Quick Answer
A Coastal Development Permit is required before most construction in the California Coastal Zone — including Pacific Palisades, Venice, Playa del Rey, and all of Malibu. In most of the City of LA's Coastal Zone, the CDP is issued by City Planning (not the Coastal Commission directly) — but projects in "appealable areas" near the shoreline can be appealed to the Commission after the City issues them. For post-fire rebuilds in Pacific Palisades, emergency exemptions allow qualifying like-for-like rebuilds to skip the full CDP process — but only for projects that restore the pre-fire footprint, height, and unit count. Anything larger requires a standard CDP.
The California Coastal Act is one of the most consequential pieces of environmental legislation in state history — and for property owners, architects, and contractors working near the California coast, it is also one of the most consequential permitting requirements they will encounter. In Los Angeles, the Coastal Zone covers a narrow but densely developed band that includes some of the city's most valuable and most fire-affected real estate: Pacific Palisades, Venice, Playa del Rey, and all of neighboring Malibu.
The Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is the Coastal Act's primary regulatory tool. It is not the same as a building permit — it is issued by a different agency (the City of LA's Department of City Planning, not LADBS), under a different legal standard (the California Coastal Act and the City's certified Local Coastal Program), and on a different timeline. Treating the CDP as an afterthought — starting construction under a LADBS permit and addressing the CDP later — is one of the most expensive mistakes a coastal property owner or developer can make.
This guide explains the CDP requirement clearly: the legal authority under the California Coastal Act (Public Resources Code §30000 et seq.), who issues the CDP and under what LCP, when exemptions apply, what the January 2025 fire rebuild emergency exemptions actually cover, and how the CDP process interacts with LADBS plan check so that both approvals arrive on the same schedule rather than sequentially. This guide is for general informational purposes — for complex coastal resource issues or enforcement matters, consult a licensed attorney with California coastal law experience.
What Is the Coastal Zone and Am I In It?
The California Coastal Zone is a geographically defined area along the California coast within which the Coastal Act applies. Its inland boundary is not a uniform distance from the water — it varies based on topography, the extent of coastal resources, and historical legislative decisions. In urban areas, the Coastal Zone is generally 1,000 yards inland from mean high tide; in less-developed areas, it may extend further. The Coastal Zone boundary is parcel-specific, mapped by the California Coastal Commission, and is the controlling legal boundary — not an estimate based on distance from the beach.
Pacific Palisades (City of Los Angeles)
The Coastal Zone in Pacific Palisades covers the area generally seaward of Sunset Boulevard in the south and encompassing the PCH corridor, the bluffs above PCH (including Castellammare), and portions of the hillside neighborhoods that sit above the coastal slope. The boundary runs inland at varying depths. Properties directly on or near PCH are almost certainly within the Coastal Zone; properties in the upper Palisades near Mulholland Drive may not be. The January 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes across the full range of this geography — some in the Coastal Zone, some not.
Venice (City of Los Angeles)
Essentially all of Venice west of Lincoln Boulevard is in the Coastal Zone. This includes the beach, the boardwalk, the canals, Marina Peninsula, and most of the residential areas along Abbot Kinney Boulevard and south Venice. The Venice Coastal Zone has a long and contentious planning history, and the City's Venice-specific LCP policies include detailed provisions for public access, affordable housing preservation, and protection of the remaining canal character.
Playa del Rey and Del Rey (City of Los Angeles)
The beachfront and adjacent residential areas of Playa del Rey are within the Coastal Zone. The inland boundary runs north and east of the primary beach development. The Ballona Wetlands — a significant ESHA — abut the Playa del Rey Coastal Zone and create heightened resource sensitivity for nearby projects.
Malibu (Separate City, Separate LCP)
The entire City of Malibu is within the California Coastal Zone. Malibu has its own California Coastal Commission-certified LCP (certified 2002), so CDPs in Malibu are issued by the City of Malibu's Planning Department — not the City of LA and not LADBS. The Malibu LCP is among the most resource-protective in the state, reflecting the city's ESHA-rich landscape, bluff-edge development challenges, and public access priorities.
To confirm your specific parcel's Coastal Zone status, use the California Coastal Commission's online mapping portal or submit a written inquiry to the City of LA's Department of City Planning, Coastal Branch. Do not rely on general proximity to the water — the boundary is legally defined and parcel-specific.
City of LA vs. Coastal Commission: Who Issues the CDP?
