Viewers' Choice Winner Star at Sunset, Pfeiffer Beach, by Pankaj Bhargava

Honorable Mention Risso's Dolphin, Monterey Bay, by Douglas Croft

Honorable Mention Hearst Pier, by Marsha Kirschbaum

Honorable Mention Large Salp, Redondo Beach, by Merry Passage

Honorable Mention Dolphins, La Jolla, by Greg Volger

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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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

Intent to Award Facilitation Services for Sea Level Rise Working Group

ln accordance with provisions of RFP 19-01, the state contracting Manual, and State contracting/competitive bidding law, the california coastal commission intends to award a contract to Zephyr Collaboration for submitting the highest-scoring proposal in response to RFP '19-01, as allowed for requests for proposals (RFP) utilizing the secondary method.

Click here to know more.

Press Release January 14, 2020

Martin’s Beach Lawsuit

On January 6, 2020, the California Coastal Commission and California State Lands Commission jointly filed a lawsuit to ensure full public access to Martin’s Beach for all future generations. The lawsuit contends that the public’s historic use of Martin’s Beach as a public beach since at least the early 1900s has established permanent rights for the public to access and recreate at Martin’s Beach. Click here to read the joint press release and click here for a copy of the complaint. The Commission is interested to hear more about your experiences at Martin’s Beach. If you or your family has a history of use of Martin’s Beach, please take a moment to fill out the Commission’s Survey, which you can access by clicking here. You can send in the survey, written statements of your story, and any photographs you have by email to MartinsBeachPRS@coastal.ca.gov or in writing to the address on the survey.

Press Release January 6, 2020

California Coastal Commission elects its first openly LGBT chair

CALABASAS, Calif. - The California Coastal Commission this week unanimously elected its first ever openly LGBT Chair.

The 12-member Commission elected Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Padilla and attorney Donne Brownsey to lead board for the next year. Padilla called it “an honor” to serve as Chair of the state’s powerful coastal protection agency, which regulates development along 1,271 miles of coastline.

CCC Staff December 13, 2019

Strategic Plan Comment Opportunity

The Public Review Draft of the Commission’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan is out for review. You may participate in these efforts by providing written comments through February 14, 2020. Comments can also be provided verbally at the December and February Coastal Commission hearings.

CCC Staff December 6, 2019

FAQ: The Coastal Commission and Sea Level Rise

Wondering what the Coastal Commission is doing about sea level rise? Click here

CCC Staff December 3, 2019

Marine Acoustics – Activities and Research

Since 1994 the California Coastal Commission has been involved in reviewing the effects of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment on marine mammal, sea turtles, fish, and other marine life. The following links are to major Commission-adopted reports involving significant activities, research on and monitoring of the impacts of noise in California (and other) ocean waters.

CCC Staff November 6, 2019

Webinar – Overview of Environmental Justice Policy

Please join us for an informational webinar on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 2PM PST for an overview of the Coastal Commission’s environmental justice policy. Staff will give a short presentation on the newly adopted environmental justice policy, including an in-depth review of what the policy is and how staff has been implementing it in their permitting and planning work. Staff will then take questions from the audience. Click here to register for the webinar.

CCC Staff October 7, 2019

Final Federal Evaluation Report for California’s Coastal Management Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released the findings of its 2017-2018 federal evaluation of California’s federally-approved coastal management program. The evaluation looked at the Coastal Commission, BCDC and State Coastal Conservancy’s program efforts over a ten year period (2008 – 2018) and found that California is meeting it’s requirements under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The report highlights many Coastal Commission accomplishments and offers recommendations to consider for further improvements.

CCC Staff October 2, 2019

New IPCC Report on Oceans and Climate Change

On September 25, the IPCC released a Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC). Significant findings include that sea levels are rising at increasingly faster rates; that continued warming will result in increased frequency and intensity of El Niño and extreme storm events; and that both greenhouse gas emissions reductions and ambitious adaptation efforts will be critical for avoiding catastrophic impacts to coastal communities. Coastal Commission recommendations for sustainable land-use and adaptation planning will help communities address these impacts.

CCC Staff September 27, 2019

Special Notice

Click here to review materials for the Del Mar LCP amendment on sea level rise, which will be heard at the October 2019 Coastal Commission meeting.

Photo Credit: California Coastal Records Project

CCC Staff September 20, 2019

New Chief Counsel Appointment

The California Coastal Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Warren as Chief Counsel. Warren has worked as an attorney at the Commission since 2006, serving as Deputy Chief Counsel and, most recently, as Acting Chief Counsel overseeing a staff of eleven and managing as many as forty legal cases at any given time. Warren has also worked as an adjunct professor at University of California at Berkeley School of Law and taught at Hastings Law School. Warren studied African Studies and Environmental Studies at Princeton University and graduated from Stanford Law School.

CCC Staff September 12, 2019

WHALE TAIL® Grants

The deadline for this year’s WHALE TAIL Grants is November 4. Nonprofits, schools, and government entities are eligible to apply for up to $50,000 for marine and coastal education and conservation projects.

CCC Staff September 3, 2019

Rulemaking

for Minor Changes to Regulations

CCC Staff April 30, 2019

Hollister Ranch — Public Access Program

Proposed Settlement with Hollister Ranch Homeowners—public comment

CCC Staff March 20, 2019

Announcing the winners of the 2019 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

Artwork: "The Colorful Sea Animals"
By: Callan Stephen Cheng
Grade 1, Cypress

CCC Staff March 12, 2019

Coastal Commission approves environmental justice policy

Check out our Press Release

Press Release March. 11, 2019

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

John "Jack" Ainsworth, 58, came to the Coastal Commission from the private sector in 1989 as a Coastal Program Analyst. Over the past 27 years, he has shouldered a variety of responsibilities including overseeing the South Central and South Coast (LA County) district offices and as the agency's Senior Deputy Director beginning in May 2015. He was appointed Acting Executive Director in March 2016. Ainsworth has a BA in Environmental Studies & Geography and an MSc in Geography from the University of California, Riverside.

Our Mission Protecting & Enhancing California's Coast

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Gavin Newsom

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Executive Director

John Ainsworth

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Highlights

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

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Intent to Award Facilitation Services for Sea Level Rise Working Group

Martin’s Beach Lawsuit

California Coastal Commission elects its first openly LGBT chair

Strategic Plan Comment Opportunity

2020 Draft Strategic Plan Webpage

FAQ: The Coastal Commission and Sea Level Rise

Marine Acoustics – Activities and Research

Webinar – Overview of Environmental Justice Policy

Final Federal Evaluation Report for California’s Coastal Management Program

New IPCC Report on Oceans and Climate Change

Special Notice

New Chief Counsel Appointment

WHALE TAIL® Grants

Rulemaking

Hollister Ranch — Public Access Program

Proposed Settlement with Hollister Ranch Homeowners—public comment

Announcing the winners of the 2019 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

Coastal Commission approves environmental justice policy

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February Meeting

The Commission meets publicly to administer The Coastal Act

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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

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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

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