Planning

About Planning

The Planning Department is a part of Development Services and is responsible for implementing the City’s General Plan and Zoning Code. The General Plan defines the community's vision of its long-term physical form and development as well as it quality of life and community values. The Zoning Code contains the regulations that implement the General Plan policies.  The Department processes development applications, administers the City’s Zoning Code, and provides technical and administrative support to the Planning Commission. The Planning Department also assures that development is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and all applicable State and local codes and ordinances. 

Planning activities are divided into two functions: Advanced Planning and Current Planning. The Advanced Planning component directs the future development of the City through the implementation of the City’s General Plan and Specific Plans for project locations throughout the City. The Current Planning Division includes shorter-term activities, such as the administration of the City’s Zoning Ordinance and the review of development projects. The most common Current Planning requests involve new construction, the remodeling of existing structures, and the reuse of existing properties or facilities. Planning staff has administrative authority to make decisions on certain types of proposals, however many development requests must be approved by the Planning Commission and/or by the City Council. 

General Plan Update Underway

The City of Rohnert Park is currently engaged in a technical Update of its 2000 General Plan.  The Update is intended to reflect changes that have occurred in the City since 2000, as well as to add a new Sustainability Element to the General Plan and to revise the Housing Element as required by State Law.  There will be a series of community workshops regarding the update, as well as meetings of the General Plan Update Steering Committee, which is made up of Vice-Mayor Gina Belforte, Councilmember Joe Callinan, Planning Commission Chairperson John Borba and Planning Commissioner Vice-Chairperson Greg Nordin.  Meeting announcements, agendas and related documents will be available on the website as available.  For additional information, please contact Planning Division staff at (707) 588-2236 or by e-mail at planning@rpcity.org.

• February 28, 2008 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda and Packet
• April 3, 2008 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda & Packet
• Community Workshop on Sustainability - June 28, 2008
• Sustainability Workshop Summary
• September 16, 2008 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda and Packet
• Housing Element Summit - Saturday September 27, 2008
• Housing Element Summit Handout and Questionnaire
• Housing Element - Final Draft
• March 26, 2009 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda and Packet
• July 8, 2009 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda and Packet
  Item No. 1 - Station Area Planning Manual
  Item No. 2 - Draft Water Element Review
• Notice of Intent to Adopt Negative Declaration - Rohnert Park Housing Element for 2007-2014
• Initial Study & Negative Declaration - Rohnert Park General Plan Housing Element Update
• December 11, 2009 General Plan Update Steering Committee Agenda and Packet
• Draft Housing Element - October 28, 2009

 Municipal Code

The entire Municipal Code of the City of Rohnert Park is available online.

The City of Rohnert Park Municipal Code (RPMC) is maintained by the City Clerk. Users should always check with the City Clerk before relying on any code section to determine whether it has been amended subsequent to the most recent posting.

If you have any questions regarding any material contained in the RPMC, or on how to search the contents, please contact the City Clerk at (707) 588-2227.