The answer depends on whether the City has a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) and whether the project is in a "retained jurisdiction" or "appealable" area.
City of LA Issues CDP
- City has a certified LCP for Pacific Palisades and Venice
- Most CDP applications for LA projects go to City Planning's Coastal Branch
- Faster local review by staff familiar with the local coastal zone
- 10-working-day appeal window after City issues the CDP
- City's decision is final if no appeal is filed in appealable areas
Coastal Commission Issues CDP Directly
- Tidelands, submerged lands, and public trust lands
- Areas within the Commission's retained original jurisdiction
- Pre-LCP certification areas (where no certified LCP exists)
- Projects appealed to Commission with 'substantial issue' finding
- Commission-direct review: typically 3–12 months
The practical implication: for most Pacific Palisades and Venice projects, you are dealing with the City of LA's Planning Department as the CDP issuing authority — but you must remain aware of the appeal period and the Commission's ability to assert jurisdiction if the project is in an appealable area and an appeal is filed. The LAMC's coastal zone regulations appear in Chapter 1A, Article 1 of the Municipal Code, which implements the City's certified LCP.
CDP for Post-Fire Rebuild in Pacific Palisades: The Emergency Framework
EO N-4-25 + Coastal Commission Emergency Action: Governor Newsom's January 2025 Executive Order N-4-25 suspended certain state permitting requirements to accelerate wildfire rebuilding. The California Coastal Commission subsequently approved emergency authorization resolutions permitting qualifying like-for-like rebuilds in the Palisades Coastal Zone to proceed without a standard CDP — or through an expedited administrative process.
The January 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes and structures, many in the Pacific Palisades Coastal Zone. Under normal Coastal Act rules, rebuilding a fire-destroyed structure in the Coastal Zone requires a CDP because the structure, having been destroyed, is considered new development — not repair or maintenance. This would add months to an already complex rebuilding process.
In response, the California Coastal Commission took two complementary emergency actions: (1) it issued emergency authorization resolutions allowing qualifying like-for-like rebuilds to proceed with an expedited or waived CDP process; and (2) it coordinated with the City of LA to establish a streamlined CDP review track for fire-rebuild projects that do not qualify for the full exemption. EO N-4-25 provided the executive authority to suspend certain Coastal Act procedural requirements during the emergency period.
✓ Qualifies for Emergency Exemption
- Same footprint as pre-fire structure (no expansion)
- Same height envelope (no added stories)
- Same number of residential units
- Fire-resistant construction under Chapter 7A CBC
- Property confirmed destroyed in Jan 2025 Palisades Fire
✗ Requires Full CDP
- Increased footprint beyond pre-fire structure
- Added height or additional stories
- Added residential units (e.g., adding an ADU)
- Substantial design changes to massing or siting
- Development in ESHA or wetland buffer areas
The emergency exemption framework has evolved since January 2025 and its specific terms — which projects qualify, what documentation is required, and what the review timeline is — are subject to periodic revision by the Coastal Commission and the City. We strongly recommend confirming your project's specific eligibility with the City of LA's Coastal Branch and, for appealable-area properties, with the Commission's South Coast District office. Ocean Permits & Development actively tracks the current status of these emergency programs and advises Pacific Palisades rebuild clients on which pathway applies to their parcel. Contact us at +1 (213) 277-8777 for a current assessment. For questions about how the emergency framework affects your specific legal rights, consult a California coastal attorney.
CDP Requirements by Project Type
| Project | CDP Status | Exemption Possible? | Est. Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like rebuild of fire-destroyed structure (qualifying post-Jan 2025) | Emergency exemption or expedited admin CDP | Yes — if same footprint, height, unit count | Days to 4 weeks (exemption determination) |
| Rebuild with footprint expansion, added height, or added units (post-fire) | Full CDP required — no emergency exemption | No | 8–20 weeks (City) or longer if Commission direct |
| New residential construction — non-appealable area | City of LA CDP required | Generally no | 8–16 weeks |
| New residential construction — appealable area | City of LA CDP required + 10-day appeal window | No | 10–20 weeks + potential Commission appeal |
| Residential addition (same footprint, no height increase) | CDP typically required; exemption possible if interior-only | Limited — interior remodel only | 8–16 weeks if CDP required |
| ADU or JADU in Coastal Zone | Ministerial CDP required alongside LADBS permit | No (CDP required; design review limited by state law) | Concurrent with LADBS — 8–14 weeks |
| Interior remodel — no exterior changes, no footprint expansion | Likely exempt | Yes — categorical exemption under LCP | Confirm exemption in writing before starting |
| Like-for-like roof replacement, repair, or maintenance | Typically exempt | Yes — repair/maintenance exemption | Confirm with Planning before starting |
Timelines are estimates under 2026 conditions. Emergency exemption terms for fire rebuild are subject to change. Confirm current eligibility with City of LA Coastal Branch before relying on any exemption. This table is for general guidance only — not legal advice.
