Assemblymember Zbur Introduces Bill to Modernize Coastal Permitting in Urban, Transit-Rich Communities

AB 1740 modernizes standards for housing, bicycle lanes, outdoor dining and other targeted activities that enhance public access and do not impact sensitive coastal resources.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) today introduced AB 1740, legislation to modernize California's coastal permitting process by reducing unnecessary approval delays for limited activities in urban, transit-rich communities. The bill preserves strong environmental protections and modernizes standards to advance public access by supporting climate-oriented transit and housing policies.

Nearly 50 years after the California Coastal Act was enacted, many coastal cities have embraced climate strategies and invested in public transit and biking, walking, and climate-resilient infrastructure that expand access to the shoreline while reducing environmental impacts. Yet current Coastal Commission permitting practices often inhibit these efforts, requiring lengthy and extensive coastal development permit processes for housing and projects that enhance public access, such as bike lanes, outdoor dining, temporary events and minor building updates. In urban communities with well-established public transit, these practices create costly delays without improving coastal protection.

Sponsored by the City of Santa Monica, Streets for All, and Abundant Housing, AB 1740 allows qualifying urban multimodal communities-cities with extensive transit service, protected bike infrastructure, and adopted climate and safety plans-to locally approve a limited set of activities that do not threaten coastal resources or reduce public access. The bill preserves the California Coastal Commission's full authority over projects that could impact sensitive coastal resources.

"The California Coastal Act is one of our state's most important environmental laws, and is critical to protecting coastal access and our treasured coastal resources," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. "However, in urbanized communities with robust public transit, current Coastal Commission standards must be modernized to achieve the important goals of the Coastal Act. Instead of enhancing public access, current standards often put needless barriers in front of housing, bike lanes, and other projects that achieve climate goals and pose no risk to sensitive coastal resources. This bill modernizes coastal standards in transit-rich, urban areas and allows the Coastal Commission to focus its attention where it matters most-on protecting our beaches, sensitive habitats and coastal ecosystems."

"Santa Monica is rebuilding, and we need modern tools that match how people access the coast today," said Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis. "With the World Cup, the Olympics, and other major events coming to our region, this bill helps focus the Coastal Commission on protecting sensitive coastal resources, while giving transit-rich cities the flexibility to move faster on housing, transportation, and public space."

"For far too long, common sense improvements like bike lanes, sidewalks, bus lanes, or outdoor dining have been held back by the Coastal Commission's strict interpretation of coastal access, meaning exclusively driving to the beach," said Michael Schneider, Founder & CEO, Streets For All. "This bill modernizes that approach and returns local control to cities that have spent the time and resources to build out multimodal infrastructure, and wish to expand upon it."

"Streamlining multi-family housing approvals in existing urbanized areas along California's coast will both address our housing crisis and increase access to our amazing coastal resources," said Azeen Khanmalek, Executive Director of Abundant Housing LA. "That's why we are so excited to co-sponsor AB 1740."

AB 1740 will be heard in policy committee later this session.

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur serves as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the California State Assembly and represents the 51st Assembly District, which includes Universal City, Hollywood, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other portions of Los Angeles.

CONTACT: Vienna Montague, (916) 319-2051, [email protected]