Fined $2.5 million for blocking access to California beach

John Levy Jr., 74 years old, a tycoon who made his fortune thanks to the pet collar business, built “Levyland”, a dream vacation home next to a lagoon overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the city of Carlsbad, California.

Trouble occurred last October, when the California Coastal Commission (CCC) decided to fine Levy and the related trust fund a sum of $2.5 million, on the grounds that he arbitrarily locked the iron gate on the road leading to the beach, as well as blocking the path leading to the lagoon.

At the hearing on the penalty decision, CCC Commissioner Ray Jackson said that Levy’s behavior directly violated the rights of Californians. “I feel very concerned about this blatant disregard for the law,” Mr. Jackson said, referring to Levy blocking access to the beach.

In response, Mr. Levy said that the locked iron gate was not on his land and that the other path was originally a private road.

This is not the first time there has been a dispute between landowners and the CCC over beach access rights in California. However, this legal battle is attracting the attention of the entire United States, when instead of paying a fine, Levy filed a countersuit against the CCC.

He said that the agency’s authority to impose “huge administrative fines” without proving violations in court is an abuse of power and a serious violation of the constitutional right to fair proceedings.

“They are both investigators, prosecutors, judges and jurors,” Mr. Levy said.

The California Coastal Commission was established in 1972 to protect public coastal access for the public. This agency has had confrontations with many celebrities, including Hollywood mogul David Geffen, forcing him to open the beach entrance in front of his Malibu villa.

In 2014, the California legislature gave the CCC more power, allowing them to impose fines of up to $11,250 per day for each violation. Two years later, the commission used this power for the first time by fining a homeowner $4.2 million.

The dispute between CCC and Levy began in 2017, when the committee asked him to open the iron gate on the trail leading to the beach, or face high fines.

CCC said that although people can access the beach via a nearby stepped path, this route is not convenient enough for people with disabilities or baby strollers.

When Levy decided not to open the gate, the CCC in 2024 issued a termination order against him, and added new charges, including illegally building a pickleball court next to his house.

In the fall of 2024, after more than 3 hours of discussion, CCC commissioners unanimously decided to sanction Levy. After receiving the decision, he reluctantly agreed to open the gate in exchange for the commission reducing the fine to $1.4 million. After that, he also unlocked the path leading to the lagoon.

“This is blatant extortion,” Mr. Levy said afterward. His lawsuit with the CCC is still ongoing and it is unclear when the court will issue a decision.

Lisa Haage, chief of enforcement for the CCC, said in about 90 percent of cases, the commission is able to resolve disputes with landowners without imposing a fine, but Levy’s case is different.

“We don’t care about money. This is a deterrent to protect people’s right to access the beach,” Ms. Haage said.