The CDP Process — Step by Step
For projects that require a full CDP through the City of LA, here is how the process runs from project concept to final authorization — and how it interacts with the concurrent LADBS building permit process.
- 01
Coastal Zone Boundary Verification
The first step for any project near the coast is confirming whether the specific parcel is within the California Coastal Zone. This is parcel-specific — two adjacent lots on the same street can be on opposite sides of the Coastal Zone boundary. Confirmation sources: the California Coastal Commission's online mapping tool (My Permit Status); the City of LA's ZIMAS (Zone Information and Map Access System), which shows the Coastal Zone overlay; or a written determination request to the City of LA's Department of City Planning, Coastal Branch. Never rely on address proximity to the water alone — properties several blocks inland are sometimes within the Coastal Zone, and properties adjacent to the beach are sometimes outside it due to the boundary's legal description. Document the Coastal Zone determination in writing before preparing any permit applications.
- 02
Appealable Area Determination
Within the Coastal Zone, confirm whether the project parcel is in the non-appealable area (where the City's CDP decision is final, subject only to limited Commission jurisdiction) or the appealable area (where any CDP issued by the City can be appealed to the California Coastal Commission by any aggrieved person or two Commission members within 10 working days of issuance). For projects in the appealable area — which includes tidelands, the 100-foot shoreline band, and the 300-foot coastal stream/wetland buffer — factor the appeal period into the project schedule. A filed appeal does not guarantee Commission reversal, but it does guarantee a delay of 3–9 months while the Commission determines whether the appeal raises a 'substantial issue' under the Coastal Act.
- 03
Exemption Eligibility Analysis
Before preparing a full CDP application, assess whether the project qualifies for a categorical exemption under the City of LA's certified LCP or the Coastal Act itself. Common exemptions: interior remodels without exterior alteration; like-for-like repair and maintenance (same materials, same location); and — for post-January 2025 fire-affected properties — the emergency exemptions approved by the Coastal Commission for qualifying like-for-like rebuilds. If the project qualifies for an exemption, obtain a written exemption determination from the City of LA's Coastal Branch before beginning construction. A written determination protects against future enforcement actions and documents that the owner properly assessed the CDP requirement. Do not self-certify an exemption without City confirmation for any significant project.
- 04
Pre-Application Conference (Recommended for Complex Projects)
For projects that require a full CDP — particularly new construction, substantial additions, ADUs in sensitive locations, and projects near ESHA, bluff edges, or wetlands — a pre-application conference with the City of LA's Coastal Branch or the California Coastal Commission's South Coast District staff (for Commission-direct projects) identifies potential resource conflicts and policy issues before the application is prepared. Pre-application meetings are not required but are highly effective for non-standard projects: they surface concerns about public access, visual resources, hazards, or ESHA that will need to be addressed in the application, and they allow the applicant to structure the project design to resolve those concerns before the formal submittal rather than through correction cycles after it.
- 05
CDP Application Preparation and Submittal
A complete CDP application to the City of LA's Department of City Planning, Coastal Branch includes: a completed CDP application form; project description and statement of Coastal Act consistency (explaining how the project complies with the applicable policies of the City's certified LCP and the Coastal Act); site plan, elevation drawings, floor plans, and grading plans at scales required by the LCP; a public access impact analysis (for projects within 500 feet of the shoreline); a visual impact analysis (for projects visible from public viewing areas); and an ESHA analysis if the parcel is near a designated sensitive habitat area. Incomplete applications are returned before review begins. The application fee is set by the City's Planning fee schedule. For Commission-direct applications (where no certified LCP applies or where the Commission retains original jurisdiction), the application goes to the Commission's South Coast District office instead.
