A general plan is a state mandated policy statement and guide for the City’s future. It’s sometimes described as the City’s blueprint or a constitution for conservation and development. It provides a framework for decisions about how to grow, provide public services and facilities and protect and enhance the community.

State law requires cities to regularly update their general plans. Walnut Creek’s current General Plan 2025 was adopted in 2006.

Plan contents

The plan’s content covers land within the city limits as well as land outside its boundaries as it relates to planning efforts.  State law requires the plan to include these seven elements:

• Land use
• Circulation
• Housing
• Open space
• Noise
• Safety
• Conservation

Other elements are optional (such as Arts or Economic Development).

Consistency

The plan must be internally consistent and cannot have policies that conflict with each other.

Zoning ordinance

The General Plan sets standards such as density and building mass. The zoning ordinance sets specifics like minimum lot sizes, height limits, setbacks and parking requirements for individual parcels. The City’s zoning ordinance must be consistent with the General Plan.

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General Plan 2025

The General Plan 2025 includes goals, policies, and actions through the year 2025.

Final plan

This document was originally adopted in 2006 and is current through January 1, 2023.

Download the General Plan 2025 

Chapters

• Front cover and list of amendments
• Acknowledgement and Table of contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Quality of life
  • Figure 2.3 Community facilities
  • Figure 2.4 School districts
• Chapter 3: Natural environment
  • Figure 3.2 Watersheds
• Chapter 4: Built environment
  • Figure 4.3 Core Area Map
  • Figure 4.8 Commercial Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
  • Figure 4.9 Mixed Use Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
  • Figure 4.10 Core Area Height Limit
  • Figure 4.11 Setbacks
  • Figure 4.15 Specific Plan Boundaries
  • Figure 4.16 Specific Plan Boundaries — Core Area
• Chapter 5: Transportation
• Chapter 6: Safety and noise
• Chapter 7: Governance
• Chapter 8: Implementation
• Appendix A: Glossary
• Appendix B: Walnut Creek Hillside/Open Space Protection Ordinance
• Technical Appendix 

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Land use map

View or download the Land Use Map for the General Plan [PDF]. It is current through January 1, 2023.

Housing element

The housing element sets the City’s strategies to address housing needs for residents of all incomes levels. It is required to be updated more frequently than the General Plan. 

Learn more about Walnut Creek’s housing element for 2023-2031.

Environmental Impact Report

• Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
• Final EIR: Chapters 1-2
• Final EIR: Chapters 3-4
• Final EIR: Chapters 5-Appendix