Title PRC, California Pub. Res. Code

“Local government” means the Counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo, and the Cities of Sacramento, Stockton, Tracy, Antioch, Pittsburg, Isleton, Lathrop, Brentwood, West Sacramento, and Oakley, and any other cities that may be incorporated in the futu…

“Pacific Flyway” means the identified migratory bird flight path, including feeding and nesting habitat, as described in the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture component of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP-1986). (Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 898, Sec. 2. Effect…

“Port” means the Port of Sacramento and the Port of Stockton, including all the land owned or leased by those ports, or potential sites identified in the Delta county general plans as of January 1, 2010, and otherwise authorized by law. (Amended by Stats. 2009, 7th Ex. Sess., Ch.…

“Primary zone” means the delta land and water area of primary state concern and statewide significance which is situated within the boundaries of the delta, as described in Section 12220 of the Water Code, but that is not within either the urban limit line or sphere of influence …

“Resources management plan” means the plan adopted by the commission pursuant to Section 29760. (Added by Stats. 2009, 7th Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 7. (SB 1 7x) Effective February 3, 2010.)

“Restoration” means actions which return a degraded or deteriorated area to a level of increased productivity, environmental quality, or beneficial values. (Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 898, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)

“Secondary zone” means all the delta land and water area within the boundaries of the delta not included within the primary zone, subject to the land use authority of local government, and that includes the land and water areas as shown on the map titled “Delta Protection Zones” …

“Sphere of influence line” refers to those boundaries of local governments as defined in Sections 56425 and 56426 of the Government Code. (Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 898, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1993.)

“Unincorporated towns” means the communities of Walnut Grove, Clarksburg, Courtland, Hood, Locke, Knightsen, Collinsville, and Ryde. (Amended by Stats. 2009, 7th Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 8. (SB 1 7x) Effective February 3, 2010.)

“Urban limit line” means that general plan line established and approved by any local government within the delta which delineates boundaries beyond which urban development is not publicly proposed by local government, as of January 1, 1992. (Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 898, Sec. 2…

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the interpretation of this division. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Aquaculture” means a form of agriculture as defined in Section 17 of the Fish and Game Code. Aquaculture products are agricultural products, and aquaculture facilities and land uses shall be treated as agricultural facilities and land uses in all planning and permit-issuing deci…

“Coastal county” means a county or city and county which lies, in whole or in part, within the coastal zone. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Coastal-dependent development or use” means any development or use which requires a site on, or adjacent to, the sea to be able to function at all. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Coastal-related development” means any use that is dependent on a coastal-dependent development or use. (Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1090.)

“Coastal development permit” means a permit for any development within the coastal zone that is required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30600. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Coastal plan” means the California Coastal Zone Conservation Plan prepared and adopted by the California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature on December 1, 1975, pursuant to the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 (…

(a) “Coastal zone” means that land and water area of the State of California from the Oregon border to the border of the Republic of Mexico, specified on the maps identified and set forth in Section 17 of Chapter 1330 of the Statutes of 1976, extending seaward to the state’s oute…

(a) “Commission” means the California Coastal Commission. Whenever the term California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission appears in any law, it means the California Coastal Commission. (b) “Regional commission” means any regional coastal commission. Whenever the term regional …

“Cumulatively” or “cumulative effect” means the incremental effects of an individual project shall be reviewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects. (Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1087, Sec…

“Development” means, on land, in or under water, the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid, or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; ch…

“Energy facility” means any public or private processing, producing, generating, storing, transmitting, or recovering facility for electricity, natural gas, petroleum, coal, or other source of energy. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

(a) “Environmental justice” means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and national origins, with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. (b) “Envir…

“Environmentally sensitive area” means any area in which plant or animal life or their habitats are either rare or especially valuable because of their special nature or role in an ecosystem and which could be easily disturbed or degraded by human activities and developments. (Ad…

“Feasible” means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Fill” means earth or any other substance or material, including pilings placed for the purposes of erecting structures thereon, placed in a submerged area. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Implementing actions” means the ordinances, regulations, or programs which implement either the provisions of the certified local coastal program or the policies of this division and which are submitted pursuant to Section 30502. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Land use plan” means the relevant portions of a local government’s general plan, or local coastal element which are sufficiently detailed to indicate the kinds, location, and intensity of land uses, the applicable resource protection and development policies and, where necessary…

“Local coastal element” is that portion of a general plan applicable to the coastal zone which may be prepared by local government pursuant to this division, or any additional elements of the local government’s general plan prepared pursuant to Section 65303 of the Government Cod…

“Local coastal program” means a local government’s (a) land use plans, (b) zoning ordinances, (c) zoning district maps, and (d) within sensitive coastal resources areas, other implementing actions, which, when taken together, meet the requirements of, and implement the provisions…

“Local government” means any chartered or general law city, chartered or general law county, or any city and county. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Permit” means any license, certificate, approval, or other entitlement for use granted or denied by any public agency which is subject to the provisions of this division. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Person” means any individual, organization, partnership, limited liability company, or other business association or corporation, including any utility, and any federal, state, local government, or special district or an agency thereof. (Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 21…

“Port governing body” means the Board of Harbor Commissioners or Board of Port Commissioners which has authority over the Ports of Hueneme, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego Unified Port District. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Prime agricultural land” means those lands defined in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 51201 of the Government Code. (Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 43, Sec. 5.1. Effective February 17, 1982.)

“Public works” means the following: (a) All production, storage, transmission, and recovery facilities for water, sewerage, telephone, and other similar utilities owned or operated by any public agency or by any utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commissi…

“Residential development project” means a multifamily housing project that consists exclusively of residential uses and includes four or more units. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 22, Sec. 62. (AB 130) Effective June 30, 2025.)

“Sea” means the Pacific Ocean and all harbors, bays, channels, estuaries, salt marshes, sloughs, and other areas subject to tidal action through any connection with the Pacific Ocean, excluding nonestuarine rivers, streams, tributaries, creeks, and flood control and drainage chan…

“Sensitive coastal resource areas” means those identifiable and geographically bounded land and water areas within the coastal zone of vital interest and sensitivity. “Sensitive coastal resource areas” include the following: (a) Special marine and land habitat areas, wetlands, la…

“Special district” means any public agency, other than a local government as defined in this chapter, formed pursuant to general law or special act for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries. “Special district” includes, but is no…

“Special treatment area” means an identifiable and geographically bounded forested area within the coastal zone that constitutes a significant habitat area, area of special scenic significance, and any land where logging activities could adversely affect a public recreation area …

“State university” means the University of California and the California State University. (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 143, Sec. 214.)

“Treatment works” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.) and any other federal act which amends or supplements the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Wetland” means lands within the coastal zone which may be covered periodically or permanently with shallow water and include saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, open or closed brackish water marshes, swamps, mudflats, and fens. (Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.)

“Zoning ordinance” means an ordinance authorized by Section 65850 of the Government Code or, in the case of a charter city, a similar ordinance enacted pursuant to the authority of its charter. (Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 919.)

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this chapter: (a) “Board” means the State Water Resources Control Board. (b) “Local public agency” means any city, county, city and county, or district. (c) “Nonprofit organization” means …