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Dock, pier and float rules in Malibu, California

Malibu, Los Angeles County · Ordinances checked 2026-10-05 · Reviewed · 3 cited sections

Not specifically regulated

Malibu's Local Coastal Program rules we reviewed have no standards for private docks, piers or floats; the city fronts open ocean beach with no harbor. They do say docks near the shore aren't exempt from a coastal development permit, and that any development on tidelands or submerged lands needs a permit from the California Coastal Commission itself.

Docks near the beachNot exempt from a coastal development permit [1]
Work on tidelands or submerged landsCoastal Commission permit required, plus city approvals [2]
Seawalls for new developmentNot permitted (except for a new septic system) [3]

No dock standards

Our source is Malibu's Local Implementation Plan as of September 2020. Malibu's certified Local Implementation Plan (LIP) has no size limits, design standards or zones for private docks, piers or floats. Malibu's shoreline is open Pacific coast with no harbor, bay or lagoon frontage set aside for private boat docks, and the LIP's beachfront rules focus on homes, decks, stairways and seawalls.

What the LIP does say

  • Coastal development permit: the exemption for improvements to existing homes doesn't cover significant detached structures such as garages, fences, shoreline protective works or docks on property between the sea and the first public road, or within 300 ft of the beach [1]. A dock there would need a coastal development permit.
  • Tidelands: any development on tidelands, submerged lands or public trust lands needs a permit from the California Coastal Commission, in addition to any city approvals [2]. A pier extending over the ocean would fall here.
  • Beachfront limits: stairways from decks to the beach can't extend seaward of the deck stringline. Shoreline protective structures aren't allowed to protect new development [3].

Other agencies

Because a pier or float would sit on state tidelands, expect to need approvals from the Coastal Commission, the State Lands Commission (lease), and likely the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. See the state rules section for details. Practically, new private piers on Malibu's open coast are rare.

See how Malibu compares with 8+ other California towns on docks, piers & floats →

Next steps

  1. Contact the California Coastal Commission (South Central Coast district) about any structure that would extend onto the beach below the mean high tide line or over the water.
  2. Contact the California State Lands Commission about a lease for use of state tidelands.
  3. Ask the City of Malibu Planning Department (310-456-2489) about any related city coastal development permit for landside work.

Common questions

Can I build a dock or pier in Malibu, California?
Malibu's Local Coastal Program rules have no standards for private docks, piers or floats, and the city fronts open ocean beach with no harbor. A dock near the shore isn't exempt from a coastal development permit, and new private piers on Malibu's open coast are rare.
Who issues permits for a pier in Malibu, California?
Any development on tidelands, submerged lands or public trust lands needs a permit from the California Coastal Commission itself, plus any city approvals. Expect to also need a State Lands Commission lease and likely U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval.
Are seawalls allowed for new homes in Malibu, California?
No. Under Malibu's Local Implementation Plan, shoreline protective structures aren't allowed to protect new development, except for a new septic system.

California state rules for docks and piers

A private dock or pier often needs several approvals beyond a city building permit.

  • State Lands Commission lease: the Commission controls state-owned tidelands and submerged lands and the beds of navigable rivers, lakes and bays (Pub. Res. Code §6301). A private dock or pier on those lands generally needs a lease. The Commission must charge rent for private recreational piers on state lands, based on local fair rental values (§6503.5). In some harbors the Legislature has granted tidelands to a city, county or port district, which manages them instead.
  • Coastal development permit: in the coastal zone a dock needs a CDP (§§30106, 30600). On tidelands, submerged lands or public trust lands, the Coastal Commission issues it, even where the city has a certified Local Coastal Program (§30519(b)).
  • San Francisco Bay (BCDC): around the Bay you need a permit from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to place fill. Under the McAteer-Petris Act, "fill" includes pilings, structures on pilings, and floating docks moored for long periods (Gov. Code §66632). BCDC's jurisdiction covers the Bay and a 100-foot shoreline band (§66610). The Coastal Act's coastal zone does not include BCDC's area.
  • Streams and lakes: work that changes the bed, bank or channel of a river, stream or lake requires notifying the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Fish & Game Code §1602).
  • Federal: structures in navigable waters generally need a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
  • Local: many harbors and marinas also require a city or harbor-district permit.

State sources: Pub. Res. Code §6301 (State Lands Commission jurisdiction) · Pub. Res. Code §6503.5 (rent for private recreational piers) · State Lands Commission, Rent and Benchmark Information · Pub. Res. Code §30600 (coastal development permit required) · Pub. Res. Code §30519 (Commission keeps tidelands permit authority) · Gov. Code §66632 (BCDC permits; fill includes floating docks) · Gov. Code §66610 (BCDC jurisdiction) · Fish & Game Code §1602 (streambed alteration notification)

What the ordinance says

Exact text from Malibu's published ordinances. Section numbers are as printed in the source.

  1. LIP Sec. 13.4.1(B)(4), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 277
    On property not included in subsection (B)(1) above that is located between the sea and the first public road paralleling the sea or within 300 feet of the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high tide of the sea where there is no beach, whichever is the greater distance, or in significant scenic resources areas as designated by the City or Coastal Commission, improvement that would result in an increase of 10 percent or more of internal floor area of an existing structure or an ad- ditional improvement of 10 percent or less where an improvement to the structure had previously been undertaken pursuant to this section or Public Resources Code section 30610(a), increase in height by more than 10 percent of an existing structure and/or any significant non-attached struc- ture such as garages, fences, shoreline protective works or docks.
  2. LIP Sec. 13.3(D), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 276
    All development proposed or undertaken on tidelands, submerged lands or on public trust lands, whether filled or unfilled, or within any state university or college within the coastal zone shall require a permit issued by the California Coastal Commission in accordance with procedures specified by the Coastal Commission, in addition to other permits or approvals required by the City.
  3. LIP Sec. 10.4(K), Malibu LCP Local Implementation Plan (current through Supp. 13, Sept. 2020; Ord. 461, 4-13-2020), p. 250
    Shoreline and bluff protection structures shall not be permitted to protect new development, except when necessary to protect a new septic system and there is no feasible alternative that would allow residential development on the parcel.
This page summarizes Malibu's posted ordinances as of 2026-10-05. Ordinances are amended, and individual lots can have overlays, subdivision covenants, or HOA rules that are stricter. Confirm with Code Enforcement (Community Development / Planning), 23825 Stuart Ranch Road (310-456-2489 ext. 484) before you build. Spot an error?