City Council and Planning Commission use the goals and policies of the General Plan as a basis upon which to make both long-term and short-term decisions, determine long-term objectives, generate and evaluate budgets, plan capital improvements, and prioritize tasks. City staff reference the General Plan when considering development applications, capital improvements, service programming, and departmental budgeting. Individual residents, existing and prospective business owners, and the development community can also seek guidance for preserving and enhancing the community through the General Plan. Finally, other local and regional agencies will refer to the General Plan when projecting future needs and services. If a proposal is inconsistent with the General Plan elements or zoning ordinances, this conflict must be reconciled. This occurs at public hearings where an applicant's proposal may be denied or modified to comply with the General Plan. The General Plan is truly the City’s collective guide to the future.
Community Development
A General Plan is a broad, long-range policy document that guides the evolution of a city and establishes the goals and policies related to the future and vision of the community. It is the local government’s long-term blueprint for future development. In California, cities and counties are required by State law to have a General Plan, and it must accommodate the required amount of projected population growth the State of California estimates for each city.
California requires seven elements within the General Plan: Land Use, Circulation (Mobility), Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise and Public Safety. The City of Long Beach has also adopted additional elements including Air Quality, Local Coastal Program, Historic Preservation, Urban Design and Seismic Safety. In 2016, SB1000 required Environmental Justice to be integrated into goals, policies and objectives upon the adoption or next revision of an element; therefore, in elements that have been adopted since, such as the Housing or Land Use Element,environmental justice components can be found woven throughout. Consistency across all adopted elements is also legally required.
How is the General Plan Put into Action?
The Elements
Learn about the various Elements that make up the General Plan below. Under each Element, please find further resources that work in conjunction with the Elements such as Master Plans, maps, and initiatives.
Adopted in 2019,the Land Use Plan includes regulating standards that define: the form and character of Long Beach’s districts and neighborhoods, a broad mix of uses, and density and intensity levels tied to particular areas in the City. It also describes the distinct types of places that the City aims to create to achieve the community’s vision for Long Beach. These places consider a range of components—land use, street design, building massing and building-to-street relationships—all of which are important in influencing how people experience environments. Specific designrelated components that support desired character are covered in the companion Urban Design Element. Furthermore, Long Beach adopted a Climate Action Plan in 2022 as a mitigation measure to address climate adaptation and resiliency and outlines requirements, incentives, and potential policies to ensure more sustainable development. Read more about the Climate Action Plan.
Adopted in 2013,the Mobility Element describes the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, ports, and other local public utilities and facilities. It strives to balance the use of our transportation network so that it meets the needs of all users of streets, roads, and highways, while providing safe and convenient travel options that are suitable for the urban and suburban context of the City’s neighborhoods and districts. Read more about the Mobility Element.
Documents and Resources:
Mobility Element, October 2013
Bicycle Master Plan, December 2016
Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX3) Pedestrian Plan, February 2017
Downtown and Transit-Oriented Development Pedestrian Master Plan, May 2016
Documents and Resources:
Mobility Element, October 2013
Bicycle Master Plan, December 2016
Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX3) Pedestrian Plan, February 2017
Downtown and Transit-Oriented Development Pedestrian Master Plan, May 2016
Adopted in 2022,the Housing Element update builds on previous City plans, goals, objectives and strategies to ensure that the City meets the housing needs of current and future Long Beach residents and provides fair housing options for all. In California, Housing is the only Element with a mandatory adoption deadline, as it has to be updated every 8-year cycle.The 2021-2029 Housing Element is the sixth such update and is also referred to as the 6th Cycle Housing Element. In the current housing and economic climate, a major focus of the Housing Element will be on removing barriers to housing production to counter well-documented housing shortages, as well as addressing homelessness by preventing tenant displacement and ensuring the availability and fair distribution of affordable housing throughout the City to reverse existing patterns of segregation and concentrated poverty. Read more about the Housing Element.
Documents and Resources:
Housing Element, February 2022
Housing Element Technical Appendices
Dashboard on Building Permits Issued in 2021-2029
Dashboard on Annual Housing Production since 2019
Documents and Resources:
Housing Element, February 2022
Housing Element Technical Appendices
Dashboard on Building Permits Issued in 2021-2029
Dashboard on Annual Housing Production since 2019
Adopted in 1973, the Conservation Element is directed towards recognizing natural resources and areas of special interest in Long Beach. It serves to act as a guideline for promoting policies, standards, and programs essential for the economic and environmental well-being of the City. This Element contains goals of conserving natural resources such as water, vegetation, wildlife, and minerals.
