For decades, the California Coastal Commission has fought to expand its authority over what property owners can build, repair, and develop along California’s coast. In a landmark unanimous decision, however, the California Supreme Court held that the Commission exceeded its authority when it overrode a county-approved building permit issued to Pacific Legal Foundation client Tim Shea.
Join Pacific Legal Foundation for an inside look at Shear Development Co. v. California Coastal Commission, one of the most significant setbacks to the Commission’s power in decades. This ruling from the California Supreme Court is one of the most meaningful checks on the Commission’s power since Pacific Legal Foundation’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory in Nollan v. California Coastal Commission nearly 40 years ago.
Hear directly from the attorneys behind the case as they discuss how Tim Shea’s determination to challenge the Commission helped secure a precedent-setting victory—not only for his family’s long-delayed development project, but for property owners across California. We’ll explore how this hard-fought win could reshape the relationship between the Commission, local governments, and coastal communities, while empowering Californians to stand their ground against agency overreach.
We’ll also examine legislative reforms that could build on this momentum and help restore greater certainty, accountability, and respect for property rights along California’s coast.
