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Initiatives & Programs

Our Planning Bureau initiatives and programs are aimed at creating a more livable and sustainable city and enhancing the quality of life of the community. How do we do that? Take a look at our Educational Toolkit to understand what is city planning and how it affects you. See our programs and initiatives below to learn how the Planning Bureau is positively impacting the health, safety, and well-being of communities throughout Long Beach.
City Planning is comprehensively updating its zoning code for the first time since 1989 through a multi-year project called Zone In. Rezoning will help meet existing and future housing needs and support the creation of more complete communities where housing, jobs and shopping are located more closely together and focused near the highest quality public transportation within the city. Zone In: Citywide Rezoning
The Downtown Shoreline Plan aims to create a community vision and guidelines for creation of a world-class waterfront that will serve as a global destination. The City is undertaking a multistep planning effort to overhaul the District’s outdated land use and zoning regulations and creating an enhanced waterfront that is accessible, affordable, clean, financially sustainable, and equitable. Downtown Shoreline (PD-6)
Planning staff is currently in the preliminary stages of reviewing the existing downtown plan, analyzing issues and opportunities, considering the historical context and existing conditions, evaluating the Downtown Plan’s impact over the past 10 years, and devising strategies for most effectively updating the plan for the next decade or decades of growth, complying with state law and improving the implementation of the plan for the future. Downtown Plan Update (PD-30)
The City of Long Beach is developing a comprehensive and strategic plan to enhance the quality of life in West Long Beach. Livable West Long Beach will coordinate and prioritize existing improvement projects to facilitate implementation of those that are most important to the community. Livable West Long Beach
In June 2022, the Long Beach City Council unanimously approved a recommendation for City staff to work with community stakeholders to create a visioning process and feasibility plan for the LGBTQ+ Cultural District to educate visitors about the cultural and historical significance of the LGBTQ+ community, support the LGBTQ+ businesses and institutions, and invest in public improvements to ensure the LGBTQ+ community continues to thrive. LGBTQ+ Cultural District Community Visioning Process
The City of Long Beach is proposing a Zoning Code update that will address the regulation of e-commerce and delivery-only retailers throughout the city. The Zoning Code amendment will focus on addressing current impacts while anticipating future retail trends and e-commerce opportunities. E-Commerce Delivery-Only Retail Zoning Code Update

Recently Completed Initiatives & Programs

The City of Long Beach Inclusionary Housing Policy requires all new housing development projects, proposing 10 or more residential units to include some affordable housing units, rather than being solely market-rate. Long Beach City Council adopted key updates to the policy on April 1, 2025. Inclusionary Housing
The Parking Exempt Area Map provides exemptions from parking count minimums as otherwise required by the Zoning Regulations. The Parking Exempt Area map was adopted on January 30, 2025. Parking Exempt Area
The City has adopted a technical update to the Subdivision Ordinance to be consistent with current State law, as well as provide tools that make the process simpler and more straightforward for City staff, developers, and the general public. City Council adopted the ordinance on December 19, 2023, repealing and replacing the Subdivision Regulations (Title 20) in its entirety. Subdivision Ordinance Update
The City of Long Beach strives to be a more sustainable and resilient city in the face of climate change impacts such as air pollution, extreme heat, drought, coastal storm surge, and sea-level rise. The Long Beach Climate Action Plan, also known as the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, was approved by the City Council on August 16, 2022. Long Beach Climate Action Plan

Planning Bureau

562.570.6194

411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

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The Planning and Zoning phone line is open Monday through Thursday during regular business hours and closes daily for lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m. The Permit Center is closed daily for lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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