The County of Contra Costa is preparing comprehensive updates to its existing General Plan and CAP. The updates will establish County land use policy through 2045 and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance community resiliency. State law requires that the General Plan contain seven elements: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Open Space, Noise, Safety, and Conservation. Environmental justice must also be addressed, either in its own element or throughout the General Plan (Contra Costa County has taken a hybrid approach). The content of the elements is outlined in State law. The updated General Plan will include all State-required elements and two optional elements, Growth Management and Public Facilities and Services. The Housing Element is being updated in parallel to the rest of the General Plan. The updated Housing Element was adopted by the County Board of Supervisors on June 13, 2023, and is undergoing revision following a review by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Contra Costa County’s existing General Plan was adopted in 1991, with minor revisions occurring in 2005. The overall purpose of the General Plan Update is to create a modern General Plan that articulates a vision for the county’s long-term physical form and development, while preserving and enhancing the quality of life for Contra Costa County’s residents. The key components of this project include broad community goals for the future of Contra Costa County and specific policies and implementing actions that help achieve the goals. The updated General Plan will modernize the County’s policy framework to address the current requirements of State law, with emphasis on the topics of environmental justice, economic development, community health, and sustainability. The General Plan Update will also include numerous land use changes in unincorporated communities where change or enhancement of existing uses is desired through 2045. Finally, the project includes an update to the County’s 2015 CAP. The CAP will be a separate document that sets targets and establishes measures to reduce GHG emissions in unincorporated Contra Costa County, consistent with State targets.