Carlsbad, CA
Home MenuGrowth Management
Carefully managing growth and development is critical to maintaining the City of Carlsbad’s excellent quality of life. Since 1986, the city has grown under the framework of the Growth Management Program, which has two parts:
- In 1986, Carlsbad voters approved housing caps that limited how many homes could be built in the city.
- The city then worked with the community to develop conditions (called performance standards) on how growth could occur, including requiring that development pay its own way by funding key infrastructure needed to serve new residents.
Today, new state laws have changed how future housing will be approved. With less control over approving new housing, the city is entering a new phase where different tools will be needed to effectively manage growth.
Community input
A resident-led committee created by the City Council completed its work in April 2023 with a report that identifies issues and standards that will help ensure Carlsbad retains an excellent quality of life as it continues to grow.
What's next
The City Council accepted the committee's report on July 18, 2023, and asked staff to return to discuss next steps to update the city's growth management program, which include doing technical studies to determine if and how the standards proposed by the committee could be linked to developer fees.
State's density bonus law explained
Starting in 2017, the state passed a slew of new housing laws designed to fast-track new residential development, especially affordable housing.
09/27/2024 9:24 AM
State housing laws explained
We have compiled a new one-stop-shop for community members who want to learn more about new state housing laws, what’s allowed to be built where and what the city is doing in response to protect our quality of life.
09/06/2024 9:53 AM
Zoning changes approved
On Tuesday, the City Council voted to approve the rezoning of 16 properties around Carlsbad to meet new state housing laws.
02/01/2024
New plan for parks, recreation
The Carlsbad City Council adopted an updated plan on Tuesday that will guide parks and recreation priorities through 2030 based on community feedback, industry trends, city demographics and other factors. The City Council also voted for staff to prioritize the development of additional pickleball co
09/27/2023
Growth management next steps
On Tuesday, the City Council received a report with recommendations from a resident-led committee on issues and standards that will help ensure Carlsbad retains an excellent quality of life as it continues to grow.
07/20/2023
Committee studying growth finalizing draft report
A resident-led committee created is finalizing a draft report that identifies issues and standards that will help ensure Carlsbad retains an excellent quality of life as it continues to grow.
03/16/2023