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

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systems that use ecological processes, to increase resiliency to climate change, manage other environmental 
hazards, or both. This may include, but is not limited to, floodplain and wetlands restoration or preservation, 
combining levees with restored natural systems to reduce flood risk, and urban tree planting to mitigate high 
heat days.
(D) 
If a city or county has adopted the local hazard mitigation plan, or other climate adaptation plan or document 
that fulfills commensurate goals and objectives and contains the information required pursuant to this paragraph, 
separate from the general plan, an attachment of, or reference to, the local hazard mitigation plan or other 
climate adaptation plan or document. 
(ii)  Cities or counties that have an adopted hazard mitigation plan, or other climate adaptation plan or document 
that substantially complies with this section, or have substantially equivalent provisions to this subdivision in 
their general plans, may use that information in the safety element to comply with this subdivision, and shall 
summarize and incorporate by reference into the safety element the other general plan provisions, climate 
adaptation plan or document, specifically showing how each requirement of this subdivision has been met.
The safety element discussion is not the only section of the GPG that should address climate change adaptation and resilience. 
Nearly every other chapter of the GPG outlines how climate change applies to each respective section. The safety element is 
the statutory “home” for the discussion; however, it should not preclude discussion of climate adaptation and resilience in 
other appropriate sections of a jurisdiction’s general plan. Specifically, addressing a changing climate may result in the need 
to consider the end year of the general plan and the environmental changes that may occur through the life of a general 
plan’s applicability. As the climate changes, future environmental conditions at the horizon year of the general plan may be 
just as important for consideration of long range policy as the base environment setting. As climatic systems shift away from a 
historically predictable paradigm, planning policy should adapt to better incorporate the associated impacts of these anticipated 
environmental shifts.  Further, all major policy documents in a jurisdiction should discuss climate adaptation and resilience, 
as both an input to and implementation of the jurisdiction’s general plan. This will lead to consistency within a jurisdiction’s 
policy framework and ensure implementations of policies are occurring in an efficient and appropriate manner. Examples and 
cases studies of how this incorporation might occur will be hosted on OPR’s Adaptation Clearinghouse.
In some cases, jurisdictions have chosen to address climate change in their community through a 
climate action plan or 
adaptation plan
. Additional guidance on how a jurisdiction might treat these two types of documents in relationship to the 
general plan is included in 
Chapter 8, Climate Change
. Many jurisdictions have chosen to address greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions reductions and climate change adaptation together in the same document. The guidance here does not require 
bifurcating the GHG emissions and adaptation discussions, rather the intent of the policy maker should be to look at the whole 
of the policy framework to both meet statutory requirements while also maximizing co-benefits of policy initiatives. An outline 
of a climate action plan that could address both GHG emissions and adaptation is included in 
Chapter 8, Climate Change
 and in 
OPR’s Adaptation Clearinghouse
.
(i) 
  

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Timing of Updates
For those jurisdictions that have an adopted 
local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP)
, the next update of their LHMP triggers an 
update to the safety element of the general plan to address climate adaptation and resilience. If a jurisdiction does not have 
an LHMP, the safety element of the general plan must be reviewed and updated on or before January 1, 2022 to address climate 
adaptation and resilience. Internal consistency and disclosure of impacts to a community may become problematic if the 
document is not updated regularly. A jurisdiction may choose to review and update the safety element each time the 
housing 
element
 is updated, as is required for flood and fire hazards. The 
housing element’s 
five to eight year update cycle may be 
adequate to regularly review and update the safety element 
climate change
 discussions. Jurisdictions that have an LHMP may 
also choose to review and update their climate change analysis in the 
LHMP
 concurrently or as preparation for the next LHMP 
update to create consistency and efficiency in the review and update cycle for both general plans and LHMPs.
Fulfilling the Objectives of This Section 
Some jurisdictions have already completed climate change adaptation analysis. In recognition of this, a city or county may 
use an existing 
LHMP
 or climate adaptation plan to satisfy the requirements of this section. The key to using these stand-alone 
documents is to both satisfy the requirements of this chapter and to adequately incorporate contents of the plan into the general 
plan. Likewise, a city or county may use a general plan that currently includes adaptation to satisfy the requirements of this 
section. If a separate plan is used, it must be incorporated by reference into the safety element and summarized to specifically 
show how each requirement of this subdivision has been met.
To the extent that a county’s safety element is sufficiently detailed and contains appropriate policies and programs for adoption 
by a city, a city may adopt that portion of the county’s safety element that pertains to the city’s planning area in satisfaction of 
the requirement imposed by this subdivision.
Process for Analysis
The requirements of 
SB 379
 have five distinct steps (outlined below). The first and last steps focus on the relationship of the 
analysis and policy efforts of the larger general plan. Steps 2, 3, and 4 focus on how to conduct the recommended analysis, goal 
setting, and policy development.  This process can also be found at the OPR Adaptation Clearinghouse. The five steps require 
that the jurisdiction: 
1.  Review the existing 
LHMP
, climate action plan (CAP), adaptation plan and other relevant documents to ensure it meets the 
requirements of 
Government Code section 65302(g)(4)
 as outlined in this chapter. If the 
LHMP
, or plan to address climate 
adaptation, does not meet the requirements of this chapter, proceed to Step 2. Proceed to step 5 if these requirements have 
already been satisfied.
2.  Conduct a vulnerability assessment.
3.  Develop adaptation goals. 
4.  Create implementation measures.
Complete 
Adaptation Planning Guide (APG) 
Process to satisfy these steps

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