Public Counter Update

Please note that public counter hours for the Santa Cruz Coastal Commission office are temporarily suspended due to a remodel.

All other Commission offices are open weekdays (excluding listed state holidays) from 8am to 5pm, but public counter hours may be limited to appointment only. Please make an appointment with the appropriate Commission staff member before coming to one of our offices; this will ensure that the appropriate staff member will be available to address your concerns. In addition to appointments in our offices, Commission staff is available by phone, email, and regular mail (see staff contact information at www.coastal.ca.gov/contact). Please make sure to send a copy of all correspondence or other documents electronically by email to the relevant Commission staff, in addition to the regular means required by regulations or statute. If you are not sure who the correct staff member is, please consult the District and Programs Contact list at www.coastal.ca.gov/contact. Thank you.

Our Mission
Protecting & Enhancing California's Coast

The Commission is committed to protecting and enhancing California’s coast and ocean for present and future generations. It does so through careful planning and regulation of environmentally-sustainable development, rigorous use of science, strong public participation, education, and effective intergovernmental coordination.

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California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

The winners and honorable mentions of the 2025 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest for K-12 students have been announced and you can enjoy them here. With 2,177 entries received, five winners each in art and poetry and 40 honorable mentions were selected. (Artwork by Alahkye De Jesus, Grade 7, Moreno Valley).

CCC Staff April 7, 2025

California Coastal Commission awards new Whale Tail grants amid surge in popularity

The Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grant program, which boosts public education and access to the state’s iconic shoreline, has experienced a huge growth in demand in recent years. In February, the Coastal Commission approved 53 Whale Tail grant applications totaling $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations and schools as well as local and tribal governments for programs focused on coastal education, conservation and public access. more

CCC Staff Feb 18, 2025

2026-2030 Strategic Plan Update is Underway

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) is initiating a public process to inform it’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The new Strategic Plan will guide CCC’s work to protect and enhance California’s coast and ocean over the next five years, building from the current 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Find out how to sign up for a public listening session or submit a public input here. Please direct additional questions/comments to StrategicPlanComments@coastal.ca.gov.

CCC Staff Feb 12, 2025

Venice Dell Community Housing Project

The Venice Dell Community Housing Project proposes 120 affordable housing units and small-scale mixed-use retail space in Venice, California, 800 feet from Venice beach. The project would replace a four-unit apartment building and a city-owned, 196-space public parking lot. The new development would provide 100% deed restricted affordable units, while maintaining the same number of public beach parking spaces within a new parking garage. It would also maintain boater access to the Grand Canal public boat launch, as well as accessible pedestrian access.

CCC Staff Nov 27, 2024

King Tides Project

King Tides are coming on November 15-17 and December 13-15, 2024. Help us photograph the highest tides of the year to learn more about the impacts of sea level rise. Find out how to take and upload your photos, join local community events, and explore photos from previous seasons.

CCC Staff Oct 28, 2024

California Coastal Cleanup Day

Saturday, September 21st was the 40th anniversary of California Coastal Cleanup Day. The Cleanup is the state’s largest annual volunteer event and over 750 cleanups took place in 57 of California’s 58 counties. Results are still coming in from across the state, but as of right now, 41,225 volunteers participated, removing over 315,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the state’s coastal and inland shorelines. The cleanup is led by the Coastal Commission in partnership with hundreds of NGOs and local governments across the state. We give enormous thanks to all our partners who make the cleanup such a success year after year.

CCC Staff Oct 2, 2024

25th annual California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest is now open!

The California Coastal Commission announces the 25th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest to pay tribute to the state's spectacular coast and ocean. The contest is free and open to all amateur photographers. Contest prize packages have been generously donated. Entries can be submitted until 5:00pm, September 30, 2024.

