About the Update
Why Are We Updating the General Plan
Communities change over time. New laws are adopted, populations grow, technology evolves, and new challenges emerge.
Updating the General Plan helps Sonoma County prepare for the future by allowing the County to:
- Plan for current and future housing needs
- Improve transportation options
- Reduce wildfire and climate-related risks
- Protect agriculture, natural resources, and open space
- Support local businesses and jobs
- Invest in parks, trails, and community facilities
- Build safer and more resilient communities
The update also helps ensure that the General Plan reflects current State laws and the needs and priorities identified by Sonoma County residents.
California Requires Every County to Have a General Plan
California law requires every city and county to adopt and maintain a comprehensive, long-term General Plan that guides future growth and development.
A General Plan must address several topics, known as elements:
- Land Use: Guides where housing, businesses, agriculture, public facilities, and other land uses are located.
- Circulation: Plans for the movement of people and goods, including roads, transit, bicycle routes, and pedestrian connections.
- Housing: Plans for homes that meet the needs of current and future residents.
- Conservation: Protects natural resources, including water, wildlife, and habitat.
- Open Space: Preserves agriculture, recreation areas, natural resources, and scenic landscapes.
- Noise: Addresses community noise and its effects on quality of life.
- Safety: Prepares communities for wildfire, flooding, earthquakes, climate-related hazards, and other risks.
State law may also require an Environmental Justice Element, or related policies incorporated into other elements, when a community meets certain criteria. Counties may adopt additional elements addressing topics such as climate action, healthy communities, economic development, or agriculture.
State Law
California Government Code Sections 65300–65303.4 establish the legal framework for General Plans and identify the required elements.
How Often Is the General Plan Updated?
Unlike the Housing Element, which State law requires to be updated on a regular schedule, there is no single statewide schedule for comprehensively updating an entire General Plan.
Instead, jurisdictions update their General Plans as communities evolve, laws change, and new local priorities emerge. Individual elements and policies may also be amended between comprehensive updates.
What Is CEQA and Why Is It Part of the Process?
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) helps public agencies understand and disclose the environmental effects of major projects and planning decisions before they are approved.
As part of the General Plan update, the County will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that evaluates how proposed policies may affect topics covered under CEQA. The EIR also identifies ways to avoid or reduce potential environmental impacts whenever feasible.
Preparing the EIR is an important part of creating a well-informed General Plan and includes additional opportunities for public review and comment.
Project Timeline
Project Timeline Milestones
- Project Management and Coordination
- January 2026: Kick-off Meeting
- March 2026: Goal-Setting Workshops
- January 2026 – February 2029: Ongoing project management and coordination
- Community Engagement Program
- April 2026: Community Engagement Program
- January 2027: Community Engagement Summary
- October 2027: Community Engagement Summary
- June 2028: Community Engagement Summary
- January 2026 – February 2029: Community engagement continues throughout the project.
- Public Hearings, Meetings, and Events
- September–October 2026: Public workshops and meetings
- July–August 2027: Public workshops and meetings
- April–May 2028: Public workshops and meetings
- January 2029: Adoption Hearings
- Existing Conditions and Trends Analysis
- April 2026: Administrative and Final Existing Conditions and Trends Report
- June 2026: Community-Facing Summary Report and Key Trends Brief
- Land Use Scenarios
- February–April 2027: Administrative Scenarios Evaluation Technical Memoranda
- May–June 2027: Final Scenarios Evaluation Technical Memoranda
- July 2027: Final Scenarios Workbook
- October 2027: Preferred Land Use Scenario
- General Plan Development
- April 2027: Administrative Scenarios Workbook
- September 2027: Draft Policy Guidance and Crosswalk Matrix
- December 2027: Administrative Draft General Plan
- March 2028: Public Review Draft General Plan
- Environmental Review
- June 2028: Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
- September 2028: Public Draft EIR
- November 2028: Administrative Draft Final EIR
- January 2029: Final EIR
- Final General Plan
- February 2029: Final General Plan and Implementation Plan
- Post-Adoption Outreach
- February 2029: General Plan Summaries
- Zoning Database Amendments
- October 2027 – December 2028: Zoning database amendments
What Happens After Adoption?
Adopting the General Plan is only the beginning! Implementation occurs over many years through:
- Updates to zoning regulations
- Capital improvement projects
- Transportation improvements
- Housing programs
- Environmental protection efforts
- New County ordinances
- Partnerships with community organizations and other agencies
Some projects may begin soon after adoption, while others will be implemented over many years as funding and opportunities become available.
The General Plan serves as the framework that guides future County decisions.
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