Welcome to the County of Santa Cruz Planning Department

The Planning Department, under the authority of the Board of Supervisors, is responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing County land use policies, ordinances and regulations; administering environmental protection programs; processing and issuing building, zoning, and other development permits; and carrying out long-range community development programs. The department provides support to the Planning Commission, Housing Advisory Commission, Historic Resources Commission, and Agricultural Policy Advisory Commission.

To assist customers with the permit process and other services the Department offers, we have available information through this website as well as staff offering services at the counters in our Permit Counter and on the phone in the afternoons. The links to the left are a fast track to specific information including Brochures on many subjects or within each "Department Section" listed below. If you are a first time user or not quite sure where to find information, please visit the Department Overview where you will find a definition of each section within the Department. We are continually improving this website and we will try to keep you informed through the What's New? link above. Thank you for visiting our website.

 QSD / QSP Training July 17-19
 Preliminary Draft Climate Action Strategy
 Application Requirements for Modification of Nonconforming Structures and Uses
 Workshop sign-up, "Nonconforming regulations and How to Evaluate Structural Modification (Repeat)"
 Ordinance: Nonconforming Uses and Structures, Commercial Changes of Use, Parking Standards, Geologic Hazards and Level 4 Permits (now effective outside Coastal Zone)
 Evaluating Modification of Major Structural Components
 Single-use Bag Reduction Ordinance
 Pajaro River Bench Excavation Project
 Aptos Village Project Documents
 Vacation Rental Ordinance   Vacation Rental Application Information
 Interim Programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan (IPHCP)
 Minor Exceptions Ordinance (now in effect outside the Coastal Zone)
 FAR and Residential Square Footage Determinations - Revised Administrative Guidelines


 Planning Counter and General Information Desk Hours