastal zone; however, this section shall apply to any development proposed or undertaken by a port or harbor district or authority on lands or waters granted by the Legislature to a local government whose certified local coastal program includes the specific development plans for such district or authority. (c) The commission may, from time to time, recommend to the appropriate local government local coastal program amendments to accommodate uses of greater than local importance, which uses are not permitted by the applicable certified local coastal program. These uses may be listed generally or the commission may recommend specific uses of greater than local importance for consideration by the appropriate local government.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30519.1. Section 30519.1.

(a) This section shall apply only to those parcels and areas within the City of Carlsbad for which a local coastal program has been prepared and certified by the commission pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 30170 or Section 30171. (b) Any provisions of any such local coastal program with respect to housing for persons and families of low or moderate income shall have no force or effect after January 1, 1982. After that date, housing requirements for those parcels and areas shall be determined pursuant to Section 65590 of the Government Code. (c) Until such time as, (i) the City of Carlsbad adopts or enacts the implementing actions contained in any such local coastal program, or (ii) other statutory provisions provide alternately for the adoption, certification, and implementation of a local coastal program for those parcels and areas, coastal development permits for those parcels and areas shall be issued by the commission as provided in this subdivision. Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, the commission shall issue a coastal development permit if it finds that a proposed development is in conformity with the certified local coastal program, exclusive of any provisions with respect to housing for persons and families of low or moderate income which have been rendered inoperative pursuant to subdivision (b).

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30519.2. Section 30519.2.

(a) (1) This subdivision shall only apply to territory described in paragraph (2) and defined as the “Annexed Area.” (2) For purposes of this section, “Annexed Area” means the territory consisting of approximately 5,450 acres in the County of Orange bounded to the north by the inland boundary of the coastal zone, to the east by the western boundary of Crystal Cove State Park, to the south by the state’s outer limit of jurisdiction over the Pacific Ocean, and to the west by the city limits of the City of Newport Beach. (3) This subdivision shall be operative upon the effective date of the annexation of all or part of the Annexed Area by the City of Newport Beach. (4) Upon the recordation of a certificate of completion of any reorganization or change of organization that results in the annexation of all or part of the Annexed Area by the City of Newport Beach, both of the following shall occur: (A) The local coastal program applicable to any part of the Annexed Area shall continue to be the certified local coastal program for the County of Orange. (B) The County of Orange shall continue to exercise all development review authority described in Section 30519, as delegated to it by the commission consistent with the certified local coastal program of the County of Orange for the Annexed Area. (5) If, at any time after the recordation of the certificate of completion of the annexation of the Annexed Area, the City of Newport Beach elects to assume coastal management responsibility for the Annexed Area, the city may begin preparation of a local coastal program for that area. The City of Newport Beach may adopt provisions of the County of Orange’s certified local coastal program that apply to the Annexed Area. All of the procedures for the preparation, approval, and certification of a local coastal program set forth in this division, and any applicable regulations adopted by the commission, shall apply to the preparation, approval, and certification of a local coastal program for the Annexed Area. (6) If the City of Newport Beach obtains certification of a local coastal program for the Annexed Area, the city shall, upon the effective date of that certification, exercise all of the authority granted to a local government with a certified local coastal program, and the provisions of paragraph (4) shall become inoperative. (b) On or before June 30, 2003, or 24 months after the annexation of the Annexed Area, whichever event occurs first, the City of Newport Beach shall submit to the commission for approval and certification the city’s local coastal program for all of the geographic area within the coastal zone and the city’s corporate boundaries as of June 30, 2000. The submittal may include a local coastal program segment for the Annexed Area that will implement the local coastal program for the County of Orange as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a). (c) If the City of Newport Beach fails to submit a local coastal program to the commission for approval and certification pursuant to subdivision (b) or does not have an effectively certified local coastal program within six months after the commission’s approval of the local coastal program, the City of Newport Beach shall submit a monthly late fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) to be deposited into the Violation Remediation Account of the Coastal Conservancy Fund, to be expended in accordance with the purposes of Section 30823. The City of Newport Beach shall pay the monthly late fee until the time that the city commences implementation of an effectively certified local coastal program. The city may not recover the cost of the late fee from any owner or lessee of property in the coastal zone.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30519.5. Section 30519.5.

(a) The commission shall, from time to time, but at least once every five years after certification, review every certified local coastal program to determine whether such program is being effectively implemented in conformity with the policies of this division. If the commission determines that a certified local coastal program is not being carried out in conformity with any policy of this division it shall submit to the affected local government recommendations of corrective actions that should be taken. Such recommendations may include recommended amendments to the affected local government’s local coastal program. (b) Recommendations submitted pursuant to this section shall be reviewed by the affected local government and, if the recommended action is not taken, the local government shall, within one year of such submission, forward to the commission a report setting forth its reasons for not taking the recommended action. The commission shall review such report and, where appropriate, report to the Legislature and recommend legislative action necessary to assure effective implementation of the relevant policy or policies of this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30520. Section 30520.

