The adopted General Plan is now available online from the links below.

General Plan Update

A comprehensive update to the City of San Diego's General Plan was adopted by the City Council unanimously on March 10, 2008. The City Council also certified the General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report and adopted the associated environmental documents, and adopted amendments to the Land Development Code (Chapter 12, Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6; Chapter 13, Article 1; and Chapter 14, Articles 1- 4 of the Municipal Code) as they pertain to the deletion of the Tier system (Urbanized, Planned Urbanizing, and Future Urbanizing) and the land use plan amendment initiation process from the General Plan.

The new General Plan sets out a long-range vision and comprehensive policy framework for how the City should plan for projected growth and development, provide public services, and maintain the qualities that define San Diego over the next 20 to 30 years.

The update was guided by the City of Villages strategy and the citywide policies adopted as a part of the General Plan Strategic Framework Element in 2002. The City of Villages strategy is to focus future housing, retail, employment, educational, and civic uses in mixed-use village centers of different scales. By directing growth primarily toward village centers, the General Plan supports the preservation of established residential neighborhoods, the management of growth over the long term, and the attainment of sustainability goals. Additional background information on the development of the General Plan, the public hearings and the public input received is documented in the staff report to City Council (PDF: 74K).

Adopted General Plan

The City of San Diego General Plan (2008), is located below.

Cover, Acknowledgements & Table of Contents (PDF: 1.2M)
Introduction (PDF: 148K)
Strategic Framework (PDF: 2.1M)
Land Use & Community Planning Element (PDF: 4.25M)
Mobility Element - Full Version (PDF: 4.9M)
- Sections A & B (PDF: 1.95M)
- Sections C-G (PDF: 1.75M)
- Sections H-K (PDF: 1.62M)
Urban Design Element (PDF: 1.79M)
Economic Prosperity Element (PDF: 6.2M)
- PIL Kearny Mesa (PDF: 328K)*
- PIL Torrey Pines (PDF: 318K)*
- PIL Mira Mesa (PDF: 349K)*
- PIL Barrio Logan (PDF: 313K)*
- PIL Clairemont Mesa (PDF: 330K)*
- PIL University City (325K)*
- PIL Miramar Ranch North (PDF: 295K)*
- PIL Scripps Miramar Ranch (PDF: 289K)*
- PIL Carmel Mountain Ranch (PDF: 273K)*
- PIL Rancho Bernardo (PDF: 307K)*
- PIL Navajo (PDF: 328K)*
- PIL Centre City (PDF: 317K)*
- PIL Sabre Springs (PDF: 284K)*
*PIL maps updated January 23, 2008

Public Facilities, Services & Safety Element - Full Version (PDF: 8.4M)
- Sections A-D (PDF: 1.9M)
- Sections E-I (PDF: 2.6M)
- Sections J & K (PDF: 2.9M)
Recreation Element (PDF: 2.7M)
Conservation Element Full Version (PDF: 5.8M)
- Section A (PDF: 216K)
- Section B (PDF: 3.6M)
- Sections C & D (PDF: 1.5M)
- Sections E-N (PDF: 2.2M)
Noise Element (PDF: 158K)
Historic Preservation Element (PDF: 253K)
Appendices (PDF: 254K)
Glossary (PDF: 140K)
Higher Resolution Maps

Please note that the adopted Housing Element is under separate cover.

View the most recent Draft General Plan Action Plan (PDF: 326K) here.

How the General Plan and Community Plans Work Together
San Diego has an established community planning program that is an essential part of the planning process. Together the General Plan and 42 Community Plans work to guide growth and development in San Diego. Read more about how the General Plan and Community Plans work together.

The General Plan covers a comprehensive range of topics. The General Plan update did not include land use designation or zoning changes, as site-specific recommendations are deferred to the community plans.