Land-use glossary
Coastal development permit
Also: CDP
A permit required for most development in California's coastal zone, issued by the city or the Coastal Commission.
The California Coastal Act requires a coastal development permit for most new development, demolition and many changes in intensity of use inside the coastal zone. Cities with a certified local coastal program issue these permits themselves; elsewhere the Coastal Commission does.
Many locally issued CDPs, especially near the shoreline, can be appealed to the Coastal Commission after local appeals are finished. That is why a local approval in a beach community isn't always the last word.
What to look for on the agenda
- Whether the site is in the appealable area of the coastal zone
- Public access, views, bluff setbacks and sea-level rise conditions
- The local appeal period, and then the Coastal Commission's
Where the rules come from: California Coastal Act, Cal. Pub. Res. Code §30000 et seq.. Each city's own code adds its details.
Related terms
A general explainer, not legal advice. How we work.