Coast
Coastal development permits
A simple first pass before you build, grade, or change use in the coastal zone.
The coast has its own rule layer. If the place is inside the coastal zone, development usually needs a coastal development permit before work starts.
That does not always mean the state office is your first stop. In many towns and counties, the local planning office handles most permits under a Local Coastal Program.
Simple rule: check the map, then confirm who has permit authority for that exact parcel before anyone starts work.
First moves
- 1
Check whether the parcel is in the coastal zone.
- 2
If it is, confirm whether the city, county, or Coastal Commission handles permits there.
- 3
For emergency work, use the emergency-permit path instead of guessing the paperwork can wait.
Watch for
- 1
A local building permit is not always the same thing as a coastal development permit.
- 2
Some local decisions can still be appealed to the Coastal Commission.
- 3
Sea-level rise, erosion, public access, wetlands, and habitat can all matter.
- 4
If the parcel sits close to a boundary line, confirm with a planner before trusting a quick map glance.
Go deeper
Beaches and coastal access
Find public access, check water quality, and look at surf or rip-current warnings before a beach day.
Outdoor weather and hazard checks
A last-check guide for weather, smoke, fire, heat, surf, rivers, snow, roads, earthquakes, and the live sources to trust before you leave.