The Virginia Beach Comprehensive Plan embodies the long term planning goals for the physical growth and development of our community. The policies of the Plan are defined by and derived from the people they serve. That is to say, the Comprehensive Plan reflects the shared vision of the community and serves as the official planning policy statement for all matters related to growth and development. The policies of the Plan are used when important, long term and, often, expensive planning decisions must be made. For example, the kind of decisions that affect private property include requests for rezoning, conditional uses or subdivision of land. Comprehensive Plan policies are also used by the local governments to help them determine probable future need for capital improvements such as roadways, utilities, schools, parks, libraries and whole host of other public facilities and services.

The format of this Comprehensive Plan, adopted December 2, 2003, consists of two volumes of text - a Technical Report that provides background data and information on the physical and demographic make-up of the city and a Policy Document that provides a array of planning polices designed to guide future growth and development using written material, maps and illustrations. The written material describes the process used to make planning decisions, the existing physical conditions of the community, the key planning issues that must be resolved and, most importantly, the goals, policies and methods to be used to achieve the community's shared vision. Individual chapters of the Comprehensive Plan are available to download in  Adobe .pdf format via the web links below. Copies may also be reviewed at all public libraries and the Planning Department.

	Comprehensive Plan Policy Document Comprehensive Plan Technical Report  Documents Adopted by Reference as part of the Comprehensive Plan

The Plan defines land use goals throughout the city citing many of its unique areas and identifies the location of important natural resources. It provides further guidance through transportation planning, housing and community appearance policies, among many others. These are usually presented in the narrative, map and illustrative formats and are an integral part of this Comprehensive Plan.

The State of Virginia requires each locality's Planning Commission to review and, if deemed necessary, to prepare a revised comprehensive plan at least once every five years. Because of the developmental, economic, social, legislative and other changes that inevitably occur during this period of time, sufficient reasons usually exist to warrant an amendment to the Plan.

The process of approving the Comprehensive Plan is also stipulated by state law. Once the Plan is ready to be considered by the Planning Commission and City Council, public hearings are scheduled before each body. The Planning Commission is charged with recommending the Plan to the City Council who, in turn, are responsible for taking final action. After thorough consideration, the City Council may approve the Plan as presented, approve it with modifications or return the Plan to the Commission for further work. The City of Virginia Beach provides additional opportunity for public input through its public open house session that are conducted before the plan is prepared and shortly after the first draft is completed.