- 06
City Planning Review and CDP Decision
The City of LA's Coastal Branch reviews the application against the policies of the City's certified LCP. For straightforward projects, a Planning staff member may issue an administrative CDP (also called a coastal development permit without a public hearing) if the project is consistent with the LCP and does not raise significant Coastal Act policy concerns. For more complex projects — those near ESHA, those affecting public access, those involving bluff-edge development, or those that require a variance from LCP development standards — the CDP is processed with a public hearing before the Planning Commission or an Area Planning Commission. The decision-making timeline depends on project complexity and the Planning Department's current workload.
- 07
10-Working-Day Appeal Period (Appealable Zone Projects)
For projects in the appealable area, the City's CDP decision triggers a 10-working-day appeal period during which any person may appeal the decision to the California Coastal Commission, or any two Commission members may self-initiate an appeal. Construction may not begin during the appeal period. If no appeal is filed, the City's CDP becomes final on the 11th working day. If an appeal is filed, the Commission schedules a 'substantial issue' hearing — typically within 45–75 days. If the Commission finds no substantial issue, the City's CDP is affirmed and becomes final. If substantial issue is found, the project proceeds to a full de novo hearing before the Commission, which may take an additional 3–9 months. Coordinating the CDP appeal period with the concurrent LADBS plan check and permit issuance process is essential — LADBS will not issue the building permit until the CDP is final.
How Ocean Permits Manages CDP Coordination
Ocean Permits & Development is a women-owned business enterprise (WBE) founded in 2021 by Katherine Amaya. We handle permit expediting exclusively — no design, no construction — which means our work on CDP coordination is conflict-free and entirely focused on moving your project through the approval process as efficiently as the Coastal Act's requirements allow.
For Pacific Palisades fire rebuild projects, we provide: Coastal Zone and appealable-area boundary verification for the specific parcel; assessment of whether the project qualifies for the emergency exemption framework or requires a full CDP; coordination of the CDP application with City Planning's Coastal Branch concurrently with the LADBS building permit plan check (so both approvals arrive in parallel); management of the 10-working-day appeal period; and CDP close-out coordination with the Certificate of Occupancy process at the end of construction.
For Malibu CDP projects, we manage the Malibu Planning Department CDP process separately from our City of LA coastal work. All initial consultations are free. Call +1 (213) 277-8777 or submit a project inquiry online.
Common Questions About Coastal Development Permits in Los Angeles
What is a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) in California?
A Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is a discretionary approval required under the California Coastal Act (California Public Resources Code Division 20, §30000 et seq.) before most development in the California Coastal Zone can occur. The Coastal Act defines 'development' broadly — it includes new construction, additions, grading, changes of use, and even certain demolitions. The CDP requirement exists to ensure that coastal development is consistent with the policies of the Coastal Act, which prioritize public access to the shoreline, protection of coastal resources (wetlands, habitats, scenic views, and water quality), and appropriate siting of development in relation to coastal hazards. The CDP is separate from and in addition to any local building permit — you need both.
Who issues the Coastal Development Permit — the City of Los Angeles or the Coastal Commission?
It depends on whether the city has a certified Local Coastal Program (LCP) and whether the project falls within a 'appealable' or retained-jurisdiction area. The City of Los Angeles has a certified LCP for most of its coastal zone — including Pacific Palisades and Venice — so most CDPs in these areas are issued by the City of LA's Department of City Planning rather than directly by the California Coastal Commission. However, the Commission retains appellate jurisdiction over certain decisions: any CDP issued by the City of LA in an 'appealable area' (generally within 100 feet of mean high tide, tidelands, submerged lands, or within 300 feet of the upper bank of coastal streams) can be appealed to the Commission within 10 working days of issuance. In these appealable areas, a filed appeal — even if ultimately rejected — extends the project timeline by weeks to months. Malibu has its own separately certified LCP, and Santa Monica has its own certified LCP — each city issues its own CDPs under its respective LCP.
What areas in Los Angeles are in the Coastal Zone and require a CDP?
