The Planning and Permitting Division of the City’s Development Services Department is primarily responsible for developing and maintaining the City’s General Plan (a comprehensive plan for growth and development) as required by State law; developing specific plans, neighborhood plans, master plans, and special studies as needed; and participating in regional transportation and land use plans. In addition, the Division is responsible for maintaining the zoning ordinance and map; processing development applications as part of the “one-stop permit” center; providing customer assistance; conducting development review; reviewing improvement plans, building permits, and business licenses for compliance with City regulations; enforcing the zoning and subdivision codes; and completing special projects as needed. The Division also carries out environmental reviews as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and provides environmental data and information on current State requirements to City departments and the public.

The Planning and Permitting Division assists the community as it grows in meeting its long-range land use, circulation, and public facilities needs, and maintaining its quality of life. In doing this, the division provides a professional level of development services support to the general public, applicants, City departments, Design Review Commission, Planning Commission and the City Council.

To contact the Planning Division, please call (209) 385-6858 or visit our offices on the 2nd floor of the Merced Civic Center at 678 West 18th Street.  You may also contact Planning at planningweb@cityofmerced.org