Planning Division

Welcome to the City of Pismo Beach Planning Division! Our goal is to provide the community with direction and guidance to achieve the goals and policies set forth in the General Plan and Local Coastal Plan to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all people living in and visiting our community. This involves providing an open and transparent process to allow new and infill development, while preserving the unique small coastal town image and character of Pismo Beach.

The Planning Division is responsible for working with the City Council and the Planning Commission to create and implement long-range plans, including the Local Coastal Plan, for the City's growth and development consistent with approved planning principles and state law.

The Planning Division uses the General Plan as the blueprint for meeting the community's long-term vision for the future. In addition, the Planning Division administers the Zoning Code, the rules and regulations that implement the City's General Plan. Written regulations within the Code establish procedures for considering projects, including development parameters within each zoning district. Planning staff also prepare and oversee reports that study environmental effects of proposed development projects and identify ways of minimizing environmental damage. This work is required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).