Discretionary Permit and CEQA Resources

PROCESS GUIDANCE & REGULATIONS / STATUTES

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General Guidance and Resources

• *CEQA Consultants List for Privately Initiated Projects*
• Administrative List - Zoning Ordinance
• Board of Supervisors Policies - Complete Policy Listing by Section
• PDS Electronic Documents Guidelines
• San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances
• Initial Consultation Meeting Request Form
• Project Planning Application Forms
   

General CEQA Guidance

• CA Office of Planning and Research CEQA Statutes and Guidelines (formerly CERES: California Environmental Resources Evaluation System)
• County CEQA Guidelines
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
   

General Plan

• 2011 General Plan Documents
   

Project Issue Resolution

• Project Issue Resolution Guidance Website
   

Parks & Trails Guidance

• Park Lands Dedication Ordinance Guidance Website
• Community Trails Master Plan
• Community Trails Master Plan (CTMP) Route Study

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Guidelines of Significance & Report Format and Content Requirements

Aesthetics & Visual Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved July 30, 2007)

1. Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO)
2. Light Pollution Code
3. Warning Lights
4. Street Lights

Agricultural Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved June 23, 2015)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved June 23, 2015)

1. Agricultural Resources Screening Flowchart
2. Soil Candidates Map
3. Aquifer Types Map
4. Area climates and Sunset Zones
5. Williamson Act lands and Agricultural Preserves Map
6. Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program
7. California Land Conservation Act (Williamson Act)
8. The Right to Farm Act
9. County of San Diego Agricultural Enterprises and Consumer Information Ordinance
10. California Department of Conservation Important Farmland Finder Tool
11. Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program

Air Quality

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved March 19, 2007)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved March 19, 2007)

1. Air Quality Screening Flowchart
2. California Ambient Air Quality Standards
3. San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD)
4. SDAPCD Permit Applications
5. California Air Resources Board

Airport Hazards               

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)

1. Airport Land Use Plans Compatibility Plans (ALUCPs)
2. CalTrans, Division of Aeronautics, Airport Land Use Planning Handbook
3. FAA Advisory Circular AC 70/7460-2K, Proposed Construction or Alteration of Objects that May Affect the Navigable Airspace
4. FAA Form 7460-1 - Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration

Biological Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved September 26, 2006 - 1st revision December 5, 2007, 2nd revision July 30, 2008, 3rd revision June 30, 2009, 4th revision September 15, 2010)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved September 26, 2006 - 1st revision December 5, 2007, 2nd revision July 30, 2008, 3rd revision June 30, 2009, 4th revision September 15, 2010)
  • County of San Diego Guidelines for Hermes Copper Butterfly (The Hermes copper butterfly, Lycaena hermes, was listed as federally threatened on January 20, 2022. Due to this listing, the County of San Diego Guidelines for Hermes Copper, Lycaena hermes, which can be found as Attachment B of the County’s Report Format and Content Requirements for Biological Resources, have been updated in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). These guidelines will be superseded by USFWS Hermes copper protocols if survey protocols are issued.)

1. Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO)
2. Biological Mitigation Ordinance (BMO)
3. MSCP Findings
4. MSCP Website
5. Fish & Game Fee FAQs
6. Mitigation Banks
7. California Department of Fish & Game Lake or Streambed Alteration Permit
8. Process For Issuance of Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat Loss Permits (Ord. No. 8365)
9. Protocols for Projects Requiring HLPs
10. Board of Supervisors Policy I-100: Minor Open Space Encroachments
11. Board of Supervisors Policy I-103:  Open Space Encroachment Vacations
12. Sec. 87.501 Clearing Permits - County of San Diego 2003 Revised Grading Ordinance 
13. GIS Biological Mapping Training – January 20, 2011

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Guidelines for Determining Significance 
• Report Format Content and Requirements 
• Climate Action Plan Consistency Review Checklist
• The 2016 Climate Change Analysis Guidance was removed on 4/28/2017

1. Climate Action Plan 

Cultural  Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved September 26, 2006 - Revised December 5, 2007 -Includes Archaeology & Historical Resources)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved September 26, 2006 - Revised December 5, 2007 -Includes Archaeology & Historical Resources)

1. An Ordinance Amending the San Diego County Administrative Code, Relating to Enactment of Mills Act Contracts for Property Tax Relief and for the Preservation of Historic Properties
2. An Ordinance Adding Section 396.7 To The San Diego County Administrative Code Relating To The San Diego County Local Register Of Historical Resources
3. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings or the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
4. Resource Protection Ordinance (RPO)

Dark Skies and Glare          

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007 - First Minor Modification January 15, 2009)
• Photometric Study Requirements (Approved July 30, 2007 - First Minor Modification January 15, 2009)

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

• EIR Content & Format Requirements
• EIR Content and Format  Guidelines-Revised 2004
• September 26, 2006 - County of San Diego EIR Content & Format Requirements

Emergency Response Plans

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)

