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Local Coastal Program & Coastal Permitting Process


The City's Local Coastal Program (LCP) was certified by the California Coastal Commission in 1980. The LCP delegates the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) authority from the Coastal Commission to the City in certain areas shown on the City of Long Beach Coastal Zone Map. The information provided below is to assist the public in navigating the procedures and policies outlined in the LCP. Further questions about the coastal permit process should be directed to the Planning Bureau by calling 562.570.6194.  

Is my property located in the Coastal Zone?


Map Legend 
  • Red Areas (Coastal Commission Permit Jurisdiction): The California Coastal Commission is the coastal permitting authority. 
  • Yellow Areas (Appealable Area): The City of Long Beach is the coastal permitting authority.
    • Yellow areas are appealable the California Coastal Commission – This means an application may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission which has authority to grant or deny the application.
  • Green Areas (Coastal Zone): The City of Long Beach is the coastal permitting authority.
    • Green areas are not appealable to the Coastal Commission, but can be appealed to the local jurisdiction in accordance with the Zoning Regulations.

Coastal Permit Process




This graphic is intended to simplify the City’s coastal permitting process and allows applicants to easily navigate each step. Time frames are estimates and may be influenced by factors outside the City. The City does not have control over state regulatory agencies that are part of the review process.

Coastal Commission Permits

All development in the California Coastal Commission's Original Permit Jurisdiction shall be required to obtain an appropriate coastal approval in compliance with the Coastal Act. Such approval must be issued prior to the start of development and shall be required in addition to any other permits or approvals required by the City. 

Questions for California Coastal Commission permitting procedures should be directed to South Coast District Office. The City of Long Beach Planning Bureau can provide an overview, but permitting authority remains with the California Coastal Commission.

Coastal permits issued by the City of Long Beach

All development in the coastal zone shall be required to obtain either a Local Coastal Development Permit (LCDP) pursuant to Section 21.25.904 or a Coastal Permit Categorical Exclusion (CPCE) pursuant to Section 21.25.906. Such approval must be issued prior to the start of development and shall be required in addition to any other permits or approvals required by the City.

The following categories of projects require coastal permits in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Division:

  1. Development on the first lot located on, adjacent to, across the street from, or abutting the beach, bay, ocean or tidelands, except minor additions to a single-family residence as specified in Subsection 21.25.901.C (categorical exclusion).
  2. All development projects which require additional discretionary review (such as a conditional use permit, subdivision map or standards variance).
  3. Traffic improvements which do not qualify for categorical exclusion.
  4. Public works projects, excluding traffic improvement projects, with an estimated cost of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or more.
  5. Any extension of an existing facility into tidelands, environmentally sensitive areas, coastal waterways, public parkland, or within fifty (50) feet of a coastal bluff edge.
  6. Any application for the restriction of short-term rentals pursuant to the provisions and procedures outlined in Chapter 5.77 (Short-Term Rentals) in the certified LCP.
  7. Any application for the legalization of unpermitted dwelling units pursuant to the provisions and procedures outlined in Chapter 21.66 (Unpermitted Dwelling Unit Amnesty Program).
  8. Any application for the conversion of an existing transient residential structure into an interim supportive or transitional housing use pursuant to the provisions and procedures outlined in Chapter 21.65 (Interim Motel/Hotel Conversions) in the certified Local Coastal Program.
The following categories of projects are exempt from the coastal permit requirement. However, a coastal permit categorical exclusion (CPCE) shall be obtained pursuant to the procedures indicated in Section 21.25.906.
  1. Minor additions on existing single-family residences for the first lot located on, adjacent to, across the street from, or abutting the beach, bay ocean or tidelands. Such additions must be less than ten percent (10%) of the existing floor area and shall not create an additional story or loft.
  2. All projects (excluding the above) which are consistent with the Zoning Regulations, Local Coastal Program, applicable water quality standards, best management practices and pollution controls, and which do not require any discretionary review (e.g., conditional use permit, subdivision map).
  3. Traffic improvements which do not:
    a. Alter roadway or intersection capacity by more than ten percent (10%) (except stop signs and stop lights); OR
    b. Decrease parking (except by establishing a red curb next to a corner); OR
    c. Impair access to the coast.
  4. Public works projects (excluding traffic improvements) with an estimated cost of forty-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars ($49,999.00) or less.
In the Coastal Zone, the required Coastal permit (Coastal Development Permit or Local Coastal Development Permit) shall be obtained prior to  application for building permits. An administrative LCDP process is required where the required findings are to be made by staff and the Zoning Administrator. No public hearing shall be held but required noticing shall occur in conformance with Chapter 21.21 of the Zoning Regulations.

Additional Important Coastal Information

Chapter 21.61 of the Zoning Regulations is intends to maintain the present number of very low, low and moderate income housing units within the Coastal Cone and to require that any applicant for a coastal development permit, as a condition of permit issuance, be responsible for replacing existing very low, low and moderate income housing on a one-to-one basis. Mello Act (Chapter 21.61)

Mello Act

In the Coastal Zone, the trimming or removal of public trees shall comply with the approved provisions of the local and state coastal permits.
  • For public tree maintenance issues within the Coastal Zone, please call Public Works Tree Maintenance at 562.570.2770.
  • Public Trees 

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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