A city (or county) is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims

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OPR Recommended Policies
These policies are an example of recommended policies adopted by varying jurisdictions, to be modified and used as 
appropriate. A full list of recommended policies can be found 
here
Sample Policy
Example of Application
Relationship to Other Elements
[City/county]  shall work with the Park District to seek 
locations for and the development of neighborhood parks 
in those neighborhoods which lack park acreage. 
City of Citrus Heights
Land use, conservation, healthy communities  
[City/county]  shall establish an open space acquisition 
program that identifies acquisition area priorities based on 
capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, acces-
sibility, needs, resource preservation, ability to complete 
or enhance the existing open space linkage system and 
unique environmental features. 
City of Riverside
Land use, conservation, economic development, safety
[City/county]  shall maximize public benefits in the recla-
mation of mineral extraction and sanitary landfill areas
City of Rialto
Land use, conservation, safety, climate change
[City/county]  shall maintain habitat corridors to connect 
conservation areas such as parks, [marine protected ar-
eas], and open space, protect biodiversity, accommodate 
wildlife movement and sustain ecosystems
City of Citrus Heights
Land use, conservation, climate change
City/county]  shall develop, wherever possible, recreation 
facilities that have multi-use capabilities and high degree 
of adaptability to more intensive use or uses as recreation 
demand changes and/or population density increases
City of Brea
Land use, conservation, equitable and resiliant communi-
ties, economic development, healthy communities

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Noise Element
Introduction 
Noise surrounds us; it is a constant presence in everyday life. A noisy community can be an excellent indicator of a healthy 
community: the noise from busy shops, children playing, and public transportation are all signs of a thriving environment. 
Noise is often defined subjectively, surrounding busy transportation corridors, recreational areas, construction zones, and 
schools as unwanted sound, while welcomed when supporting the presence of activity in a commercial business area. In 
addition, some development goals, such as 
infill
, may create acceptably higher levels of noise. The purpose of the noise element 
is to ensure that a local planning area limits the exposure of the community to excessive noise levels in noise-sensitive areas and 
at noise-sensitive times of day. 
In 1976, the Department of Health Services Office of Noise Control issued the first Noise Element Guidelines pursuant to 
Health 
and Safety Code section 46050.1
, followed shortly thereafter by a model noise ordinance. 
Although the Office of Noise Control no longer exists, the principles that it developed are still valid and widely used. Its Noise 
Element Guidelines, which are in 
Appendix D
, are an additional resource that local governments may consult in addition to this 
chapter to develop noise elements. 
Government Code 65302(f):
(1)  A noise element that shall identify and appraise noise problems in the community. The noise element shall analyze and 
quantify, to the extent practicable, as determined by the legislative body, current and projected noise levels for all of the 
following sources:
(A)  Highways and freeways.
(B)  Primary arterials and major local streets.
(C)  Passenger and freight online railroad operations and ground rapid transit systems.
(D) Commercial, general aviation, heliport, helistop, and military airport operations, aircraft overflights, jet engine test 
stands, and all other ground facilities and maintenance functions related to airport operation.
(E)  Local industrial plants, including, but not limited to, railroad classification yards.
(F)  Other ground stationary noise sources, including, but not limited to, military installations, identified by local agencies 
as contributing to the community noise environment. 

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(2)  Noise contours shall be shown for all of these sources and stated in terms of community noise equivalent level (CNEL) or 
day-night average level (Ldn). The noise contours shall be prepared on the basis of noise monitoring or following generally 
accepted noise modeling techniques for the various sources identified in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive. 
(3)  The noise contours shall be used as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the land use element that minimizes 
the exposure of community residents to excessive noise.
(4)  The noise element shall include implementation measures and possible solutions that address existing and foreseeable 
noise problems, if any. The adopted noise element shall serve as a guideline for compliance with the state’s noise insulation 
standards.
Many noise related planning resources are available. The Caltrans Office of Transportation Laboratory publishes the 
Traffic 
Noise Analysis Protocol
 and numerous reports on mitigating transportation noise. The 
California Airport Land Use Planning 
Handbook
, published by Caltrans’ Division of Aeronautics, includes noise information relating to airports. The Federal Highway 
Administration has published multiple noise reports, including a 
Construction Noise Handbook
, 
Highway Traffic Noise: Analysis 
and Abatement Guide
, 
Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment
, and 
Synthesis of Noise Effects on Wildlife Populations
. 
The process to create the noise element should include, but is not limited to, the following steps:
• Survey the community to determine the type, location and extent of noise incompatibility in the community 
• Explore methods of noise attenuation to minimize exposure to excessive noise
• Research methods to protect residences and other sensitive receptors from excessive noise
• Draft implementation measures that offer solutions to existing and foreseeable noise problems 
C O R R E L A T I O N S   A M O N G   E L E M E N T S
n 
Identified in statute     
n 
Closely related to statutory requirements
 
Land Use
Circulation
Housing
Conservation
Open Space
Safety
EJ
Noise
n
n
n
n
n

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