In the City of Los Angeles, the California Coastal Zone includes: Pacific Palisades (the portion seaward of Sunset Boulevard and west of the Topanga Canyon corridor, including the bluffs, Castellammare, the PCH-adjacent properties, and portions of the Palisades above PCH); Venice (essentially the entire neighborhood west of Lincoln Boulevard, including the canals, the beachfront, and Abbot Kinney corridor near the water); Playa del Rey (the beachfront and adjacent areas); and portions of Wilmington and San Pedro near the harbor. The Coastal Zone boundary in LA is mapped by the California Coastal Commission and is parcel-specific — the same block may have parcels both inside and outside the zone. Neighboring municipalities with their own Coastal Zones: Malibu (entire city is within the Coastal Zone under the Malibu LCP), Santa Monica (the western portions under the Santa Monica LCP), El Segundo (limited coastal area), and the unincorporated County of LA areas around Marina del Rey and Malibu Creek State Park. Confirming whether a specific parcel is in the Coastal Zone requires checking the Commission's maps or the City's online zoning tool — never assume based on address alone.
What projects are exempt from the CDP requirement?
The California Coastal Act and local LCPs provide categorical exemptions for certain types of development that are considered low-impact or that the Commission has determined do not adversely affect coastal resources. Common exemptions include: (1) Interior remodels that do not expand the footprint, increase height, or affect exterior appearance — for example, a kitchen or bathroom remodel entirely within the existing building envelope; (2) Like-for-like repair and maintenance — replacing a roof with the same roofing material, repainting, or repairing a structure without expansion; (3) Certain utility work — underground utility replacements that don't involve new above-ground structures; (4) Emergency protective measures authorized by the City and the Coastal Commission. The critical distinction: the exemptions apply to maintenance and repair, not to new construction or substantial alterations. Adding square footage, increasing height, expanding the footprint, adding a new ADU in a location that affects coastal resources, or rebuilding a structure that was demolished (vs. repaired) generally falls outside the exemptions and requires a CDP. After the January 2025 fires, the Coastal Commission approved specific emergency exemptions for fire-affected properties — discussed in the section below. For projects in the appealable zone, consult a permit professional or legal counsel before relying on an exemption determination.
Do I need a Coastal Development Permit to rebuild my Pacific Palisades home after the 2025 fire?
After the January 2025 Palisades Fire, the California Coastal Commission approved emergency exemptions specifically for fire rebuild in the affected Coastal Zone areas. Under these emergency authorizations — paired with Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-4-25, which suspended certain permit requirements to accelerate rebuilding — qualifying like-for-like rebuilds (same footprint, same height envelope, same number of units) may proceed without a full CDP, or with an expedited administrative CDP process instead of the standard discretionary review. The emergency exemption framework is time-limited and applies to properties that were destroyed by the January 2025 fires and are rebuilding to the same pre-fire configuration. Projects that increase the footprint, add height, add units, or make substantial design changes do not qualify for the emergency exemption and require a standard CDP through the City of LA's Planning Department. Because the emergency order framework has evolved since January 2025 and its terms are subject to periodic revision, we strongly recommend confirming your specific project's eligibility with the City of LA's Planning Department and, if the parcel is in an appealable area, with the California Coastal Commission's South Coast District office before relying on the emergency exemption. Ocean Permits & Development actively manages Palisades fire rebuild CDP coordination — we track the current status of the emergency exemption programs and advise clients on which pathway applies to their specific parcel and project scope.
How long does a Coastal Development Permit take to obtain from the City of Los Angeles?
A standard Coastal Development Permit processed by the City of LA Department of City Planning — for a project in the non-appealable Coastal Zone with no significant resource conflicts — typically takes 8–16 weeks from a complete application to decision. Projects in the appealable zone add an automatic 10-working-day appeal period after the City issues the CDP; if an appeal is filed during that window, the project is forwarded to the California Coastal Commission for de novo review, adding 3–9 months to the timeline. Projects triggering a public hearing before the City's Planning Commission or Board of Zoning Appeals take 12–20+ weeks. Emergency exemption determinations for post-fire rebuilds — when the project clearly qualifies — can be obtained in days to a few weeks. CDP processing runs concurrently with LADBS building permit plan check — a project that waits for a final CDP before starting plan check loses 8–16 weeks. We manage both tracks simultaneously.
What is a Local Coastal Program (LCP) and why does it matter?
