Safety Element Update

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

The Safety Element is part of the City of Novato's General Plan, and addresses the effects of seismic hazards, flooding and inundation, dam failure, wildland and urban fires, evacuation routes, and other safety-related items. Recent legislation requires that the City’s Safety Element be updated to address climate adaptation and resiliency strategies applicable to the City, and the identification of residential developments in hazard areas that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes. The policies and programs in the Safety Element help guide decisions about land use, emergency operations and evacuation planning, and climate change adaptation to ensure that communities are prepared for potential threats and can respond effectively when hazardous events happen.

On December 9, 2025, the City Council approved a General Plan Amendment to update the Safety Element. The updated Safety Element and Vulnerability Assessment Summary are available for review and download on the General Plan 2035 webpage, at www.novato.gov/generalplan.

Community Engagement

There are currently no community engagement activities. This webpage will be updated once the City begins implementation.

Recent & Upcoming Meetings

DATE & LOCATION	DETAILS
Safety Element Update Public Hearing City Council Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 6pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	The City Council will hold a public hearing and consider adopting the revised Safety Element and CEQA Addendum. CC Meeting Notice (2025.12.09)
Safety Element Update Public Hearing Planning Commission Special Meeting Monday, November 17, 2025 at 7pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and consider making a recommendation that the City Council adopt the revised Safety Element. PC Special Meeting Notice (2025.11.17)
Safety Element Update Study Session City Council Tuesday September 9, 2025 at 6pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	City staff and its consultant, PlaceWorks, will be presenting draft concept policies to the City Council for review and comment.
Safety Element Update Study Session Planning Commission Monday August 11, 2025 at 7pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	City staff and its consultant, PlaceWorks, will be presenting draft concept policies to the Planning Commission for review and comment.
Safety Element Update Study Session Sustainability Commission Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 6pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	City staff and its consultant, PlaceWorks, will be presenting draft concept policies to the Sustainability Commission for review and comment.
Community Workshop & Online Survey Novato Safety Element Community Workshop Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6pm Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue	Community Workshop Flyer (English & Spanish) The Novato Safety Element Update Survey was due by June 27, 2025 and is now closed.

Climate Adaptation and Resiliency

The Climate adaptation and resiliency update includes the following components (See Government Code Section 65302(g)(4) and 65302(g)(5):

A vulnerability assessment that identifies the risks that climate change poses to the City and the geographic areas at risk from climate change impacts;

A set of adaptation and resiliency goals, policies, and objectives for the protection of the City;
A set of feasible implementation measures designed to carry out the goals, policies, and objectives;
Identification of residential developments in any hazard area identified in the safety element that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.

Evacuation Constraints Analysis

Another key component of the Safety Element update process was an evacuation-constrained residential properties analysis. The project team identified residential areas where people may have trouble evacuating in an emergency, such as during a wildfire or flood. This analysis focused on residential areas with only one access point or that are far from designated evacuation routes as directed by State law. Evacuation from these areas may take longer or become more congested during an evacuation event. Using the City's current evacuation plans and the findings from the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority wildfire evacuation assessment, the map shows which residential properties are in hazard zones and may face evacuation challenges. The map will help the City develop approaches to improve emergency evacuation citywide.

Timeline

General Plan Status

Novato’s General Plan 2035 was adopted in October 2020, and the City’s Revised 6th Cycle Housing Element (2023-2031) was adopted in May 2024.

The document is organized in five chapters (Great Places, Environmental Stewardship, Living Well, Economic Vitality, and A City That Works). The Safety Element is wholly within the "A City That Works" chapter. The General Plan includes Greenhouse Gas Reduction Measures in Appendix E.

A California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared and certified for General Plan 2035. The City of Novato is currently preparing an update of its Climate Change Action Plan and is participating in an update of the Marin County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, both program components of the General Plan.

Project-related Information

Reso 2025-009 Safety Element CEQA and GPA Resolution - Signed (2025.12.02)

Planning Commission Public Hearing Presentation Slides (2025.11.17)

Community Survey Number 2 Summary (2025.10.30)

City Council Study Session Presentation Slides (2025.09.09)

Planning Commission Study Session Presentation Slides (2025.08.11)

Sustainability Commission Study Session Presentation Slides (2025.07.17)

Community Survey Summary (2025.07.09)

Community Workshop Summary (2025.06.17)

Community Workshop Presentation Slides (2025.06.17) English

Community Workshop Presentation Slides (2025.06.17) Spanish