land use

The Farmland Protection Action Guide: 24 Strategies for California

The Farmland Protection Action Guide: 24 Strategies for California (2002) was created to help decision-makers evaluate the policy options available to protect farmland and select strategies that best fit community needs.Read more »

Understanding the Habitat Conservation Planning Process in California

Understanding the Habitat Conservation Planning Process in California (2004) was designed to provide those who are involved in projects or planning efforts an understanding of the regulations and issues affecting protected species, focusing on the requirements for habitat conservation plans, and advice and recommendations regarding best approaches to project planning and regional conservation planning for protected species.Read more »

An Ounce of Prevention: Best Practices for Making Informed Land Use Decisions

An Ounce of Prevention focuses on the underlying procedures that are common to all land use decisions. It walks through the typical decision-making process - from design and drafting ordinances to issuing a final decision and hearing appeals - and identifies practical strategies to reduce the risk of litigation.Read more »

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Tip Sheets on Land Use Decisions: Public Hearing One-Pagers

Land use planning decisions involve technical terminology that many are unfamiliar with. The Institute has developed a series of plain-language descriptions of common land use decisions.Read more »

SB375 Legal Analysis

The Institute has prepared a legal analysis explaining how the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (sometimes known by its legislative identity: SB 375) specifically affects local agencies.Read more »

AB 32 and SB 375 Legal Analysis Resources

The Institute for Local Government has prepared a legal analysis of Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (sometimes known by its legislative identity: SB 375) explaining how this law specifically affects local agencies.

The Institute has also prepared a legal analysis of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (sometimes known by its legislative identity: AB 32) explaining how this law affects local agencies as it relates to sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

These documents are available for download at right under Documents & Resources.Read more »

Healthy Planning Policies: A Compendium from California General Plans

Check out language from general plans that have gone a step beyond the traditional to build healthier communities

California Planners’ Book of Lists

Each year, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) conducts the Local Government Planning Survey to compile the latest information on local planning activities and special issues.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The HUD website is the portal to federal housing and urban resources.

Planetizen

Planetizen is an information exchange for the urban planning and development community. To get their daily report about planning issues, go to their website and sign up by clicking on "e-mail" in the upper right-hand corner.

LUPIN: Land Use Planning and Information Network.

This website is part of the California Environmental Resources Evaluation System and features an extensive collection of zoning codes, plans, reports, and other resources.

Regulatory Takings and Land Use Regulation: A Primer for Public Agency Staff

To what extent does land use regulation really amount to an unconstitutional taking of property? That is the subject of Regulatory Takings and Land Use Regulation: A Primer for Public Agency Staff. This primer, funded by McDonough Holland & Allen, PC and the Resources Legacy Fund, examines the development of takings law and provides a nuts-and-bolts approach to adopting land regulations that will withstand judicial review. See a link to the primer in the Documents & Resources window at right.

Steve Sanders

Program Director, Land Use and Environment
E-mail: ssanders@ca-ilg.orgRead more »

Climate Change, the California Environmental Quality Act, and General Plan Update FAQs

A resource prepared by the Attorney General's office for local agencies.

American Farmland Trust

The American Farmland Trust's website provides information and resources on farmland preservation efforts nationwide.

Carfree Cities

The Carfree Cities website offers solutions to the many urban problems posed by cars and trucks.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy's website provides resources on land use regulation and taxation.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's website provides resources for documenting, preserving and protecting diverse historic and cultural places.

Project for Public Spaces

PPS offers technical assistance, research and education to create and sustain public places like parks, plazas and cultural squares; transportation; public buildings, architecture and public markets.

Sierra Club

The Sierra Club's website offers a variety of tools and information to promote responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources.

U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey's website offers a large collection of data, information, and maps related to geology, biology, water, topography, and more.

Environmental News Network

The Environmental News Network's website offers daily news coverage of major environmental issues.

Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy

A compilation of articles and policy research regarding neighborhoods, cities, and metropolitan regions published by the respected Brookings Institution.

Development Agreement Manual: Collaboration in Pursuit of Community Interests

The goal of this 2002 manual was to help local agencies in understanding development agreements and to provide them with practical tools to assist them in using development agreements within their jurisdiction. Read more »

Ballot Box Planning: Understanding Land Use Initiatives in California

The purpose of this 2001 publication was to explain the legal underpinnings of the initiative process.

The California Inclusionary Housing Reader

This 2003 publication was designed to help local leaders decide whether an inclusionary housing ordinance was right for their community. It includes an annotated sample inclusionary housing ordinance. The Institute is grateful to McDonough Holland & Allen PC for its support for this publication.