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Ventura County Local Coastal Program Update

A collage of three nature scenes showing distinct ecosystems: a wetland with swans, a rocky outcrop with vegetation, and a coastal area during sunset, highlighting diverse habitats within the local region.

A portion of the unincorporated Ventura County is within the Coastal Zone (approximately 29 miles of coastline) and is subject to the Coastal Act. These areas are regulated by the Local Coastal Program (LCP), which is the document that defines the County’s goals, policies, programs, and land use regulations for the coastal zone. The County of Ventura updates the LCP to achieve conformance with state and federal laws and with current County and California Coastal Commission standards. LCP updates require approval by the Board of Supervisors and the California Coastal Commission before the update becomes effective.  

This webpage provides information on LCP amendment process, which can be accessed by clicking on the following links. 

  1. What’s New
  2. What’s in Progress
  3. Local Coastal Program Certification Process
  4. Local Coastal Program Maps

1. What’s New?

On August 13, 2026, the Executive Director of the Coastal Commission determined that the Local Coastal Program amendment addressing the topics of coastal hazards and sea level rise was legally adequate, and the Coastal Commission concurred with the Executive Director’s determination. Thus, the Coastal Hazards and Sea Level Rise Amendment became effective the same day. The updated electronic versions of the Coastal Area Plan and Coastal Zoning Ordinance can now be downloaded at the following links: 

Ventura County Local Coastal Program Documents. For more on the Coastal Hazards and Sea Level Rise Amendment, visit the dedicated project webpage: “VC Resilient Coastal Adaptation Project.”

2. What's In Progress

The Planning Division is preparing two amendments to the Local Coastal Program: 

  • Incorporate permit standards for energy-related uses (e.g. solar power generation and battery energy storage) and uses in the Military Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone. Visit the project webpage at Energy and Military Land Use Compatibility Roadmap. 

3. Local Coastal Program Certification Process  

Land use development in the Coastal Zone (click here for map links) is governed by the terms and conditions of the Ventura County Local Coastal Program (LCP), which consists of the Coastal Area Plan (CAP), the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO), and two Categorical Exclusion Orders – all of which are subject to the Coastal Act (Pub. Res. Code § 30000 et seq.) and corresponding Coastal Regulations (14 Cal. Code of Regs. § 13000 et seq.). 

Since it was first enacted in 1983, amendments were made to the CZO to address specific land use policy issues (e.g., second dwelling units and camps). For example, the Board adopted new policies/standards for reasonable accommodation as a part of the Housing Element in 2011 (Coastal Act § 30510 et seq.). 

The Categorical Exclusion Order was incorporated into the CZO in 1987. The Categorical Exclusion Order is a legislative action enacted by the Coastal Commission in accordance with § 30610 of the Coastal Act. It exempts certain categories of development from Coastal Development Permit requirements because they have no possibility of causing environmental impacts. The Categorical Exclusion Order supersedes the County’s CZO, which means that the regulations apply regardless of whether the Categorical Exclusion Order is integrated in the local zoning ordinance. 

Amendments to the LCP follow an extensive process, including multiple opportunities for public input. First, the amendments must be prepared and approved by the local jurisdiction. Next, the amendment is presented to the Coastal Commission for approval. If the amendment is certified by the Coastal Commission, the following steps must be completed before the amendment becomes effective: 

  1. The local government must complete any required follow-up actions. 
  2. The Executive Director of the Coastal Commission must determine, in writing, that these actions are legally adequate. 
  3. The Coastal Commission must concur with the Executive Director’s determination. 

4. Coastal Maps 

Please check back to this website to find the latest information.

Contact Us

Abigail Convery

Case Planner
Abigail.convery@venturacounty.gov
(805) 654-2489  

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