A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all lands, all land uses and development activity, and all structures and facilities in the City, whether or not a permit or authorization is required, and shall apply to every person, firm, partnership, corporation, group, governmental agency, or other entity that owns or leases land within the City of Long Beach. No person, company, agency, or applicant shall alter a critical area or buffer except as consistent with the purpose and requirements of this chapter.
B. The City of Long Beach shall not approve any development proposal, as defined below, or otherwise issue any authorization to alter the condition of any land, water, or vegetation, or to construct or alter any structure or improvement in, over, or on a critical area or associated buffer, without first assuring compliance with requirements of this chapter. Any cumulative filling, grading, or clearing activity in excess of twenty (20) cubic yards of material per parcel is also subject to requirements of this chapter.
Development proposals include proposed activity that require any of the following, or any subsequently adopted permits or required approvals not expressly exempted from these regulations:
1. Building Permit.
2. Unclassified Use Permit.
3. Grading Permit.
4. Subdivision.
5. Conditional Use Permit.
6. Variance Approval.
7. Binding Site Plan.
8. Short Subdivision.
9. Right-of-Way Disturbance Permit Shoreline Variance.
10. Public Agency or Utility Exception.
When an applicant knows or suspects that critical areas are located on or near the subject property, the applicant shall contact the City prior to applying for development permits. Disclosure of critical areas early will reduce delays during the permit review process.
In addition to information required for a development permit, any development activity subject to provisions of this chapter may be required to submit a Critical Areas Report as described in this chapter.
C. Properties and activities subject to this title may also be subject to other regulations. In the event of any conflict within this title or between this title and any other regulation of the City, the regulation that provides the greater protection for the particular critical area shall apply.
D. Failure to comply with provisions of this chapter shall cause the violator to be subject to enforcement procedures under this chapter and the applicable requirements of the Long Beach City Code, including the provisions of Title 14, Penalties. (Ord. 985, 10-5-2020)