Land Use

The Planning Division, Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, maintains the City’s adopted General Plan. This Plan guides all decisions concerning the physical development of the community to achieve its desired social, economic, and environmental goals. The City is currently leading an ongoing community effort to update the General Plan in the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Update.

The Planning Division and the Housing Department are also reviewing the City’s housing policies and programs to evaluate their effectiveness in meeting the City’s housing needs in the Housing Element Update.

In 2001, the City Council adopted the Housing Opportunity Study (HOS) to designate vacant and underutilized sites along transit corridors for high density residential use. The HOS is a proactive approach to facilitate increased housing production, support transit with appropriate development opportunities for high density residential and supporting commercial uses.

The Planning Division has further information about the City's General Plan, zoning and subdivision regulations, Residential Design Guidelines, and the development permitting process.

Specific Plans contain detailed planning information to guide future growth in designated planned communities and redevelopment areas. The Zoning and Sign Ordinance contains development regulations that implement the General Plan. Development Review contains application forms, development policies, and design guidelines for those seeking entitlements to construct or rehabilitate housing.

Policies : Land Use