Oil & Gas Leases

Last Updated: July 7, 2026

The Commission manages 10 active offshore oil and gas production-related leases in state waters, excluding Long Beach Unit, West Wilmington, and other granted public trust lands. Of those, nine are producing leases and one, PRC 3413, supports production through injection. These are what remain of the more than 60 originally issued. These leases were issued prior to the catastrophic 1969 oil spill from Platform A in federal waters off Santa Barbara County, and some predate the formation of the Commission. Between 2010 and 2014, the bulk of the approximately $300 million generated annually for the state’s General Fund from oil and gas agreements was from these offshore leases. In 1921, the Legislature created the first tidelands oil and gas leasing program. Between 1921 and 1929, approximately 100 permits and leases were issued, and over 850 wells were drilled in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. In 1929, the Legislature prohibited any new leases or permits. In 1933, however, the prohibition was partially lifted in response to an alleged theft of tidelands oil in Huntington Beach. It wasn’t until 1938, and again in 1955, that the Legislature would allow new offshore oil and gas leasing. Except for limited circumstances, the Legislature has consistently placed limits on the areas that the Commission may offer for lease, and in 1994, placed the entirety of California’s coast off-limits to new oil and gas leases.

Last Reviewed: June 11, 2026

Fiscal Year 2024-2025