A Local Coastal Program (LCP) is a planning document — consisting of a Land Use Plan and an Implementation Plan — that a coastal city or county prepares and submits to the California Coastal Commission for certification. Once the Commission certifies an LCP, the local government takes over CDP issuance authority for projects within the non-retained, non-appealable portions of its certified coastal zone. Before an LCP is certified, all CDPs must be issued directly by the Commission. The City of Los Angeles has a certified LCP, which means most CDPs in Pacific Palisades and Venice are issued by the City's Planning Department, not the Commission. Malibu has its own certified LCP — CDPs there are issued by Malibu's Planning Department. Santa Monica has its own certified LCP. The LCP matters because: local CDP review is generally faster and more accessible than going directly to the Commission; local planning staff are familiar with the local coastal zone's specific resource policies; and the appeal structure (City CDP → possible Commission appeal) differs from Commission-direct review. The applicable LCP for your project determines which office you submit to, which standards govern the review, and who the decision-maker is.
What is the 'appealable zone' and how does it affect my project timeline?
Even where a local government has a certified LCP, the California Coastal Commission retains appellate jurisdiction over CDPs issued in certain 'appealable areas.' In the City of Los Angeles, the appealable area includes: all tidelands, submerged lands, and public trust lands; areas within 100 feet of the mean high tide line; areas within 300 feet of the top of the bank or edge of a coastal stream or wetland; and areas where the City's CDP decision involves a Coastal Act issue that the Commission determines is a substantial issue. A filed appeal — by any aggrieved person or two Commission members — is not automatically a denial: the Commission must first vote on whether the appeal raises a 'substantial issue' under the Coastal Act. If they find no substantial issue, the City's CDP stands. If they find substantial issue, the project goes to a full de novo hearing before the Commission. This process takes 3–9 months from the filing of the appeal. For projects in the appealable zone, the 10-working-day appeal period is the most important timing variable at the close of the CDP process — the project cannot be finalized until that period expires without a filed appeal, or until an appeal is resolved.
Do I need a CDP for an ADU in the Pacific Palisades or Venice Coastal Zone?
Yes, in most cases. While California's ADU law (Government Code §65852.2) mandates ministerial approval for qualifying ADUs statewide — meaning local governments cannot impose most discretionary design conditions — the Coastal Act interacts with ADU law in a specific way: the California Coastal Commission has issued guidance that Coastal Development Permits for ADUs in the Coastal Zone remain required even under the state ADU framework, but that the CDP should be processed ministerially (without discretionary design review) for ADUs that qualify under state law. In practice, this means a Coastal Zone ADU project in Pacific Palisades or Venice needs both a building permit from LADBS and a CDP from the City of LA Planning Department, but the CDP should not add significant design conditions beyond what state law allows. The 60-day review deadline under Government Code §65852.2 applies to the building permit; the CDP process runs in parallel. If the ADU is in an appealable area, the post-CDP appeal period still applies and can extend the practical timeline even if the ministerial CDP itself is issued quickly.
What happens if I build in the Coastal Zone without a required CDP?
Building in the Coastal Zone without a required CDP is a violation of the California Coastal Act and is subject to enforcement by both the California Coastal Commission and the local government. Consequences include: a Notice of Violation from the Coastal Commission requiring the unpermitted work to cease; potential orders requiring removal or restoration of the unpermitted development; civil penalties of up to $11,180 per day per violation under current penalty schedules (adjusted for inflation); and recorded enforcement orders that cloud the property's title and complicate future sales or financing. The Commission has a dedicated Enforcement Division and actively investigates coastal violations. Retroactive CDPs — also called after-the-fact CDPs — are possible but difficult and expensive: the Commission staff and hearing officers apply heightened scrutiny to after-the-fact applications, and the Commission may impose substantial restoration conditions as a condition of retroactive approval. For any project that might be in the Coastal Zone, confirming whether a CDP is required before starting work is the only financially prudent approach.
How does the CDP process in Malibu differ from the City of Los Angeles?
Malibu is an incorporated city with its own California Coastal Commission-certified Local Coastal Program (LCP), which means Malibu's Planning Department issues CDPs — not the City of Los Angeles and not LADBS. The entire city of Malibu is within the California Coastal Zone, and Malibu's LCP is particularly stringent because the city's Local Coastal Program was certified in 2002 and reflects the full range of Coastal Act resource policies: public access, ESHA (Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area) protection, visual resource preservation, fire hazard siting, and bluff edge development setbacks. Malibu CDPs typically take longer than City of LA CDPs and involve more detailed resource analysis for projects near the shoreline, bluff edges, wetlands, or ESHA. Malibu also has a larger portion of its coastal zone in appealable areas relative to the overall zone. Ocean Permits & Development handles Malibu CDP coordination through the Malibu Planning Department — a separate practice from our City of LA coastal work.