Sonoma County General Plan Update

The County's current General Plan 2020 was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2008. Since its adoption, significant changes have occurred in the including changing conditions related to public health, climate change, equity, costs of land, and housing prices. Meanwhile, State laws regarding what needs to be covered in the General Plan have also changed. Phase 1 of General Plan Sonoma will establish an approach to update the General Plan to address these changes based on robust community engagement and a careful review of the current General Plan. The Phase 1 work will result in the creation of a detailed plan for Phase 2 of the General Plan Update. The Phase 1 work is expected to be completed in 2025.

On this page:

• What Is the General Plan?
• Planning Process
• Project Schedule
• Community Engagement Activities
• Documents and Reports
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Us

The Sonoma County General Plan is a central policy document that provides the basic or essential framework for all zoning and land use decisions. It directs the patterns of land use throughout the unincorporated county based on the priorities of its residents and stakeholders. Sonoma County General Plan 2020 is being updated to reflect the evolving conditions of the county and region over the past 16 years, as well as to bring it into compliance with current State law requirements. The updated General Plan will help the Sonoma County community create and achieve a shared vision for future preservation, growth, and change that is environmentally, economically, and equitably feasible and sustainable.

Typically, a General Plan begins with a vision statement and then establishes goals, objectives, policies, and programs that will implement that vision. These issues are organized into a series of topic-specific “elements” or chapters of the General Plan. State law requires General Plans to address the following elements: land use, circulation and mobility, housing, conservation, open space, noise, safety, and environmental justice. These elements can be combined or presented in any order that best fits the community. Additional elements can be added to the General Plan depending on local needs and goals.

The General Plan also includes area plans that create more specific policies for smaller geographic areas. This update process will retain the County’s existing area plans, such as the Bennett Valley Area Plan, South Santa Rosa Area Plan, and Petaluma Dairy Belt Area Plan, but may call for new area plans to be developed or for existing plans to be updated.

General Plan Topics

Sonoma County General Plan 2020 addresses all State-required elements, except for environmental justice, which is a topic required by a State law passed in 2016. It also includes four optional elements: Agricultural Resources, Water Resources, Air Transportation, and Public Facilities and Services. The current General Plan has a total of ten elements. As part of the update process, some elements may be combined or reorganized. The existing General Plan elements are listed and described below.

Land Use

The Land Use Element describes where different types of land uses may be established in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. It presents this information through a set of nine sub-county planning area land use maps, while also establishing the allowed density and intensity for each land use designation. This element also includes goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs to guide how land uses can be developed throughout the county and within each planning area.

Housing

The Housing Element determines the future housing needs to accommodate projected growth, along with policies and programs to encourage the development of housing for all income levels, meet the special shelter needs of specific population groups, and maintain and improve the quality of housing and the development of diverse types of housing. The Housing Element was updated separately from the rest of the General Plan due to special timing requirements by the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on the Sonoma County Housing Element 2023 - 2031, please visit the Housing Element website.

Agricultural Resources

The Agricultural Resources Element includes guidelines and policies for lands that are designated for agricultural use. This element includes policies that address multiple agricultural topics, including the marketing of agricultural products, stabilization of agriculture at the edge of urban areas, limitations on the intrusion of residential uses, location of agricultural services and visitor-serving uses, provision of farmworker housing, streamlining of permit procedures for agricultural uses, and recognition of the aquaculture and horse industries as agricultural endeavors.

Open Space and Resource Conservation

The Open Space and Resource Conservation Element outlines goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs preserving open spaces, protecting natural and cultural resources, and ensuring access to outdoor recreational opportunities. Open space policies address parks, trails, and bikeways. Natural resource policies address topics such as soils, forests and timber, biotic resources, geothermal resources, mineral resources, energy resources, and air quality. Archaeological, cultural, and historical resources are also addressed in this element.

Water Resources

The Water Resources Element recognizes the importance of water to the environment, economy, agriculture, and overall quality of life in Sonoma County. This element includes policies that address surface and groundwater, water conservation and reuse, public water systems, and water quality.

Public Safety

The Public Safety Element sets special limitations and procedures for development projects in areas subject to natural hazards. Safety hazards addressed in this element include seismic and other geologic hazards, flooding, susceptibility to wildland fires, and hazardous materials. The Public Safety Element is currently being updated under a separate effort but will be integrated with this General Plan Update. Visit the Environmental Justice and Safety Elements Updates website for more information on the Public Safety Element Update.

Circulation and Transit

The Circulation and Transit Element addresses the location and extent of planned transportation routes and facilities and includes goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs affecting the mobility of residents, businesses, and visitors.

Air Transportation

The Air Transportation Element expresses policies related to the public use of airports in the county, including compatibility of land uses in adjacent areas. The element focuses on the Sonoma County Airport and contains policies related to the types and amounts of aviation activities to be accommodated and the facilities needed to serve them.

