Updated regulations modernize County procedures and clarify environmental review, responsibilities and appeals
El Centro, California – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors today approved a resolution updating the County’s local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Regulations, Guidelines for the Implementation of CEQA, As Amended, along with related environmental review procedures and findings.
The update represents the first comprehensive revision to the County’s local CEQA procedures since 2017 and is intended to reflect changes in state law, State CEQA Guidelines and applicable court decisions that have occurred since the regulations were last amended. The County’s CEQA regulations were originally adopted in 1979 and have been periodically amended since that time.
Under state law, public agencies are required to adopt objectives, criteria and procedures for evaluating projects and preparing environmental documents under CEQA. Those local procedures must remain consistent with CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.
The County’s updated regulations provide a framework for how CEQA review is administered when Imperial County or an agency governed by the Board of Supervisors serves as a lead or responsible agency. Planning & Development Services continues to serve as the County’s principal department responsible for CEQA compliance and implementation.
Among the revisions, the updated regulations clarify the responsibilities of Planning & Development Services and County decision-making bodies, update terminology and procedures, and further define the County’s process for appealing CEQA documents. The regulations establish a 10-calendar-day period to file an appeal of a CEQA document and provide for an appeal to the Board of Supervisors when no further appeal to a non-elected County body is available.
The proposed regulations underwent review and revision during the public process, including consideration by the Imperial County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors meetings, a County workshop and responses to comments submitted by members of the public and interested parties. Several provisions were revised during that process in response to comments and additional legal review.
The Board’s action also adopted the CEQA findings associated with the regulatory update, including the findings and exemptions identified in the September 22 agenda packet.
The local regulations are intended to implement and supplement CEQA rather than replace state requirements. The regulations expressly provide that when a local rule or procedure conflicts with CEQA or the State CEQA Guidelines, the provisions of state law and the State CEQA Guidelines control.
The updated CEQA Regulations and supporting materials are included in the September 22, 2026 Board of Supervisors agenda packet.
###