CCC Staff July 8, 2024

Kids Ocean Day Events

Students celebrated Kids Ocean Day in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Humboldt County at the end of May. The field trips were the culmination of a project that began with in-school programs in which students learn about the interconnections between humans and the natural world, instilling a sense of responsibility and the power to make a positive impact on the planet. The field trips then brought students to the beach for play, beach cleanups, and other restoration activities. At the end, the students used their bodies to create aerial art images sending a message to the world. The theme for this year’s campaign, “Make Ripples,” helped illustrate how one person’s actions can effect positive change that will reverberate throughout our communities and planet. Here is a highlight reel of the events. (Above photo show aerial art in Orange County, photo credit: Orange County Coastkeeper)

CCC Staff June 6, 2024

A young person and an adult stand in the surf wearing wetsuits and holding boogie boards while smiling for the camera. Photo: MeWater Foundation.

Coastal Commission Awards $2.3 Million in Whale Tail Grants

On February 7, 2024, the Commission approved 60 Whale Tail Grants totaling $2.3 million to non-profit organizations, local and tribal governments, and schools, for projects and programs that provide experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds.

CCC Staff February 7, 2024

Nature-Based Adaptation Strategies in the Coastal Zone

Commission staff recently developed a StoryMap titled “Nature-Based Adaptation Strategies in the Coastal Zone” that explains what these types of projects are, their benefits, presents examples of permitted projects implemented to adapt to coastal erosion and flooding, and encourages their use when and where appropriate. The StoryMap was developed using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration federal grant funds pursuant to the Commission’s five-year 309 Assessment and Strategy under the Coastal Zone Management Act. This work is part of a project to develop guidance on the regulatory and permitting pathways to support implementation of nature-based adaptation strategies and other sea level rise related projects.

CCC Staff February 2, 2024

Photo Contest Winners Announced

Announcing the winners of our 24th annual Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography contest. Click here to see all the winning photos.

CCC Staff November 7, 2023

Tijuana River Trans-boundary Pollution Crisis Update

At its October hearing the Commission hosted a field trip to the Tijuana River Valley followed by an informational briefing on the trans-boundary pollution crisis where Commissioners heard about the environmental, public health, and economic impacts in south San Diego County. Following the hearing, Chair Donne Brownsey sent a letter to Congress asking that they include $310 million in the emergency supplement spending bill for essential upgrades and expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. At its November hearing, the Commission unanimously approved and sent three additional letters to President Biden, Governor Newsom and U.S. Secretary of State Blinken requesting further urgent action.

CCC Staff October 27, 2023

Guardians of the Coast: How the California Coastal Commission Was Born and Carries Out Its Mission

California’s 840 miles of coastline may be the most beautiful in the country, and with 362 miles of beach fully open to the public the state ranks among the best at sharing its coastal scenery with its people. One of the main reasons for that bounty is the California Coastal Commission, a 51-year-old state agency whose mission is to regulate development in the Coastal Zone, and who, according to the Los Angeles Times, plays “a key role in improving public access to beaches and has pushed back on numerous planned developments.” Learn more

CCC Staff October 19, 2023

Final Sustainability Principles Adopted

The final “Sustainability Principles: A Framework for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Coastal Zone” was adopted by the Commission at their August 9, 2023 hearing. The document provides the Commission, local governments, and other stakeholders with a set of guiding principles and next implementation steps for taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through land use policy and permitting decisions.

CCC Staff September 27, 2023

WHALE TAIL® Grants

Grant proposals will be accepted until 5pm November 6, 2023. WHALE TAIL® Grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds. Grant projects can engage youth or adults and can take place anywhere in California. Maximum award is $50,000. Learn more.

CCC Staff September 6, 2023

Informational Briefing on Smart Growth in the Coastal Zone

The Commission received an informational briefing on smart growth in the coastal zone at their August 2023 hearing. The purpose of this briefing was to give an overview of the benefits and challenges of implementing smart growth strategies in the coastal zone and to highlight the connections between smart growth, the Coastal Act, and the Commission’s Sustainability Principles. The recording of the briefing can be viewed at the link above.

CCC Staff August 21, 2023

24th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

Enter the 24th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest! Submission deadline is 5:00pm on September 25, 2023.

