California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 29509

(a) When immediate action by a person performing a public service is required to protect life and public property from imminent danger, or to restore, repair, or maintain public works, levees, dikes, utilities, or services destroyed, damaged, or interrupted by natural disaster, serious accident, or in other cases of emergency, no permit from the commission shall be required prior to commencing such action if within three days of the disaster or the discovery of the danger, whichever occurs first, the person performing such action notifies the executive director of the commission of the type and location of the work undertaken pursuant to such action. Upon such notification, the executive director of the commission may waive the requirements for a permit or other authorization for such work. However, this section does not authorize the permanent erection of structures valued at more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(b) The commission shall provide, by regulation, for the issuance of marsh development permits by the executive director of the commission, without compliance with the procedures specified in this chapter, in cases of emergency, other than an emergency as provided in subdivision (a) of this section, or for minor repairs or improvements.