Zoning regulations establish the basic rules for what may be built on a parcel (property), including the kinds of uses (housing, retail, office, industrial, etc), the density or intensity of uses (housing units per acre, square feet allowed per acre), and standards for height, bulk, placement of structures, and other regulations. Rezoning is a change in the zoning regulations for a given parcel or area, to change allowed uses, intensities, and other standards.  

The proposed rezonings are required by State law, as part of the County’s updated Housing Element.  

Under State law, all jurisdictions in California are required to have a Housing Element as part of their General Plan. The Housing Element must establish goals, policies and programs to meet the jurisdiction’s housing needs. Housing Elements must be periodically updated on a schedule established by State law, with processes and contents also established by State law. Updated Housing Elements must be submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for a determination of compliance with State law.  

The County’s updated Housing Element is here. More information on the County’s Housing Element update process is here. 

Changes to zoning in general are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires assessment of a project’s impact on the environment. The Rezoning Program will include a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which will assess all possible environmental impacts of the rezonings, and provide mitigation for any potential impacts.  

Creation and adoption of the new zoning designations will involve public outreach, meetings, and public hearings at the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. All zoning amendments must ultimately adopted by the Board of Supervisors. For parcels in El Granada, on the County’s coast, the amendments must also be submitted to the California Coastal Commission for review and approval. Opportunities to participate in the process will be listed on this website, and notifications will be distributed by email, social media, and other methods.  

In addition, any comments or questions may be submitted at the contact information listed below.  

These rezonings are required by State law. The County cannot choose not to meet its RHNA obligations.  

Rezoning changes the rules for what is allowed on a parcel. However, rezoning is not a development project. There is no development proposed on any of the parcels in the rezoning program. 

No development on any rezoning parcel is currently proposed. The County is not proposing current or future development on any of the parcels in the zoning program. The parcels are not owned by the County, and the County is not a housing developer. Future residential development in the County will depend on private market forces, housing supply and demand, and various other factors