Understanding the Basics of Land Use Decision-making

Looking for plain-language guides on the core elements of land use decision-making in California? The Institute has resources to help elected officials, planning commissioners and residents alike, including one on the important role land use decisions play in community health.

• Understanding the Basics of Land Use and Planning: Guide to Local Planning provides an overview of the planning framework, describes emerging issues in local planning, outlines some of the important legal issues that local officials should consider when they make land use and planning decisions, and includes references to a wide variety of resources that readers can access to learn more about particular topics. Learn more»

Digital copy (for personal use only)»

• Understanding the Basics of Land Use and Planning: Guide to Planning Healthy Neighborhoods identifies the reasons to be concerned about the relationship between health and the built environment, offers options for transforming that concern into a vision for a healthier community, and provides strategies and examples of how to translate that vision into action. Learn more »
  
      Digital copy (for personal use only)»

• Understanding the Basics of Land Use and Planning: Glossary of Land Use and Planning Terms is a comprehensive guide that helps local officials and the public understand the terms that are commonly used in the process of making local land use and planning decisions. Learn more»

Digital copy (for personal use only)»

Ordering Information

A set of all three publications, with a separate four-page checklist outlining the “nuts and bolts” of the process of reviewing a typical application for development, are available for $30. Individual copies are available for $10 each. They are also available for download and distribution to others for a modest fee. To purchase, please fill out and either fax or mail order form with payment.

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