Pub. Resources Code, § 29603

Any aggrieved person, including an applicant for a marsh development permit, or the commission, may seek judicial review of any decision made or any action taken pursuant to this division by a local government that is implementing the certified local protection program, or any component thereof, whether or not such decision or action has been appealed to the commission, by filing a petition for writ of mandate in accordance with the provisions of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure within 60 days after the decision or action has become final. The commission may intervene in any such proceeding upon a showing that the matter involves a question of the conformity of a proposed development with the certified local protection program, or any component thereof, or the validity of any action taken by a local government to implement or amend the local protection program, or any component thereof. Any local government may request that the commission intervene. Notice of any such action against a local government shall be filed with the commission within five working days of the filing of such action. When an action is brought challenging the validity of the local protection program, or any component thereof or any amendment thereto, a preliminary showing shall be made prior to proceeding on the merits as to why such action should not have been brought pursuant to the provisions of Section 29602.