Geology/Geologic Hazards/Soils

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)

1. State of California Seismic Hazards Program
2. California Geological Survey Regional Geology and Hazards Mapping 
3. State of California Alquist Priolo Act

Grading

1. County of San Diego Grading Ordinance
2. Land Development Preliminary Grading Guidelines 
3. SWMP Grading Plan Guidelines

Groundwater

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved September 27, 2023)
  
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved September 27, 2023)
  

1. Groundwater Ordinance(Ord. No.10866)
2. Groundwater Limitations Map

Hazardous Materials & Existing Contamination

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)

1. SWRCB Geo tracker
2. Department of Toxic Substance & Control- EnviroStor
3. Government Code Section 65962.5 (Cortese List) Information
4. Department of Environmental Health, Voluntary Assistance Program
5. Local Enforcement Agency
6. San Diego Air Pollution Control District - Asbestos Program

Hydrology/Water Quality

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Hydrology and Water Quality) (Approved, August 18, 2021)
• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Hydrology) (Previous, Reference Only, Approved July 30, 2007)
• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Water Quality) (Previous, Reference Only, Approved July 30, 2007)

        Note: Please use the forms and templates at this link as the forms and templates are subject to change.

1. Low Impact Development LID Handbook
2. Clean Water Act 303(d) - List of Impaired Water Bodies
3. Best Management Practice Design Manual (BMP) (Replaces SUSMP)
4. Watershed Protection Ordinance
5. Drainage Design Manual
6. Hydromodification Management Documents
7. General Development Resources
    

Land Use/Planning

1. General Plan Elements
2. Community Plans
3. Design Guidelines Design Review Checklist
4. Zoning Ordinance
5. Board of Supervisors Policies
6. Ordinance Amendments
7. County Subdivision Ordinance
8. California Subdivision Map Act  

Landscaping & Revegetation

•  Report Format Content and Guidelines (Approved July 30, 2007)         

1. Landscape Plan Application (Documentation Package)
2. PDS #346 - Discretionary Application Form
3. PDS #346S - Supplemental Application Form
4. PDS #717 - Revegetation Plans Applicant's Guide
5. County of San Diego Water Efficient Landscape Design Manual
6. County of San Diego Parking Design Manual
7. Community Design Guidelines
8. Stormwater Information
9. County of San Diego Grading Ordinance -§87.417 (Planting) and § 87.418 (Irrigation)
10. San Diego County's Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance, Ord No. 10427

Mineral Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007 - Revised July 30, 2008)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved July 30, 2007 - Revised July 30, 2008)

1. Mineral Land Classification Maps (available for ordering)
2. Guidelines Classification of Mineral Lands
3. Surface Mining and Reclamation Act  

Noise

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved March 19, 2007 - Revised January 27, 2009)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved March 19, 2007 - Revised January 27, 2009)

1. Noise Ordinance (Ord. No 6212)
2. Old Noise Element (Adopted 1975 and Revised 2006)
3. New Noise Element (Adopted August 2011)

Paleontological Resources

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved March 19, 2007 - First Minor Modification January 15, 2009)

Transportation & Traffic

• Current Transportation Study Guide (Adopted September 28, 2022) (NOTE: The previous June 2020 Transportation Study Guide has been rescinded)
• VMT Interactive Map and Parcel Lookup Tool
• VMT Transportation Study Guide/SB 743 Website
• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Reference Only, See VMT Transportation Study Guide) (Approved Sept. 26, 2006 - Revised June 30, 2009, Modified Feb. 19, 2010 and Second Modification Aug. 24, 2011)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Reference Only, See VMT Transportation Study Guide) (Approved Sept. 26, 2006 - Revised June 30, 2009, Modified Feb. 19, 2010 and Second Modification Aug. 24, 2011)

Unique Geology

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007)

Vectors

• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Approved July 30, 2007 - First Minor Modification January 15, 2009)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Approved July 30, 2007 - First Minor Modification January 15, 2009)

1. DEH Vector Control Program
2. Managing Mosquitos in Stormwater Treatment Devices
3. Managing Mosquitos in Surface-Flow Constructed Treatment Wetlands
4. Mosquitos: Integrated Pest Management Around the Home

Wildland Fire and Fire Protection/Fire Hazards      

• 2024 Updated Guidelines and Report Fpromat & Content Requirements (Current)
• 2023 Updated Guidelines (Reference Only) (Item 7 of Board of Supervisors Meeting on January 25, 2023)
• Guidelines for Determining Significance (Reference Only) (Approved August 31, 2010)
• Report Format & Content Requirements (Reference Only) (Approved August 31, 2010)

1. Memorandum of Understanding Between USFWS, CDF&G, CDF, San Diego County Fire Chief's Association and the Fire District's Association of San Diego County
2. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Opinion on the MOU
3. County of San Diego: Fire, Defensible Space and You!
4. Consolidated Fire Code
5. Fire Code Compliance for Cellular Facilities
6. Fire Protection Plan--Letter Report