CCC Staff August 8, 2023

Coastal Art & Poetry Contest for K-12 students

View the winners and honorable mentions of the 2023 contest. More than 2,200 entries were received and 10 winners and 40 honorable mentions were selected. Poetry will be published in the May issue of TAB: The Journal of Poetry and Poetics, and art and poetry will be exhibited at several coastal locations during 2023.

CCC Staff April 12, 2023

Coastal Commission Awards $2 Million in Whale Tail Grants

The California Coastal Commission has approved 56 new Whale Tail Grants totaling more than $2 million to non-profit organizations, community groups, and schools for projects and programs that provide educational experiences focused on coastal protection, public access, and environmental justice.

CCC Staff February 16, 2023

Year In Review 2022

2022 was the year when we collectively decided it was finally time to get back in the water. After a 24-month hiatus from public hearings, the Coastal Commission resumed in-person meetings in April, reuniting Commissioners, staff, and the general public at the Ventura County Government Center. Learn More.

CCC Staff February 6, 2023

King Tides are Coming

The highest tides of the year are coming December 23 & 24 and January 21 & 22. Join the California King Tides Project and photograph these high tides to help us better understand and prepare for future sea level rise. Learn how.

CCC Staff December 7, 2022

Ocean and Coastal Photo Contest Winners

Announcing the winners of the 2022 Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest. First place Judge’s Choice was awarded to Kevin Kielty for -45 Barrel, seen here. You can view all four prize winners and 11 honorable mentions here.

CCC Staff November 8, 2022

Story Map for Understanding the Public Trust Doctrine

In partnership with staff of the California State Lands Commission, the Commission’s Statewide Planning Program recently developed a story map called “Who owns the beach?” that explains the Public Trust Doctrine. The modern Public Trust Doctrine refers to the principle that the State of California holds certain lands for the benefit of the public. While there is private property ownership along some beaches and bluffs, the state owns most tidelands, in trust for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public. Presently, uses that may be considered consistent with the Public Trust Doctrine on these Public Trust lands include maritime commerce, navigation, fishing, boating, water-oriented recreation, public access, and environmental preservation and restoration. .

CCC Staff September 1, 2022

WHALE TAIL^® Grants

WHALE TAIL^® Grants are open for applications until November 4. These grants support experiential education and stewardship of the California coast and its watersheds, and can engage youth or adults anywhere in California. Approximately $2 million will be distributed in grants of up to $50,000. Learn more.

CCC Staff August 30, 2022

California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

Enter your photos by September 19. Visit mycoastalphoto.com.

CCC Staff August 30, 2022

Announcing the release of the Coastal Commission Public Data Portal

Announcing the release of the Coastal Commission Public Data Portal providing online access to our Coastal Data Management System and information related to the Commission’s local coastal planning, development permitting, and other related activities along California’s coast.

CCC Staff May 31, 2022

Climate Video Challenge

The 2022 Climate Video Challenge asked middle and high school students to respond to the question, “What is your vision for a thriving future?” View the winning videos.

CCC Staff May 3, 2022

Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

Announcing the winners of the 2022 California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest for k-12 students. Ten winners and 43 honorable mentions were selected from nearly 1,600 entries. See them here.

CCC Staff April 1, 2022

NOAA 'Coastal County Snapshots' Offer New Tools for Climate Resilience Planning

In early 2022 NOAA updated their Coastal County Snapshots, an online tool used to inform planning and decision-making in coastal communities. Each coastal county level snapshot turns complex data into charts, graphics, and information on climate change resilience topics related to flooding, sea level rise, and economics. Local communities can use this tool to easily create printable handouts that help articulate their community resilience messages.

CCC Staff March 21, 2022

Storymap of Coastal Commission and Caltrans Interagency Partnership Fostering Resilient Transportation Infrastructure

The Coastal Commission partnered with Caltrans, NOAA, and FHWA, to create a Resilient Coastal Roads Storymap that showcases emerging transportation adaptation efforts in California. Using examples along the coast from the Commission’s work with Caltrans, the storymap highlights forward-thinking responses to increasing flooding and erosion due to rising seas and changing precipitation patterns. Insights highlighted in the storymap can help move coastal transportation plans and projects beyond an asset and repair focus towards longer term, proactive, and holistic corridor management strategies.

