Overview
The Discretionary Review and Zoning section is primarily responsible for processing discretionary permit applications, such as Use Permits, Site Development Permits, Subdivisions and Rezonings, as well as doing the zoning review for Building Permits and other ministerial applications.
In addition, we provide a variety of free services to the public regarding general parcel and project information, such as zoning information, applicable setbacks, and development constraints. More complex inquiries may require a fee-supported pre-application consultation or other pre-application service.
This web page is intended to be the primary source for public information as it relates to the Santa Cruz County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 13 of the County Code). If you are unable to locate the information you are looking for after reviewing this page, please either contact the Zoning staff by email at: Planning.ZoningInfo@santacruzcountyca.gov or by scheduling an appointment.
New Codes & Policies in Effect
The Sustainability Update, which went into effect March 18, 2024, is a comprehensive update to the County’s General Plan/Local Coastal Program and modernization of the County Code, including new Design Guidelines.
We are in the process of updating our application and information materials to reflect the Sustainability Update’s widespread code and policy changes. For more information:
- Visit the Sustainability Update website, and
- Review the Project Documents section for summaries of the changes to each section (provided at the beginning of each document) as well as strike-through versions of ordinance and policy changes. Strike-through versions show the language that has been deleted as well as the new code language, making it easy to identify changes.