Documents and Resources:
Conservation Element, April 1973
Adopted in 2002,the Open Space Element determines how the city uses, expands, andpreservespark and recreational spaces accessible to the public. It contains maps of open spaces, an inventory of all parks and open spaces, recreational facilities, and policies for planning and maintaining new and existing parks. Additionally, this Elementis required to cover open space for the preservation of natural resources, for the managed production of resources, for public health and safety, and for outdoor recreation. The City is currently in the process of updating the Open Space Element. Read more about the Open Space Element adoption process.
Documents and Resources:
Open Space Element, October 2002
Victory/Santa Cruz Park Design Guidelines
Adopted in 2023, the Noise Element contains a set of goals, policies and implementation measures to limit noise exposure, particularly in areas with nearby housing, hospital, school or daycare center uses. The overall objective of the Noise Element is to create and maintain a healthy noise environment in Long Beach. Specific goals of the Noise Element include striving for a more equitable distribution of noise, limiting the exposure of the community to excessive noise levels in noisesensitive areas and at noise-sensitive times of day, and creating allowances for Long Beach to thrive as a dynamic, growing city. Read more about the Noise Element.
Documents and Resources:
Noise Element, June 2023
Crowd-Sourced Noise Map
Noise Control Program in the Bureau of Environmental Health
Adopted in 1975, the Public Safety Elementestablishes goals, objectives, and recommendationspertaining to safety, fire protection, geologic hazards, crime prevention, utility-related hazards, industrial land use and transportation of hazardous materials, disaster operations, and risk management. In 2015, SB379 was adopted and required cities to either update their Safety Element or prepare a climate adaptation plan.
Documents and Resources:
Public Safety Element, May 1975
Adopted in 1996, the Air Quality Element identifies a series of policies, programs, and strategies that encourage fewer vehicle trips, increased opportunities for alternative transportation modes and fuels, and land use patterns that can be efficiently served by a diversified transportation system. This Element bridges the Land Use and Mobility Elements to better recognize the relationship between land use patterns, transportation planning, and air quality.
Documents and Resources:
Air Quality Element, December 1996
Adopted in 1980, the Local Coastal Program enhanced the Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972 by developing local planning concepts to preserve and enhance the coastal resources of Long Beach. Shoreline access, recreation and visitor serving facilities, new development and housing opportunities, and coastal resources are all part of the Local Coastal Program. The Local Coastal Program utilizes the 1989 Land Use Element of the General Plan rather than the Land Use Element adopted in 2019 as the 2019 Land Use Element has not yet been certified by the California Coastal Commission.
Documents and Resources:
Local Coastal Program Element, February 1980
Coastal Zone Map (Interactive Webmap and PDF)
Land Use Element of the General Plan, July 1989
Adopted in 2010, the Historic Preservation Element outlines a vision for future historic preservation efforts and the actions that need to be taken to achieve it. Primary goals of the Historic Preservation Element are to better integrate historic preservation into City procedures and interdepartmental decisions, and to create a meaningful partnership with the community in order to implement the historic preservation program. The Historic Preservation Element was prepared in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation, the publication entitled “Preparing a Historic Preservation Plan” by Bradford J. White and Richard J. Roddewig, and other applicable state standards and guidelines.
Adopted in 2019 in conjunction with the Land Use Element, the Urban Design Element seeks to aid and shape the continued evolution of the urban environment within Long Beach, while at the same time leveraging the unique relationship of the City to its natural environment. This Element is concerned with both the preservation of existing neighborhoods that define its unique character and building upon them to allow for continued adaptation and improvement of the built environment.The adoption of the new Urban Design Element repealed the previously existing Scenic Routes Element and now encompasses components of Scenic Routes.
Documents and Resources:
Urban Design Element, December 2019
LGBTQ+ Cultural District
Adopted in 1988, the Seismic Safety Element provides a comprehensive analysis of seismic factors so as to reduce loss of life, injuries, damage to property, and social and economic impacts resulting from future earthquakes. This Element is a planning tool to encourage development that is responsive to seismic safety considerations.
Documents and Resources:
Seismic Safety Element, October 1988
Seismic Resiliency Program