See: NOAA Press Release; Resilient Coastal Roads Storymap

CCC Staff March 16, 2022

The Coastal Commission awarded almost $3.2 million dollars to 91 WHALE TAIL® Grants

The Coastal Commission awarded almost $3.2 million dollars to 91 WHALE TAIL® Grants on February 9, 2022. WHALE TAIL® Grants connect people to the California Coast and its watersheds through experiential education, stewardship, and outdoor experiences, and emphasize projects that engage communities that have historically had few such opportunities. This grants round will support projects from the Smith River in Del Norte County to Tijuana Slough, and in many inland locations. Click here for more information including a list of the funded projects.

CCC Staff February 15, 2022

Coastal Commission is pleased to announce the availability grant

LCP Grant Program Funding Available.

The Coastal Commission is pleased to announce the availability of grant funding to support local government coastal resiliency efforts. Funding is provided by the Budget Act of 2021, which appropriates $31 million to the Coastal Commission to support its LCP Local Assistance Grant Program. The grant program is intended to provide assistance to local governments responsible for developing and amending Local Coastal Programs. Funds may be used for projects that are designed to assist local governments in planning for coastal resiliency, including adapting to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, and which contain an LCP planning component. More information, including an application form for the non-competitive grants, can be found on the Commission’s LCP Grants website

CCC Staff February 8, 2022

2021 Year In Review

The 21st year of the 21st Century was extraordinary in the extreme, ushered in by a violent insurrection in our Nation’s Capital, and concluding with the new Omicron variant reminding us all that pandemic-life will be continuing into the New Year, regardless of vaccine status. In California, the 2021 culture wars crystallized in the form of a spectacularly failed bid to recall Governor Newsom; the Commission saw an unprecedented number of bills seeking to eliminate its authority over specified types of projects; and an October oil spill off of Newport Beach slicked the waters and fouled the beaches from Ventura to San Diego.

CCC Staff January 31, 2022

Announcing the release of three new slide shows about the pivotal California Coastal Act of 1976!

Coastal Act Overview describes the coastal protection goals and core regulatory functions of this law.

Coastal Zone Overview illustrates the legislatively-defined geographical area of the coast where the Coastal Act applies.

Coastal Act Chapter 3 details the coastal resource protection and management policies contained in Chapter 3 of the Coastal Act.

CCC Staff January 25, 2022

Guidance Memorandum Regarding Implementation of New SB 9 Housing Laws in Sea Level Rise Vulnerable Areas.

As of January 1, 2022, SB 9 (Atkins) changed the way that local governments can regulate new residential development and lot splits in single-family residential zones within designated urban areas, with the goal of increasing housing density in those areas.

Updated Memorandum Regarding the Implementation of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Laws in the Coastal Zone.

Commission staff have developed an updated memo that will supersede and replace three previously circulated memos regarding ADU implementation.

CCC Staff January 21, 2022

CDP Application Guidance for Aquaculture and Marine Restoration

As required by Senate Bill 262 (McGuire), Commission staff have developed guidance for CDP applicants proposing marine aquaculture or restoration projects. The guidance provides applicants with information needed to effectively navigate the CDP application process and complete a CDP application. We also hope the guidance provides partner agencies and other stakeholders a better understanding of the Commission’s CDP process and opportunities for coordination.

CCC Staff January 7, 2022

Property Owners

Property owners can apply for a Coastal Development Permit to legally develop their property within the California Coastal Zone

Local Governments

Many local governments are empowered to issue Coastal Development Permits through Local Coastal Plans

Informed Citizens

Everyone can learn about our coast & how to protect it. Join a beach cleanup, get teacher resources & grants, help out & have fun

Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park - YourCoast

California Coastal Trail

Find inspiration in the stories that shaped the iconic California Coastal Trail.

California Coastal Access Guide

The fully revised 7^th Edition has information on more than 1,150 public access areas.

