Welcome to the Planning Division

The Planning Division provides land use services to the public in the areas of residential, commercial and industrial permitting, engages in long range community planning and zoning enforcement, and coordinates a variety of regional programs in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County.

Planning and regulation of land use stem from the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which gives police power to the States. The courts have held that this police power may be used to regulate a wide variety of activities as long as it is exercised in a manner that is related to the protection of the public’s health, safety, and welfare, and does not contradict constitutional principles, including the concepts of due process, equal protection, and the unlawful taking of property without compensation. State and community planning, zoning, subdivision regulations, sign controls, growth management regulations and environmental regulations are all examples of police power.

Our website is designed to inform and educate the public about the services we provide and to allow easy access to planning documents and studies, environmental documents, Zoning Ordinances, the County General Plan and Area Plans, permit application materials, meeting agendas for the Planning Commission and other hearings, and relevant census and demographic information.  New features on our website are highlighted in the right sidebar.

The chief responsibility of the Planning Division is to regulate the use of land and structures within unincorporated areas of the county. Using these regulations and others, the Planning Division issues permits for uses and structures and enforces both permit conditions and maintains consistency with the County’s Zoning Ordinances and General Plan.