Community Development

The Community Development Department is dedicated to promoting safety, sustainability, and connectivity for people who live, work, and visit the City of Arroyo Grande. We recognize the critical importance of working objectively with individuals, community groups, and the business community in developing a diverse, economically stable city while maintaining the city’s unique environment and heritage for the future. Staff is committed to providing quality services that are responsive, innovative, fiscally sound and helpful to the community.

The Community Development Department is accepting all forms of planning, building, and engineering applications that are submitted electronically. Applications for discretionary permits are also being accepted at this time. Please submit applications using the Citizenserve portal available here. If you need assistance with the portal or submittal process, please contact Shayna Gropen at sgropen@arroyogrande.org or (805) 473-5424.

Planning Commission and advisory body meetings are currently being conducted using teleconferencing technology.

Questions may be directed as follows:

Building Inspections Contact:

Please call (805) 473-5454 for building inspections.

Engineering Inspections Contact: 

Chuck McConnon cmcconnon@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5446

Building Permits Contact:

Erica Casares ecasares@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5453

Planning Applications Contact: 

Andrew Perez aperez@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5425

Engineering Permits and Applications Contact: 

Shayna Gropen sgropen@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5424

Stormwater Contact: 

John Benedetti jbenedetti@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5445

Code Enforcement Contact: 

Christina Alvarez calvarez@arroyogrande.org (805) 473-5447

Planning & Implementation

Planning and implementation of city goals, policies and regulations will ensure that the quality of life is enhanced for the community of Arroyo Grande. The Community Development Department includes three groups: Planning, Building, and Engineering. The department also includes the functions of economic development to promote prosperity, and neighborhood services for the prevention of fire, health, building, and development code violations.

Responsibilities

Staff is responsible for the design, development, and construction of city facilities such as streets and sidewalks, drainage, water and sewer distribution systems. Staff plans comprehensively for the long term needs of the community including plans for:

  • An adequate supply of housing, water, and community facilities
  • Public safety
  • Open space
  • Transportation
  • Stewardship of the environment

The department also:

  • Reviews plans
  • Conducts environmental reviews
  • Issues permits for home occupations, signs, grading, right-of-way encroachment, building, and development entitlements

Advisory Bodies

Community Development provides staff assistance for the:

Please be advised that communications directed to the City, its legislative bodies and their members (i.e., City Council, Planning Commission) or City staff are public records, and are subject to disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act and Brown Act unless exempt from disclosure under the applicable law.