AB 2051 is Now Law: What Comes Next for Coastal Resilience Planning

On September 27, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2051, advancing California’s effort to improve permitting for coastal resilience and sea level rise adaptation projects.

As discussed in our July 2026 deep dive of AB 2051, these projects frequently require approvals from numerous local, regional, state, and federal agencies, which can increase costs and extend project timelines. AB 2051 creates a structured process for addressing these challenges while maintaining California’s environmental protections.

How AB 2051 Will Move Permitting Reform Forward

The law directs the California Natural Resources Agency to convene a multiagency Coastal Resilience Permitting Working Group to develop a roadmap for administrative and legislative reforms. The roadmap will explore opportunities to:

• Simplify applications and create more predictable review timelines
• Improve interagency coordination and expand programmatic permitting approaches
• Develop more consistent permitting and mitigation standards across agencies
• Address staffing and funding needs within permitting agencies

A complementary Coastal Resilience Permit Advisory Group will provide stakeholder input to support the Working Group’s deliberations, including participation by local governments, California Native American tribes, ports, infrastructure agencies, businesses, environmental organizations, and other interested parties in the process. Public workshops will allow stakeholders to share permitting challenges and provide feedback on proposed reforms.

What Comes Next

AB 2051 begins a multiyear effort to identify and advance coastal resilience permitting reforms, with the Coastal Resilience Permit Advisory Group convening by April 1, 2027, and the Coastal Resilience Permitting Roadmap due by July 1, 2028. Coastal resilience projects should continue moving forward under existing permitting requirements. While AB 2051 establishes a formal process for identifying permitting improvements, meaningful changes will depend on the recommendations developed by agencies and stakeholders and any subsequent administrative or legislative actions.

ESA’s Climate Change and Resilience team will continue tracking implementation of AB 2051 and the opportunities it creates for coastal communities, especially in light of the recent El Niño Emergency Declaration. To learn how we can support your project through planning and permitting, contact Principal Coastal Planner Elijah Davidian, AICP, LEED AP, or Climate Planning Services Director Jeff Caton, PE, LEED AP.