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Planning butterfly

COVID-19 PROCEDURE: City Hall is open with limited capacity for in person appointments. Members of the public and applicants are strongly encouraged to email, phone or video conference with staff to conduct business. The Community Development Department will continue to accept permit applications, development inquiries, and plan reviews electronically.

The Planning Division is responsible for two primary functions:

  • Advance Planning: includes updating the City’s General Plan, Local Coastal Program, Zoning Code and other documents that provide direction to the City's growth and future development;
  • Current Planning: Current planning involves implementation of the City-adopted plans and regulations, and includes historic preservation, land use and architectural review processes. All plans for new construction or alterations are reviewed by the Planning Division for compliance and may be referred to the Zoning Administrator, Architectural Review Board, Historic Resources Committee, and Planning Commission for review and action.
It is highly recommended that in the beginning stages of planning a project, you come in and speak to a planner about the permitting process for your project and property. Applicants are also encouraged to contact adjacent property owners and discuss the proposed project with them prior to application submittal.

An Application for Planning Permit and payment of fees are required for most planning projects. The Submittal Checklist and Project Data Sheet may also be required if the project has to go before the Architectural Review Board for review and action.

Additional Information & Resources
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Document Center

The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.

Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category

Design Guidelines and Handouts35 documents

  • Frequently Asked Planning Questions
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Zoning and Permits12 documents

  • Acronyms Used in City of Pacific Grove
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  • Applying for a Permit
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  • Butterfly Habitat
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  • Building Coverage
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  • Development in the Coastal Zone
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  • Floor Area and Site Coverage
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  • Frequently Asked Questions
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  • Non-Conforming
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  • Noticing and Permit Paths
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  • Permit Approvals Required by Project Type, R-1 Zoning Outside the Coastal Zone
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  • Residential Zoning Report Requests (RZRR)
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  • What is a Site Plan?
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Design Guidelines7 documents

  • Architectural Review Guidelines for Single Family Residences
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  • Appendix I: Working on Buildings on the Historic Resource Inventory
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  • Appendix II: Suggestions for Streetscape Fences and Walls
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  • Appendix III: Glossary
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  • Appendix IV: Window Guidelines
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  • Privacy Design Guidelines
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  • Adopted Wireless Design Manual
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Story Poles and Netting2 documents

  • Story Poles and Netting
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  • Advisory Group Memo 2-19-20
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Fences and Accessory Structures2 documents

  • Accessory Structures
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  • Fences
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Historic2 documents

  • Historic Context Statement User Guide
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  • Historic or Not Historic
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Trees3 documents

  • Butterfly Habitat
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  • Memorial Tree Permit
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  • Tree Permit with Development
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Water Quality4 documents

  • Area of Special Biological Significance
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  • Metals Pollution in Stormwater Runoff
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  • Polystyrene Use
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  • Stormwater Guidelines for Projects
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Commercial2 documents

  • R-3 M Zoning Changes for Motels
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  • Zoning Changes for Commercial Areas
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Planning Codes, Regulations, and Maps17 documents

Pacific Grove Municipal Code3 documents

  • PGMC Title 23: Zoning Code
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  • PGMC Title 20: Sign Code
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  • PGMC Title 24: Subdivisions
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City-Adopted Plans7 documents

  • Downtown Pacific Grove Parking Study
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  • Forest Hill Specific Plan
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  • General Plan
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  • Housing Element 2015-2023
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  • Local Coastal Plan
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  • Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan
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  • Country Club Gate Shopping Center Master Sign Program
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City Maps7 documents

  • ASBS Watershed Map
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  • Downtown Parking Area Map
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  • General Plan Land Use Map 1
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  • General Plan Land Use Map 2
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  • Neighborhood Tracts Map
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  • Stormwater Discharge Map
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  • Zoning Map
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