The Housing and Community Development (HCD) brings together a range of Land Use functions, including Housing, Planning, Building, Engineering, and  Environmental Services, to ensure safe building construction, plan for the future needs of the County, manage infrastructure, and protect natural resources.

The mission of HCD Planning is to provide high-quality customer service in the areas of land use, development and resource protection to residents and business operators throughout the unincorporated areas of Monterey County. HCD Planning consists of three divisions:

• Current Planning - Responsible for reviewing land use and development proposals and permit requests for consistency with the County's adopted land use policies and regulations and taking the appropriate action on these requests.

• Advance (Long Range) Planning - Responsible for creating and implementing the County's development policies and regulations, primarily through the administration of the General Plan, Community Master Plans and the Zoning Ordinance.

• Housing Programs - Dedicated to creating fair housing for all in thriving and inclusive neighborhoods. The unit was established as the County's public housing authority and is the lead agency for housing and homeless programs.