General Plans and Zoning: A Toolkit on Land Use and Health is a toolkit designed for nutrition and other public health advocates who are seeking a fundamental, introductory understanding of how land use decisions are made and how advocates can effectively participate in those decisions.

The guide was produced by Planning for Healthy Places in partnership with the California Department of Health Services through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families.

Note: The toolkit, including the glossary and resource guide, is 235 pages in length. It was produced for use within a one-inch binder, and we are pleased to send you a cover/spine and section divider tabs upon request to aid you in creating your own bound toolkit.

Download selected chapters:

Title page and table of contents

Section I: Introduction to Land Use and Health

1. Introduction
2. What Is Land Use?
3. The Connection Between Land Use and Health
4. Cities and Counties
5. Why Can Land Use Be Regulated? An Introduction to the Police Power
6. How Is Land Use Regulated?

Section II: General Plans

7. What Is a General Plan?
8. Consistency Requirements
9. General Plan Amendments
10. Finding and Understanding Your General Plan
11. Model General Plan Language
12. Examples from Other Jurisdictions: What Has Worked

Section III: Zoning

13. What Is Zoning?
14. What Does Zoning Address?
15. How Are Zoning Requirements Described?
16. How Does Zoning Work?
17. Zoning Amendments
18. How to Participate in the Zoning Amendment Process
19. Model Zoning Code Language
20. Examples from Other Jurisdictions: What Has Worked

Section IV:

21. Data Collection
22. Organizing for Success
23. Paying for Change: Regulatory Fees

Appendix 1: Glossary

Appendix 2: Resources