Additionally, the department maintains the plan and assures that the zoning ordinance remains consistent with the plan. Administration of the General Plan requires timely processing of permits for land divisions, special use permits, variances, recreation facilities, building permits and other such applications. The department is the environmental review agency for the County assuring compliance with applications. The department is the environmental review agency for the County assuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act so as to protect the integrity of project approvals both public and private. The department additionally provides support for other departments and districts by maintaining countywide maps, census data, and historical data necessary for their operations.
Public assistance is the perceived primary goal.
The program is funded by the Waste Generation Fee assessed against parcels of occupied land.