The General Plan is the County’s blueprint for meeting the community’s long-term vision for the future. All other land use policies and regulations enacted by the County need be grounded in the General Plan. Mendocino County’s General Plan is accessible at the planning department’s website. Every city and county in California is required to have a General Plan and periodically update it. Implementation of the General Plan ensures future development is consistent with the community’s goals and that adequate services are available to meet the needs of all. 

All components adopted August 2009 unless noted below

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Planning Principles
• 3.0 Development Element (adopted 2021)
• 4.0 Resource Element (adopted 2021)
• 5.0 Housing Element (adopted 2020 for the 2019-2027 cycle)
• 6.0 Community Specific Policies
• 7.0 Coastal Element (adopted 2021)
  
• Glossary
• Appendix

Regional Housing Needs Analysis (RHNA)

• 2018 RHNA Plan - Adopted

• May 20, 2021 Update - Ukiah Municipal Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan 
• Airport Land Use Plan
• Appendices

Ukiah Valley Area Plan (UVAP) - Adopted 8/2/2011

• Signed Reso # 11-112
• Signed Reso # 11-113
• UVAP Chapter 1
• UVAP Chapter 2
• UVAP Chapter 3
• UVAP Chapter 4
• UVAP Chapter 5
• UVAP Chapter 6
• UVAP Chapter 7
• UVAP Chapter 8
• UVAP Chapter 9
• UVAP Chapter 10
• UVAP Chapter 11
• UVAP Chapter 12_Appendix with Map Table
• UVAP Glossary
• Final MMRP
• Final Statement of Overriding Considerations
• UVAP Findings
• UVAP Exhibit A and B to Resolution

Brooktrails Township Specific Plan

• Cover page and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
  • Figure 3-1
• Chapter 4
  • Figure 4-1a
  • Figure 4-1b
  • Figure 4-1c
  • Figure 4-1d
  • Figure 4-2
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13

Coastal Element 

Gualala Town Plan

• Chapter 1 - Introduction
  • Figure 1.1 Gualala Town Plan Area
• Chapter 2 - Issues and Goals
  • Figure 2.1 LCP Coastal Access Locations
• Chapter 3 - Policies
  • Figure 3.1 Former Zoning
  • Figure 3.2 Zoning
  • Figure 3.3 Highway 1 Streetscape Map
  • Figure 3.4 Highway 1 Streetscape Cross-section
  • Figure 3.5 Local Road Extensions
  • Figure 3.6 Local Road Streetscape Cross-section
• Chapter 4 - Land Use Classifications
• Chapter 5 - Definitions
• Chapter 6 - Appendices

Mendocino Town Plan

• Chapter 4.13, Coastal Element of the General Plan 
  
• Mendocino Town Zoning Code (Municode)
• Appendices
  • Appendix 1 Inventory of Historic Structures
  • Appendix 2 Mendocino Town Plan Visitor Serving Facilities
    
  • Appendix 3 California Dept of Fish and Wildlife Marine Protected Area Regulations for the Big River Estuary (Mendocino Estuary)
  • Appendix 4 Categorical Exclusion Order E-96-1 and PRC § 30610
  • Appendix 5 Public Access Component Detailed Access Way Aerial Maps
    
  • Appendix 6 California Coastal Commission Post-LCP Certification Permit and Appeal Jurisdiction Map 32 (Excerpt) Town of Mendocino Area
    
  • Appendix 7 Mendocino Historic Review Board Design Guidelines 1987
  • Appendix 8 Town of Mendocino Traffic Data November 23-30, 2015
  • Appendix 9 California Coastal Commission Repair, Maintenance and Utility Hook-up Exclusion Guideline Coversheet
    
• MTP Vacation Home Rentals (VHR) & Single Unit Rentals (SUR) & Wait List 

• Coastal Groundwater Development Guidelines

• Climate Vulnerability Assessment Report - March 2021
• State Route 1 Corridor Study Update - June 25, 2008
• Mendocino County Coastal Groundwater Study - June 1982

Some materials on this website are lengthy documents with large filesizes, which can be difficult to access over a weaker internet connection. This section contains copies of documents broken up into individual chapters and subsections, which may make them easier to download on some connections. 

