Planning and Environmental Review

For information on​​ active General Plan amendments, please visit the General Plan Amendment page. 

Background​​​​

The General Plan is a set of goals, objectives, policies, implementation measures and maps that form a blueprint for physical development in the unincorporated County.  The plan addresses important community issues such as new growth, housing needs and environmental protection.  Its policies are instrumental in planning infrastructure to accommodate future growth.  State law requires that all California Counties and Cities adopt General Plans which include seven mandatory elements (chapters): Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise and Safety.  Additionally, State law also mandates that if Disadvantaged Communities are present, a jurisdiction must also address Environmental Justice within the General Plan.  Sacramento County has met this mandate by adopting an Environmental Justice Element.  Sacramento County also has eight additional elements: Air Quality, Public Facilities, Hazardous Materials, Agricultural, Scenic Highways, Economic Development, Delta Protection, and Energy. 

​For a more detailed summary of the Sacramento County General Plan, please review the Sacramento County General Plan Basics.

2030 General Plan

On November 9, 2011, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors adopted an updated General Plan.  The planning horizon of the County’s previous General Plan was 1990 to 2010; the updated General Plan’s planning horizon looks out to 2030.  Key changes from the previous version include a new growth management strategy, a stronger focus on addressing existing communities and revitalizing aging commercial corridors, a new Economic Development Element, and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with state law.​

​Contacts: 

For questions regarding implementation of the General Plan contact Todd Smith​, Planning Director at (916) 874-6918 or Lean​ne Mueller​, Senior Planner at (916) 874-6155. ​

Purchase the Adopted 2030 General Plan

How to purchase the General Plan on CD or Hardcopy

Download the Adopted 2030 General Plan

Elements of General Plan - 
Elements, Maps, Background, and Policy Documents​​

A.  General Plan Introduction​

1. Cover Page
   

2. General Plan Components
   

3. Executive Summary
   

B.  General Plan Elements and Policy Maps

1. Agricultural (Amended December 17, 2019)
   

2. Air Quality Element  (Amended October  25, 2022)
   

3. Circulation Element  (Transportation)    (Amended October 25, 2022)

• Transportation Plan - ​Combined​  (Amended December 18, 2019)

• Transportation Plan - Transit  (Amended September 26, 2017)

• Transportation Plan​ - Roadways (Amended December 18, 2019)​
  

4. Conservation ​ (Amended September 26, 2017)                              
   

5. Delta Protection  (Amended September 26, 2017)
   

6. Economic Development  (Amended December 17, 2019)
   

7. Energy  (Amended September 26, 2017)
   

8. Environmental Justice  (Adopted December 17, 2019​)​
   

9. Hazardous Materials  (Amended September 26, 2017)
   

10. Housing Element  (Adopted March 8, 2022) 
    

11. Human Services  (Amended September 26, 2017)

12. Land Use (Amended December 13, 2022)
    

• Land Use Diagram (Map)​  (Amended December 13, 2017)
  

13. Noise​  (Amended December 13, 2022)
    

14. Open Space  (Amended September 26, 2017)

15. Public Facilities​  (Amended December 17, 2019)
    

16. Sa​fety (Amended September 26, 2017)     
    

C.  General Plan Background Sections

1. Air Quality

2. Conservation
   

3. Energy
   

4. Environmental Justice​
   

5. Hazardous Materials

6. Land Use
   

7. Noise
   

8. Open Space
   

9. Public Facilities

10. Safety (Amended May 25, 2022)

D. Policy Plans Adopted Into the General Plan

1. American River Parkway Plan​
   

2. Hazardous Waste Management Plan
   

3. Active Transportation Plan
   

4. Transit Oriented Development Guidelines

​Final Environmental Impact Report - Sacramento County General Plan Update (SCH# 2007082086)​​

• Volume I - Preface - Chapter 9, Transportation and Circulation
• Volume II - Chapter 10, Noise - Chapter 20, Bibliography
• Volume III - Comments and Responses​​​​