LCP stands for Local Coastal Program. A good place to start learning about LCPs is the California Coastal Commission's own "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)" (PDF).

Since you're already here, we'll do what we can here to give you the 5¢ tour.

The Coastal Act has policies that the Coastal Commission uses when making decisions about permits and when considering LCPs for approval. Coastal cities and counties must include those policies in their Local Coastal Programs. Those policies require (as taken from the FAQ):

• Protect and expand public access to the shoreline and recreational opportunties and resources (including commercial visitor-serving facilities).
• Protect, enhance, and restore environmentally sensitive habitat
  • intertidal and nearshore waters
  • wetlands
  • bays
  • estuaries
  • riparian habitat
  • certain wood and grasslands
  • streams
  • lakes
  • habitat for rare or endangered plants and animals
• Protect productive agricultural lands, commercial fisheries, and archaelogical resources.
• Protect scenic beauty of coastal landscapes and seascapes.
• Establish urban-rural boundaries, direct new development into areas with adequate services to avoid wasteful sprawl.
• Provide for the expansion of industrial ports and electricity generating power plants and other coastal-dependent industrial uses, in an environmentally sound manner.
• Protect against loss of life and property from coastal hazards.

The California Coastal Act requires that each coastal city or county has to have a plan to implement their portion of the Coastal Act.

From the CCC's FAQ,

“Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) are the basic planning tools used to carry out the partnership between the State and local government as stewards of California’s spectacular and precious natural treasure – its 1,100 mile coastline. LCPs identify the location, type, densities, and other groundrules for future development in the coastal zone portions of the 73 cities and counties along the coast.”

“Each LCP includes a land use plan and its implementing measures (e.g., zoning ordinances). Prepared by local government, these program govern decisions that determine the short- and long-term conservation and use of coastal resources.”

“While each LCP reflects unique characteristics of individual local coastal communities, regional and statewide interests and concerns must also be addressed in conformity with Coastal Act goals and policies. Working with local government, the Coastal Commission helps shape each LCP and then formally reviews them for consistency with Coastal Act standards.”

What pieces make up an LCP?

Land use plan (LUP)

Zoning ordinances

Sensitive habitat maps

anything else that helps define the implementing measures

San Mateo County is preparing (as of 2001) to review and update the San Mateo County LCP. The current LCP is available online.

Half Moon Bay is in the midst of updating the Half Moon Bay LCP. This one is not yet available online.

last updated on 4/22/01