The City's General Plan is its constitution for development. It is comprised of 10 elements that provide a comprehensive slate of citywide policies and further the City of Villages smart growth strategy for growth and development.

The General Plan was comprehensively updated by unanimous vote of the City Council in 2008. The City Council also certified the General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report and adopted associated amendments to the Land Development Code. The General Plan update did not include land use designation or zoning changes, which is the purview of the City's community plans.

Community plans work together with the General Plan to provide location-based policies and recommendations in the City's five-plus community planning areas. Community plans are written to refine the General Plan's citywide policies, designate land uses and housing densities and include additional site-specific recommendations as needed. Read more about how the General Plan and Community Plans work together.

Additional background information on the development of the General Plan, the public hearings and the update process is documented in the staff report to City Council .

General Plan Amendments (2018)

On June 15, 2018 by Resolution No. 311806, the City Council amended the General Plan Public Facilities, Services and Safety Element Sections D and P. The Amendment was for compliance with California Senate Bill 1241that requires jurisdictions with Very High Hazard Severity Zones to address the risk of fire in the General Plan.

• 2018 Adopted General Plan Amendment Public Facilities, Services and Safety Element Sections D&P

General Plan Amendments (2015)

On June 29, 2015, by Resolution Number R- 309817 and certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report No. 104495 Addendum R-309818, the City Council approved amendments to the General Plan. The 2015 Amendment Package contained amendments to Land Use, Mobility, Economic Prosperity, Public Facilities, Recreation, and Noise Elements. The proposed amendments, shown in strikeout/underline formatting, is documented below and includes a summary of the amendments.

• 2015 Draft General Plan Amendment Package 
• Final Addendum to Environmental Impact Report No. 104495

General Plan Amendments (2012)

On Jan. 31, 2012, by Resolution 307262, the City Council approved amendments to the Conservation Element to provide policy support for urban agriculture. Urban agriculture is the production of food in and around cities for local consumption. The amendments, shown in strikeout/underline formatting, are documented below. The amendments have been incorporated into the online posting of the General Plan.

• Adopted General Plan Urban Ag Amendments
• City Council Executive Summary

General Plan Amendments (2010)

On Dec. 6, 2010, by Resolution No. R-306419, the City Council approved minor amendments to the General Plan Land Use and Community Planning Element; Public Facilities, Services and Safety Element; Recreation Element; and Glossary. The amendments, shown in strikeout/underline formatting, are documented below. The edits have been incorporated into the online posting of the General Plan.

• Adopted General Plan Amendments (2010) (PDF)
• Staff Report to City Council

General Plan Action Plan

The General Plan Action Plan was approved by City Council unanimously on July 7, 2009. The Action Plan is the comprehensive implementation program for the 2008 General Plan. View the General Plan Action Plan .

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General Plan Monitoring

The 2014 General Plan Monitoring Report has been prepared to assess progress in implementing the General Plan. The 2012, 2011 and 2010 reports are also available.

• 2014 General Plan Monitoring Report 
• 2012 General Plan Monitoring Report 
• 2011 General Plan Monitoring Report 
• 2010 General Plan Monitoring Report 

General Plan and Sustainability

The General Plan has a strong sustainability focus and provides local policies to address global climate change. The General Plan Conservation Element, Section A, provides an overview of climate change issues.

General Plan Executive Summary

The Executive Summary of the City of San Diego General Plan is a full-color reprint of the Strategic Framework Section of the General Plan, with some additional photos and graphics. It provides a concise summary of the central ideas contained within the City's General Plan.

• Executive Summary text
• San Diego's Built Environment in its Natural Setting
• Land Use and Street System Map
• Transit Land Use Connections Map

General Plan (2008)

• Cover, Acknowledgements & Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Strategic Framework
• Land Use & Community Planning Element -Updated 06/29/2015
  • Figure LU-2 Land Use and Street System Map - Updated 12/4/2018
  • Figure LU-4 Proposition A Lands - Corrected 4/28/2009
• Mobility Element -Full Version -Full Version  Updated 06/29/2015
  • Sections A & B
  • Sections C-G
  • Sections H-K
• Urban Design Element
• Economic Prosperity Element - Updated 06/29/2015
  • PIL Kearny Mesa *
  • PIL Torrey Pines *
  • PIL Mira Mesa *
  • PIL Barrio Logan *
  • PIL Clairemont Mesa *
  • PIL University City *
  • PIL Miramar Ranch North *
  • PIL Otay Mesa
  • PIL Scripps Miramar Ranch *
  • PIL Carmel Mountain Ranch *
  • PIL Rancho Bernardo *
  • PIL Navajo *
  • PIL Centre City *
  • PIL Sabre Springs *
  • PIL University City
• Public Facilities, Services & Safety Element -Full Version - Full Version Updated 06/29/2015
• Recreation Element -Updated 06/29/2015
• Conservation Element - Full Version
• Noise Element -Updated 06/29/2015
• Historic Preservation Element
• Appendices
• Glossary

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

While the Housing Element is an element of the City's General Plan it is provided under separate cover from the rest of the General Plan due to the need for frequent Housing Element updates and to facilitate compliance with the state reporting requirements. State law requires local governments to update their General Plan Housing Elements every eight years to periodically address the changing housing needs of their communities and to establish action plans to meet those goals.

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.

For questions or concerns call, 619-235-5200 or email [email protected]