(a) If the application of any certified local coastal program, or any portion thereof, is prohibited or stayed by any court, the permit authority provided for in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) shall be exercised pursuant to the provisions of this section until a final court order has withdrawn such prohibition or stay. A coastal development permit shall be issued by the affected local government or the commission on appeal, if that local government or the commission on appeal finds that the proposed development is in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) or the applicable certified land use plan if the court-ordered prohibition or stay applies only to the zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or, where necessary, the other implementing actions which are required pursuant to this chapter. Any development approved by a local government pursuant to this subdivision may be appealed to the commission by any person, including the executive director or any commissioner during the period the permit provisions of this section are in effect. (b) Until a local government has adopted an interim ordinance prescribing procedures for issuing coastal development permits in the circumstances described in subdivision (a), the permit authority provided for in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) shall be reinstated in the commission. A coastal development permit shall be issued by the commission if the commission finds that the proposed development is in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200) or the applicable certified land use plan, if the court-ordered prohibition or stay applies only to zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, or, where necessary, the other implementing actions which are required pursuant to this chapter. (c) The permit authority provided for in this section shall be limited to only those developments which would be affected by the court-ordered prohibition or stay.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30522. Section 30522.

Nothing in this chapter shall permit the commission to certify a local coastal program which provides for a lesser degree of environmental protection than that provided by the plans and policies of any state regulatory agency that are formally adopted by such agency, are used in the regulatory program of such agency, and are legally enforceable.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30523. Section 30523.

It is the intent of the Legislature that local coastal programs certified by the commission should be sufficiently specific to meet the requirements of Section 30108.5, but not so detailed as to require amendment and commission review for minor changes, or to discourage the assumption by local governments of postcertification authority which ensures and implements effective protection of coastal resources. The Legislature also recognizes that the applicable policies and the level of specificity required to ensure coastal resource protection may differ between areas on or near the shoreline and inland areas.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30525. Section 30525.

(a) Every state agency that owns or manages land or water areas within the coastal zone, including public beaches, parks, natural areas, and fish and wildlife preserves, shall identify the sensitive resource values within those areas that are particularly susceptible to adverse impacts from nearby development that is not carefully planned. Every such agency shall also identify the location and type of development that would have a significant adverse impact on those sensitive resource values. (b) Every agency subject to this section shall advise the appropriate local government of particular considerations that should be evaluated during the preparation of a local coastal program and which, in the opinion of such agency, may be necessary to protect identified sensitive resource values. In addition, the work undertaken pursuant to this section shall be completed in a timely manner in order to maximize the opportunity for the public, affected local governments, and the commission to consider this information fully during the preparation, review, and approval of the appropriate local coastal program. (c) Work already completed pursuant to former Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 31300) of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, added by Chapter 1441 of the Statutes of 1976, and in conformity with this section, that identifies sensitive resource values within publicly owned or managed land and water areas of the coastal zone shall be considered by local government and the commission in the course of carrying out this chapter. (d) For purposes of this section, “sensitive resource values” means those fragile or unique natural resources which are particularly susceptible to degradation resulting from surrounding development, the adverse effects of which have not been carefully evaluated, mitigated, or avoided. Examples include, but are not limited to, environmentally sensitive areas, as defined in Section 30107.5, areas uniquely suited for scientific or educational purposes, and specific public recreation areas where the quality of the recreational experience is dependent on the character of the surrounding area.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 30526. Section 30526.

(a) Because of the intensity of development contemplated, the area’s steep topography and highly erodible soils, and the demonstrated impacts from development despite the utilization of mitigation measures, the Legislature finds that the threat from development to wetlands in the City of San Diego requires that a mitigation fee program be included in the city’s local coastal program. Therefore, the City of San Diego shall provide in its local coastal program for payment of a reasonable fee to the State Coastal Conservancy by applicants for a coastal development permit if the proposed development has, or is reasonably expected to have, a direct and significant effect on coastal resources within a specific geographic watershed in the coastal zone which can be mitigated through the incorporation of feasible onsite and offsite mitigation measures into the proposed development and through the mitigation fee program. (b) Fees paid by an applicant pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be deposited in an account established by the State Coastal Conservancy . None of the funds in the account shall be appropriated for any purpose not specified in this section. Except as provided in this section, any fee paid pursuant to this section may only be used to restore, replace, or improve resources or ecological systems which are adversely affected by the proposed development and with respect to which the fee constitutes partial or total mitigation. Any fees established pursuant to this section are not required for any development that is undertaken by a public agency for the purpose of providing resource enhancement or public recreation. In the event that mitigation of all development impacts cannot be feasibly carried out within the watershed, the conservancy may, with the approval of the local government and the commission, complete the mitigation for the development outside of the watershed. (c) This section and Section 31108.5 apply only to the Los Penasquitos Lagoon area in the City of San Diego.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026