(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall apply:

(1) “Applicant” means a public agency or a nonprofit organization, as that term is defined in Section 31013.

(2) “Habitat restoration project” means a project proposed for the sole purpose of restoring or enhancing the ecological function, biodiversity, or resiliency of native habitat.

(3) “Public access project” means a project with the primary purpose of creating, enhancing, expanding, or restoring public amenities that provide access to or along the coast.

(b) At the request of an applicant for a coastal development permit, a city or county may waive or reduce a coastal development permit fee for a public access project or habitat restoration project. If a city or county rejects a fee waiver or fee reduction request, the applicant may, notwithstanding Section 30519, submit the coastal development permit application directly to the commission.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impact, address, or change a local coastal plan or program.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 280, Sec. 1. (AB 2160) Effective January 1, 2023.)