Current Planning Projects

A variety of ministerial and discretionary land use project applications are processed by the Sierra County Planning Department.  The Planning Department is also responsible for longer horizon projects, such as updating and implementing the General Plan and Zoning Ordinances.  Information on current projects can be found below:

♦  Sierra County General Plan and Zoning Code Update

  • The Sierra County General Plan was last comprehensively updated and adopted in 1996, and the current Zoning Code was adopted in 1973 (with numerous amendments since) and the county recognizes that the Zoning Code is not fully consistent with the General Plan--and that both sets of land use policies are badly in need of an update.  After several prior attempts (with fits and starts), we are happy to report that this effort is officially back underway!  The county has contracted with the consulting firm Mintier-Harnish to complete the updates and Planning Department staff is hard at work on this project with the consultant.  Check back at this webpage for updates and the latest information, and watch for public notices of upcoming workshops and public hearings on the review, comment, and adoption process.  It is anticipated that the first public-review drafts will be made available beginning in late 2025.

♦  General Plan Housing Element 2024-2029 (7th cycle update)

  • The current Housing Element Update was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 4, 2025.  Click here for more information about this State-mandated program and to download a copy.

♦  Broadband Planning & Feasibility Study

2024 was a monumental period for broadband infrastructure funding opportunities.  COVID-19 disruptions caused federal and state legislators to approve billions of dollars devoted to expanding broadband infrastructure across the nation.  The expansion of broadband infrastructure will connect critically unserved and underserved locations and bring internet service to historically unconnected communities.

♦  Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The Planning Department is working with the Transportation & Public Works Department and other regional partners to secure grant funding to develop a regional "Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Plan" which is prerequisite to securing additional future grants to install EV chargers throughout the county.  In the meantime, the county encourages private commercial property owners to install publicly-accessible EV chargers on their own sites.  In accordance with the State's stated priority to promote and further the availability of EV charging stations throughout the State (including in rural areas), Sierra County adopted Ordinance 1123 (see Sierra County Code Section 12.04.200) to implement Gov't. Code Section 65850.7 (AB 1236; Chiu, 2015) to help streamline the permitting process: in most cases, commercial EV Chargers can be installed without a Conditional Use Permit or other form of discretionary entitlement--just a ministerial building permit using forms and checklists we have developed specifically for this purpose.  Click here for more information and permit application forms.

♦  [More to come....]

We will update this website with additional projects we are actively working on, as time and resources allow....