Whale Tail^® License Plate

Help protect & restore the priceless resources of California's coast & ocean

Beach Wheelchair

Access the coast with ease in a free beach wheelchair, available throughout California

Check the Coast

Donate to the Protect Our Coast & Oceans Fund on your California Tax Form

Dr. Kate Huckelbridge was recently appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission. Before this appointment, Dr. Huckelbridge served as the Commission’s Senior Deputy Director and has worked for the agency since 2009 in a number of different roles, including as a senior environmental scientist and as the Deputy Director over the Energy, Ocean Resources and Federal Consistency Unit, Transportation Unit, and the North Coast District. She also served as the Tribal Liaison for the Commission.

Born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Dr. Huckelbridge completed her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University with an environmental engineering degree. After working briefly as a consultant, she went on to earn a masters and a PhD in environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focused on water quality dynamics and modeling in managed wetland systems. Since coming to the Commission, she has worked on a wide range of projects related to oil and gas development, power plants, wind energy, wetland and marine habitat restoration and mitigation, mitigation banking, and transportation, and more. In addition to her technical work, Dr. Huckelbridge served as one of the Commission’s representatives at the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, which was a two-year state agency training on advancing racial equity in California government. In her spare time, Kate enjoys hiking, kayaking, skiing, and playing and listening to music of all kinds.

Public Counter Update

The April 2020 Coastal Commission Meeting is Cancelled

Here

Our Mission Protecting & Enhancing California's Coast

California Governor

Gavin Newsom

Commissioners

& Alternates

Executive Director

Kate Huckelbridge

Highlights

Stay up to date on all the work being done by the Commission to protect & enhance the California Coast

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California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

California Coastal Commission awards new Whale Tail grants amid surge in popularity

2026-2030 Strategic Plan Update is Underway

Venice Dell Community Housing Project

King Tides Project

California Coastal Cleanup Day

25th annual California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest is now open!

Kids Ocean Day Events

Coastal Commission Awards $2.3 Million in Whale Tail Grants

Nature-Based Adaptation Strategies in the Coastal Zone

Photo Contest Winners Announced

Tijuana River Trans-boundary Pollution Crisis Update

Guardians of the Coast: How the California Coastal Commission Was Born and Carries Out Its Mission

Final Sustainability Principles Adopted

WHALE TAIL® Grants

Informational Briefing on Smart Growth in the Coastal Zone

24th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

Coastal Art & Poetry Contest for K-12 students

Coastal Commission Awards $2 Million in Whale Tail Grants

Year In Review 2022

King Tides are Coming

Ocean and Coastal Photo Contest Winners

Story Map for Understanding the Public Trust Doctrine

WHALE TAIL® Grants

California Ocean & Coastal Amateur Photography Contest

Announcing the release of the Coastal Commission Public Data Portal

Climate Video Challenge

Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

NOAA 'Coastal County Snapshots' Offer New Tools for Climate Resilience Planning

Storymap of Coastal Commission and Caltrans Interagency Partnership Fostering Resilient Transportation Infrastructure

The Coastal Commission awarded almost $3.2 million dollars to 91 WHALE TAIL® Grants

LCP Grant Program Funding Available.

2021 Year In Review

Announcing the release of three new slide shows about the pivotal California Coastal Act of 1976!

Guidance Memorandum Regarding Implementation of New SB 9 Housing Laws in Sea Level Rise Vulnerable Areas.

Updated Memorandum Regarding the Implementation of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Laws in the Coastal Zone.

CDP Application Guidance for Aquaculture and Marine Restoration

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Property Owners

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Local Governments

Resources

Grants

Informed Citizens

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YourCoast

Explore thousands of California Coastal Access locations with the YourCoast Web app

California Coastal Trail

Explore the California Coastal Trail

California Coastal Access Guide

Buy the California Coastal Access Guide

Whale Tail® License Plate

Buy a Whale Tail ® License Plate

Beach Wheelchair

Borrow a Beach Wheelchair

Check the Coast

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California Opposes Trump Oil Leasing Plan

Our Mission
Protecting & Enhancing California's Coast

WHALE TAIL^® Grants

Whale Tail^® License Plate

Buy a Whale Tail ^® License Plate