COASTAL ELEMENT

USER’S GUIDE

CHAPTER 1 - BACKGROUND

• 1.1 The Coastal Act
• 1.2 The Coastal Planning Process
• 1.3 Public Participation
• 1.4 Relationship Between the Coastal Element and the CountywideGeneral Plan
• 1.5 Adoption, Certification and Implementation

CHAPTER 2 - THE LAND USE PLAN

2.1 Organization
2.2 Description of Land Use Plan Map Designations

• Home Occupations
• Cottage Industries
• Nonconforming Uses
• Nonconforming Lots
• Development Limitations Combining District
• Clustering Combining District
• Planned Unit Development Combining District
• Visitor Accommodations and Services Combining District
• Agriculture Land Use Classification
• Forest Lands Land Use Classification
• Range Lands Land Use Classification
• Open Space Land Use Classification
• Rural Residential Land Use Classification
• Remote Residential Land Use Classification
• Suburban Residential Land Use Classification
• Rural Village Land Use Classification
• Fishing Village Land Use Classification
• Commercial Land Use Classification
• Industrial Land Use Classification
• Public and Semi-Public Facilities Land Use Classification
• Shoreline Access/Circulation
• Natural Environment
• Boundaries

CHAPTER 3 - THE LAND USE PLAN: RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND POLICIES

3.1 Habitats and Natural Resources

• 3.1  Narrative
• 3.1  Policies

3.2 Agriculture

• 3.2  Narrative
• 3.2  Policies

3.3 Forestry and Soils Resources

• 3.3  Narrative
• 3.3  Policies

3.4 Hazards Management

• 3.4  Narrative
• 3.4  Policies

3.5 Visual Resources, Special Communities and Archaeological Resources

• 3.5  Narrative
• 3.5  Policies

3.6 Shoreline Access and Trail/Bikeway System

• 3.6  Narrative
• 3.6  Policies

3.7 Recreation and Visitor Serving Facilities

• 3.7  Narrative
• 3.7  Policies

3.8 Transportation, Utilities and Public Services

• 3.8  Narrative
• 3.8  Policies

3.9 Locating and Planning New Development

• 3.9  Narrative
• 3.9  Policies

3.10 Harbors and Commercial and Sport Fishing

• 3.10  Narrative
• 3.10  Policies

3.11 Industrial Development and Energy Facilities

• 3.11  Narrative
• 3.11  Policies

CHAPTER 4 - LAND USE PLAN: DESCRIPTIONS AND POLICIES FOR THIRTEEN PLANNING AREAS

• 4.1 Humboldt County Line to Rockport (Lost Coast) Planning Area
• 4.2 Rockport to Little Valley Road Planning Area
• 4.3 Little Valley Road to Fort Bragg Planning Area
• 4.4 Fort Bragg City Limit to Hare Creek Planning Area
• 4.5 Hare Creek to Jug Handle Creek (South Fort Bragg) Planning Area
• 4.6 Jug Handle Creek to Russian Gulch Planning Area
• 4.7 Russian Gulch to Van Damme State Park (Big River) Planning Area
• 4.8 Van Damme State Park to Dark Gulch Planning Area
• 4.9 Dark Gulch to Navarro River (Albion) Planning Area
• 4.10 Navarro River to Mallo Pass Creek Planning Area
• 4.11 Mallo Pass Creek to Iversen Road Planning Area
• 4.12 Iversen Road to Sonoma County Line (Anchor Bay-Gualala) Planning Area
• 4.13 Mendocino Town Plan
• 4.14 Gualala Town Plan

4.13 Mendocino Town Plan and Zoning Code

• Chapter 4.13, Coastal Element of the General Plan 
  
• Mendocino Town Zoning Code (Municode)
• Appendices
  • Appendix 1 Inventory of Historic Structures
  • Appendix 2 Mendocino Town Plan Visitor Serving Facilities
    
  • Appendix 3 California Dept of Fish and Wildlife Marine Protected Area Regulations for the Big River Estuary (Mendocino Estuary)
  • Appendix 4 Categorical Exclusion Order E-96-1 and PRC § 30610
  • Appendix 5 Public Access Component Detailed Access Way Aerial Maps
    
  • Appendix 6 California Coastal Commission Post-LCP Certification Permit and Appeal Jurisdiction Map 32 (Excerpt) Town of Mendocino Area
    
  • Appendix 7 Mendocino Historic Review Board Design Guidelines 1987
  • Appendix 8 Town of Mendocino Traffic Data November 23-30, 2015
  • Appendix 9 California Coastal Commission Repair, Maintenance and Utility Hook-up Exclusion Guideline Coversheet
    
• MTP Vacation Home Rentals (VHR) & Single Unit Rentals (SUR) & Wait List 

4.14 Gualala Town Plan

• Chapter 1 - Introduction

• Figure 1.1 Gualala Town Plan Area

• Chapter 2 - Issues and Goals

• Figure 2.1 LCP Coastal Access Locations

• Chapter 3 - Policies

• Figure 3.1 Former Zoning
• Figure 3.2 Zoning
• Figure 3.3 Highway 1 Streetscape Map
• Figure 3.4 Highway 1 Streetscape Cross-section
• Figure 3.5 Local Road Extensions
• Figure 3.6 Local Road Streetscape Cross-section

