What is the General Plan?

The City's General Plan serves as a basis for decisions that affect the City’s growth and development such as transportation, land use, streets and infrastructure, parks, housing and neighborhoods, recreation and community facilities, downtown, the environment, public health and safety, and flooding. The General Plan is a strategic and long term document identifying goals and polices that guides and directs the City in terms of implementing policies, programs and resources. As required by State law, the City of Novato’s General Plan includes seven chapters, or "elements": land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, noise and safety.

Housing Element Update

The state requires the Housing Element portion of the general plan to be updated every eight years. The City's current Housing Element for the 2023 - 2031 time period was most recently adopted in May 2024. More information regarding the Housing Element is available at novato.gov/housingelement. 

Safety Element Update

The City recently completed an amendment to the General Plan Safety Element to comply with recent state legislation regarding climate adaptation and resiliency, the identification of residential development with less than two evacuation routes, and other state legislation adopted in recent years. The amended Safety Element, related Vulnerability Assessment Summary, CEQA Addendum, and City Council resolution for the amendment are available below. More information regarding the Safety Element is available at novato.gov/safetyelement.

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