A general plan is a state-mandated blueprint that guides a city’s growth, services, and community protection. 

State law requires cities to regularly update their general plans. Walnut Creek’s current General Plan 2025 was adopted in 2006. The General Plan 2025 includes goals, policies, and actions through the year 2025. The City is currently working on General Plan Update 2050.

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).

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.

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 

Land use map

View or download the Land Use Map for the General Plan [PDF]. It was last updated on January 1, 2023. No map amendments have occurred since this date. 

Environmental Impact Report

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