• Chapter 4 - Land Use Classifications

• Chapter 5 - Definitions

• Chapter 6 - Appendices

APPENDICES

1. Mapping Methodology
2. CAC Questionnaire Results
3. Geotechnical Evaluation Requirements
4. Bibliography
5. Community Water Supply & Sewage Disposal System
6. County of Mendocino Division of Environmental Health Land Division Requirements (1/1/82)
7. Chapter 22.12 - Native American Archaeological Sites
8. California Coastal Commission Statewide InterpretiveGuidelines (5/5/81) - Appendix D
9. Timberland Preserve Zoning Ordinance No. 3335
10. List of Existing Private Visitor Accommodations in theCoastal Zone of Mendocino County (8/82)
11. The Agricultural Preserve Ordinance
12. Deleted
13. Summary of Designated Coastal Access Points

GLOSSARY

TABLES

• Table1.4-1: Correspondence Among General Plan Elements and Coastal Act Policies
• Table2.1-1: Citizens Advisory Committees, Map Areas and Planning Areas
• Table3.7-1: Existing State Park Facilities and Potential Development Proposed by Department of Parks and Recreation Survey, 1980
• Table3.7-2: Tabulation of Existing and Proposed Visitor Accommodations

FIGURES

• Figure 1.1-1: Priority of Coastal Uses Established by Coastal Act
• Figure 2.1-1: Land Use Map Index

AIRPORT COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN

• Figure 4D
• Figure 4H
• Figure 4J
• Figure 4L
• Figure 4P
• Figure 4T
• Figure 4U
• Figure 4X and 4Y

Ukiah Valley Area Plan EIR

• Draft 2007 UVAP DEIR
• Final Program EIR

General Plan Final EIR

• Volume 1
• Volume 2A, pages 1-306
• Volume 2A, pages 307-646
• Volume 2B, pages 1-280
• Volume 2B, pages 281-488
• Volume 2B, pages 489-566
• Volume 2B, pages 567-750
• Addendum April 2021
• General Plan Resolutions

General Plan Draft EIR

• Cover and Table of Contents
• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Executive Summary
• 3.0 Project Description
• 4.0 Intro to the Environ Analysis and Assumptions Used
• 4.1 Aesthetics Light and Glare
• 4.2 Agriculture
• 4.3 Air Quality
• 4.4 Biological Resources
• 4.5 Cultural Resources
• 4.6 Geology, Soils, and Mineral Resources
• 4.7 Hazards Hazardous Materials
• 4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality
• 4.9 Land Use
• 4.10 Noise
• 4.11 Population/Housing/Employments
• 4.12 Public Services
• 4.13 Transportation and Circulation
• 4.14 Utilities and Service System
• 5.0 Cumulative Impacts
• 6.0 Alternatives to the Proposed Project
• 7.0 Long-Term Implications of the Project
• 8.0 Report Preparers
• Technical Appendices

Superseded General Plan Elements

• 3.0 Development Element (2009-2020)
• 4.0 Resource Element (2009-2020)

Regional Housing Needs Analysis (RHNA)

• 2018 RHNA Draft Allocation - Revised
• 2018 RHNA Draft Allocation - Original
• Mendocino County Statement of constraints (8.10.18)

6th Cycle Housing Element Outreach

• Mendocino County 2019-2027 Housing Element Update Power Point Presentation
• Mendocino County Community Workshops Flier (Willits & Fort Bragg)
• Mendocino County Community Workshop Flier (Ukiah)

6th Cycle Housing Element (2019-2027) Draft

• Mendocino County Housing Element 2019-2027 Update - Administrative Draft
• Addendum to General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) - Mendocino County Housing Element 2019-2027
• Planning Commission Agenda Packet - October 17, 2019 Public Hearing
• Airport Land Use Commission Agenda Packet - December 5, 2019 Public Hearing
• Board of Supervisors Agenda Packet- December 10, 2019 Public Hearing

6th Cycle Housing Element Hearings

• Board of Supervisors (BOS) Signed Resolution - 09.01.2020
• 6th Cycle Mendocino County Housing Element - Notice of Declaration
• Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing Video Link
• Board of Supervisors (BOS) Housing Element Agenda Summary
• California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Certification Letter - 07.20.2020
• 6th Cycle Mendocino County Housing Element - Final Draft
• 6th Cycle Mendocino County Housing Element - Redline
• HCD Review Letter - 12.09.2019
• BOS Minutes - 12.10.2019
• BOS Resolution (19-399) - 12.10.2019
• PC Minutes Draft - 10.17.2019
• PC Resolution (PC_2019-0024) - 10.17.2019
• 6th Cycle Addendum to the General Plan EIR
• GP_2019-0004 BOS Resolution - 09.01.2020
• BOS Public and Legal Notice
• BOS Staff Memorandum - 09.01.2020
• BOS Staff Presentation - 09.01.2020

2014-2019 Mendocino County Housing Element (5th Cycle)

• Housing Element Final (5th Cycle)
• Resolution 15-122
• Initial Study and Negative Declaration
• 2009 General Plan Final EIR
  • State Clearinghouse (SCH 2008062074)

2010-2014 Mendocino County Housing Element (4th Cycle)

• Housing Element Final (4th Cycle-Update)