California Coastal Act of 1976: coastal development.

The California Coastal Act of 1976 establishes the California Coastal Commission and requires the commission to implement and administer a coastal development permit process within the coastal zone, as defined. For purposes of the act, "development" is defined to mean, on land or in water, among other things, 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; change in the density or intensity of use of land, as described; and any other division of land, as specified. This bill would provide that "development" does not include ongoing and routine agricultural practices, as described, unless the commission or a local government with development review authority pursuant to a certified local coastal program, as specified, makes a finding that the activity has a substantial impact on protected coastal resources.