Rancho Palos Verdes Moves to Ban Construction in Landslide Areas

Rancho Palos Verdes, August 12, 2025

News Summary

Rancho Palos Verdes is taking significant steps to enhance public safety by permanently prohibiting new residential construction in landslide-prone areas. Following support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for a related bill, the city council is set to introduce an ordinance formalizing this construction ban. Residents in these zones may still repair their homes, but concerns of property value impacts linger. As the city addresses extensive landslide damage, this move aims to protect community safety and ensure comprehensive emergency management.

Rancho Palos Verdes Takes Steps to Ban New Construction in Landslide Areas

In a crucial move aimed at enhancing public safety, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) is looking to permanently prohibit new residential construction and home additions in areas prone to landslides. This decision follows the support received from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for Assembly Bill 986, led by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, which designates landslides as a natural disaster eligible for emergency assistance under the California Emergency Services Act.

The Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the bill on August 5, highlighting the need for affected communities like RPV to have clearer access to state support for emergencies related to landslide incidents. The bill passed through the Assembly in June and has made its way through various committees, with a Senate appropriations committee hearing planned for August 18.

City Council Moves Forward with Ordinance

In conjunction with the bill’s legislative progress, the RPV city council is poised to introduce an ordinance that formalizes the ban on new developments in designated landslide zones. The council discussed that property owners would still be allowed to replace, restore, or repair their existing homes within the current boundaries of their properties. This stipulation offers some relief to those living on the fringes of the recently updated landslide complex boundaries, which now includes eight additional properties—seven in Seaview and one in the Portuguese Bend Beach Club.

Additionally, property owners in these zones will have an opportunity to apply for exclusions from the landslide regulation area, provided they meet strict safety standards. The first reading of the ordinance was conducted recently, with a second reading and vote scheduled for the upcoming city council meeting on August 19. If passed, the new regulations will take effect within 30 days.

Addressing the Portuguese Bend Landslide

Alongside the pending ordinance, city officials have initiated plans to create a new geological hazard abatement district (GHAD) specifically designed to address the Portuguese Bend Landslide. The city intends to issue a Request for Proposals to engage a geologist who will conduct an engineering report and devise a comprehensive landslide abatement plan. Public meetings will be organized following the completion of this report, allowing community members to engage in discussions about the new GHAD, which promises to enhance land management practices.

Recent reports from city officials indicate that there have been two consecutive years of unprecedented landslide movement, resulting in extensive damage to homes, utilities, and infrastructure. This ongoing crisis has left approximately 40 homes red-tagged—marked as uninhabitable—and 38 others yellow-tagged, indicating major structural damage. As a precautionary measure, the permanent ban on construction in these vulnerable areas is seen as necessary to protect residents and maintain safety.

Public Response and Concerns

The city’s past experience with landslide issues dates back to a significant event in 1956, which was exacerbated by construction activities. Efforts for long-term mitigation are already underway, including a deep dewatering program aimed at reducing the risk of future landslides. Similar restrictions have been put in place in the past during previous landslide crises; however, those regulations were weakened due to lawsuits and exemptions.

Looking Ahead

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Rancho Palos Verdes Development Ban in Landslide Zone
• Wikipedia: Landslide
• Daily Breeze: Rancho Palos Verdes to Ban New Construction in Landslide Area
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Landslide
• Patch: RPV Officials Look to Ban New Construction in Landslide Zones
• Google Search: Rancho Palos Verdes landslide
• The Architect’s Newspaper: Rancho Palos Verdes Ban on New Construction in Landslides
• Google News: Rancho Palos Verdes landslide moves
• CBS News: NASA Mapping Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide Movement