Land Use Planning Program (Pre-Pay Discount 10%)

Planning is essential for managing community growth, addressing economic and environmental challenges, and creating resilient, livable communities. In this course, you’ll gain a comprehensive overview of the planning profession and a strong foundation in modern planning practice.

Designed for both experienced planners seeking a refresher and those new to the field, this course introduces the principles, processes and practice of land use planning in California. Through real-world examples, you’ll examine general plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulation, permit processes, property rights, environmental review, public finance, natural resources and urban design.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the legal framework and planning tools used in land use decision-making
• Apply planning tools to address land use challenges facing California communities
• Analyze the relationships among land use, public finance and governance
• Evaluate how public policies influence land use planning and development

Skills You will Gain

• California land use planning fundamentals
• Public policy analysis
• Land use decision-making
• Public finance and governance fundamentals

Course Format and Pacing
This online course includes five (5) weekly live, instructor-led Zoom sessions. Students will access the program through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Active engagement and participation are essential to fully benefit from the course and achieve the best learning outcomes.

Planning decisions have financial consequences for both public agencies and private developers. This course explores the economic and fiscal factors that influence land use planning and development, providing learners with the knowledge to evaluate the financial impacts of planning decisions and development proposals.

You'll examine how local governments generate revenue, conduct fiscal impact analyses and finance public infrastructure through debt and other funding mechanisms. The course also explores how planning decisions affect project feasibility from a developer's perspective and how planners can balance public goals with private-sector realities.

By the end of the course, you'll have a practical understanding of the financial aspects of planning and be better equipped to evaluate the fiscal implications of planning and development decisions.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain how planning decisions influence the financial feasibility of development projects
• Interpret fiscal impact analyses and apply their findings to planning decisions
• Describe major sources of local government revenue and financing
• Evaluate the use of public debt and alternative financing strategies for public projects
• Analyze planning proposals from both public agency and developer perspectives
• Assess the fiscal impacts of land use and development decisions
• Balance public-sector objectives with private-sector financial considerations in the planning process

Skills You Will Gain

• Fiscal impact analysis
• Local government finance
• Development feasibility analysis
• Public finance and infrastructure funding
• Financial analysis for planning
• Public-private development evaluation
• Economic decision-making

Approximately 40 hours of study and full attendance at all course meetings are required.

Course Format and Pacing
This online course includes four (4) weekly live, instructor-led Zoom sessions. Attendance in all sessions is required. Students will access the course through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Students can expect to spend a total of approximately 40 hours on this course. Active engagement and participation are essential to fully benefit from the course and achieve the best learning outcomes.

Understanding the legal framework governing planning and environmental review is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal laws. Designed for planning professionals, this course provides learners with the knowledge and practical skills to navigate California's planning and environmental legal system.  

You’ll explore the legal foundations of planning and environmental law, including statutes, regulations and case law, and how they guide land use decisions and environmental review. The course examines key legal requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Planning and Zoning Law, and other local, state and federal environmental laws. You'll also learn how and when planners should work with legal counsel throughout the planning process.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to interpret legal requirements, analyze planning-related legal decisions and communicate legal concepts effectively with the public, decision-makers, colleagues and attorneys.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and interpret the statutes, regulations and case law that govern planning and environmental review in California
• Apply the legal requirements of CEQA, NEPA, California Planning and Zoning Law, and other applicable environmental laws to planning projects
• Analyze judicial decisions and explain their implications for planning practice
• Determine when and how to collaborate with legal counsel to support planning decisions, regulatory compliance and litigation preparation
• Communicate legal principles clearly to planners, decision-makers, attorneys and members of the public

Skills You Will Gain

• Professional communication
• Case law analysis
• Planning and environmental law fundamentals
• CEQA and NEPA compliance
• Collaboration with legal counsel
• Regulatory compliance

Approximately 20 hours of project work and regular attendance are required. 

Course Format and Pacing
This five-week online course includes five (5) live, instructor-led Zoom sessions. Attendance in all sessions is required. Students will access the program through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Students can expect to spend a total of approximately 20 hours on this course. Active engagement and participation are essential to fully benefit from the course and achieve the best learning outcomes.

Does your community need to update its General Plan? Joanna Jansen, who has prepared numerous  General Plans throughout the state, will share her insights on the best practices for general plan preparation. Learn how to scope and budget the project, hire consulting assistance as necessary and finish the project in an efficient and comprehensive manner. Topics include:

• General plan law and requirements
• Public involvement in general planning
• Sustainability and environmental justice in the general plan  
• Data collection, mapping and land use inventories
• Preparing and evaluating alternatives
• Integration of CEQA

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online remote learning course delivered through UC Davis CPE’s learning management system, Canvas, with supplemental live sessions hosted on Zoom. The course consists of approximately 6.5 hours of content, combining pre-recorded lectures with a mandatory live Zoom session led by the instructor.