Public Facilities and Services

The Public Facilities and Services Element addresses public services related to the physical development of the county, including water, wastewater management, public education, parks and recreation, fire protection, solid waste management, utilities, and youth and family services.

Noise

The Noise Element evaluates existing and projected future noise conditions related to highways, airports, and other sources. This element includes policies and standards to assure noise compatibility in current and land development.

Environmental Justice

The Planning for Healthy Communities Act (SB 1000) was enacted in 2016 and requires cities and counties to incorporate environmental justice into their General Plans. Sonoma County General Plan 2020 currently does not have an Environmental Justice Element. Through a separate effort, Sonoma County is developing a new Environmental Justice Element, which will involve identifying Environmental Justice Communities; assessing their vulnerability to pollution and other environmental burdens; developing policies to invest in their health, safety, and resilience; and promoting meaningful civic engagement. Visit the Environmental Justice and Safety Elements Updates website for more information on the new Environmental Justice Element.

General Plan Audit

Phase 1 of General Plan Sonoma will begin with an audit to evaluate Sonoma County General Plan 2020. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify changes needed to comply with State law, resolve any inconsistencies across county planning documents, eliminate redundancies, and reflect current conditions in the county. This audit will evaluate all goals, objectives, policies, and implementation programs in the existing General Plan to determine which should be kept, revised, or eliminated in preparation for the upcoming update.

Community Outreach and Engagement

Another early task for Phase 1 of General Plan Sonoma will be to prepare a Community Engagement Plan that will provide a framework for gathering community input to guide the General Plan Update and its vision. Community engagement will be conducted in two stages. First will be centralized workshops and online engagement focused on key topics. Next, we will host focused engagement with local communities throughout the county. Special effort will be given to underserved  populations and community advisory bodies. All engagement activities will be conducted in English and Spanish. The General Plan Sonoma Phase 1 community outreach and engagement process includes the following activities:

• Centralized and Virtual Workshops. A series of centralized in-person and virtual community workshops will engage community members and seek broad input on various General Plan topics.
• Online Surveys. Online surveys will be conducted for each broad topic to solicit additional community feedback.
• Workshops in Local Communities. A series of in-person and virtual meetings will be conducted within various unincorporated communities. The Community Engagement Plan will identify the communities for these local workshops.
• Focus Groups with Underserved Communities: Focus group discussions with underserved communities will investigate their specific needs and issues for General Plan Sonoma to address. These communities may include and overlap with Environmental Justice Communities identified as part of the Environmental Justice Element planning process. The General Plan project team will partner with local community-based organizations to connect and engage with these underserved communities.
• Community/Municipal Advisory Council Meetings: These meetings provide a local forum where residents can attend meetings in their community and talk about issues that are important to them. The General Plan project team will supplement community input from local workshops with meetings with established Community and Municipal Advisory Councils.
• Informal Engagement. The General Plan project team will connect with community members through a variety of informal activities, such as pop-up events, community and small-group meetings, and neighborhood chats.
• Community-Wide Survey. Near the end of the outreach and engagement process, a statistically valid community-wide survey of county residents will be conducted to confirm the set of focused topics for General Plan Sonoma.

General Plan Scope Report

The General Plan Scope Report will present the findings of the General Plan 2020 audit and community engagement to complete Phase 1 of the update. This report will provide recommendations for Phase 2, including recommendations for continued outreach and engagement, recommended changes to the General Plan, and key policy issues that should be the focus for the Phase 2 work.

Phase 1 of General Plan Sonoma kicked off in June 2024. The initial tasks are to prepare the General Plan Audit and Community Engagement Plan, which will happen between July 2024 and January 2025. Community engagement will occur between January and May 2025, followed by preparation of the General Plan Scope report and conclusion of Phase 1 in August 2025.

Community engagement activities such as community workshops and events are important to the General Plan Update process. As described in the General Plan Sonoma Phase 1 Planning Process Phase 1 of General Plan Sonoma will involve various engagement activities such as workshops, online surveys, focus groups, pop-up events, community events and advisory bodies, and a community-wide survey. Future workshops and events will be posted once the date, time, and location have been confirmed.

Engagement activities are expected to start in winter 2025. We encourage your participation throughout the process!

If you are interested in staying up to date, please join our email list to receive General Plan Update emails. Be sure to check back here for community engagement updates and activities!

General Plan Update documents will be posted here when available. The first Board of Supervisors meeting is currently scheduled for October 15th. 

• October 15, 2024 Board of Supervisors Materials (Coming Soon)

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the General Plan Update: 

We want to hear from you!

Join our email list to receive project news and updates!

Please contact us at GeneralPlan@sonoma-county.org with  any questions or concerns related to General Plan Sonoma.

Project Team

• Haleigh Frye, Project Manager
• Doug Bush, Outreach Lead
• Ross Markey, Comprehensive Planning Manager