Planning Division
The Planning Division is responsible for Zoning in unincorporated Sonoma County. It works to develop and implement the Sonoma County General Plan, Local Coastal Program and other adopted Area Plans or Specific Plans. It reviews new development proposals for conformance with the County's General Plan and Zoning Codes.
Planning is divided into two sections, with Natural Resources its own division. On this page:
Planning & Zoning Information
To identify the zoning on your property and find an explanation of the zoning, start here with our online zoning lookup tools
Email: | Planner@sonoma-county.org |
Phone: | (707) 565-1900, option 5 |
Phone Hours: | Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Apply for Permits: |
Please note that the best way to reach staff is via email. More Information
Planning Division Sections
Comprehensive Planning
The Comprehensive Planning team leads the County of Sonoma’s long-range land use planning and policy efforts. Also known as advance planning, the work is primarily focused on creating a long term vision for the people of Sonoma County, which is directed by the county’s General Plan.
All land in unincorporated Sonoma County is guided by its General Plan, which was last comprehensively updated in 2008. Under the leadership of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the team delivers a work plan that includes working directly with Permit Sonoma customers and leading a number of County initiatives through an inclusive community engagement strategy.
Project Review
The Project Review section reviews new development proposals for conformance with the County's General Plan and Zoning Code Regulations. They also evaluate environmental impacts of private development proposals and coordinate with other Permit Sonoma divisions, such as building and engineering, to ensure that standards for building safety and water resources are incorporated into new development.
Upcoming Events
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted today to align civil penalties for unpermitted cannabis operations in unincorporated Sonoma County with state law, including a penalty of $1,000 per violation, separate violations for each plant above the personal cultivation limit, and escalated penalties for violations on multiple properties. The Board also approved a correction period of three calendar days to provide licensed and license-exempt cultivators, such as patients and caregivers, an opportunity to remedy zoning violations before civil penalties are imposed.