California Coastal Zone Management Program

Program Overview

The California Coastal Management Program was approved by NOAA in 1978 and is administered by three state agencies:

• The California Coastal Commission manages development along the California coast except San Francisco Bay.
• San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission oversees development in San Francisco Bay.
• The California Coastal Conservancy purchases, protects, restores, and enhances coastal resources, and provides access to the shore.

The primary authorities for the California Coastal Management Program are the California Coastal Act, McAteer-Petris Act, and Suisan Marsh Preservation Act.

The California coastal zone generally extends 1,000 yards inland from the mean high tide line. The coastal zone in San Francisco Bay includes the open water, marshes, and mudflats of greater San Francisco Bay, and areas 100 feet inland from the line of highest tidal action.