Carlsbad Resolution of Unpermitted Development at Beachfront Property

The Commission approved staff's recommendation to require a Carlsbad beachfront homeowner to remove unpermitted development in their beach-facing backyard, including bluff grading and retaining walls installed in contradiction to the conditions in their 2016 building permit. This decision came after the Commission rejected an April 2024 attempt by the applicant for after-the-fact approval of these unpermitted developments.

In order to protect the California Coast from rising sea levels over the coming decades, the Coastal Commission has applied a permit condition that prohibits coastal armoring for new development. Armoring makes erosion worse and fixes the back of the beach, limiting coastal resiliency and adaptation options and ultimately drowning the public beach. It is crucial that the Commission uphold this permit condition consistently across the state in order to protect public resources. It is a primary mechanism for ensuring a balance between protecting public resources and private property.