Comprehensive plan
A comprehensive plan is a city or county's long-range policy for growth, with a future land use map that guides zoning decisions.
Also called general plan, master plan, or land use plan.
What it tells you
The future land use map shows where a city expects housing, industry, or retail before anyone applies. A project that doesn't fit the map usually needs a plan amendment as well as a rezoning.
How it moves through a city or county
- Planning staff and consultants draft the plan, usually with public meetings and surveys.
- The planning commission holds hearings and recommends it.
- The city council or county commission adopts it.
- The plan is rewritten every several years and amended in between.
Some states require zoning to be consistent with the plan; in others it's advisory. California and Utah call it a general plan, as do Arizona's cities.
Recent future land use changes
From public filings in Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin.
| Project | Location | Developer | Type | Size | Stage | Latest meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Acre Office Development | Caddo Mills, TX | State Farm Insurance Agency | Office buildings | 2 acres | Approved | |
| 32-Acre Agricultural Land Use Amendment | Merton, WI | Gideon Farms LLC | Farms and ranches | 32 acres | Seeking approval | |
| 59.2-Acre Industrial Park with 2.98M SqFt Warehouse | Lake Alfred, FL | JSK Consulting, LLC | Warehouses and distribution | 59.2 acres | Recommended |
As of How we count
Common questions
- Is a comprehensive plan the same as zoning?
- No, a comprehensive plan is a policy guide for the future, while zoning is the law that applies to land today. Many cities change zoning over time to match the plan.
- How often are comprehensive plans updated?
- How often a comprehensive plan is updated depends on the state and the place. Many rewrite theirs about once a decade and amend it in between, often when a project asks.
Related terms
Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.
See plan changes near you.
Search Boardwalk for "future land use" to see plan changes tied to projects.