Plans and guidelines

BCDC cannot approve a permit for a project that is not consistent with the Bay Plan. BCDC also has other plans that help supplement the Bay Plan. For example, Special Area Plans provide more specific rules for discrete geographical areas and are considered part of the Bay Plan, although they are separate documents. In addition, in the Suisun Marsh, BCDC uses the Suisun Marsh Protection Plan to evaluate projects in the permitting process. BCDC also uses policy guidance in its permitting or planning, and this guidance is updated periodically.

Bay Plan Amendments

BCDC may amend the Bay Plan and other BCDC plans over time to address regional needs. Amendments can be started by the Commission, BCDC staff, or the public. If you are interested in learning about amending BCDC plans, please contact the Long-Range Planning Team at info@bcdc.ca.gov.

Current projects to update the Bay Plan, other plans, policies, or guidance are listed below. If you are interested in learning more about BCDC’s planning for climate change and sea level rise, click to the Adapting to Rising Tides and Bay Adapt webpages.

San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan Update (BPA 3-17)

The Port of San Francisco applied to amend the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan. The San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan governs BCDC’s permitting activities along the San Francisco Waterfront.

The Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed Bay Plan Amendment BPA 3-17 on July 17, 2025. BPA 3-17 would update the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan (SFWSAP), an element of the San Francisco Bay Plan. The proposed amendment would align the policies of the SFWSAP with the Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Plan, would update the geographic-specific policies of the Fisherman’s Wharf vicinity to match the Northeastern Waterfront vicinity, and would establish a Sea Level Rise Public Education Initiative as a public benefit.

Sediment for Wetland Adaptation Project (SWAP)

Using grant funding, BCDC is working to increase beneficial reuse of sediment and soil for habitat adaptation by creating an action plan through stakeholder engagement, undertaking a potential Bay Plan amendment, and developing a financing strategy.

Archive: Bay Plan Amendments

Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (BPA 1-24)

BCDC led a project to update the Bay Plan to include a regionwide plan that addresses sea level rise in San Francisco Bay, and contains guidelines for local plans, per SB 272.