The City of Carlsbad is updating its guidelines for development projects that may affect tribal, cultural and paleontological resources. The city uses these guidelines to ensure development projects follow appropriate procedures to identify and protect important resources. These include Native American cultural sites and resources, archaeological and historic resources, and paleontological (fossil) finds.

A draft of the revised guidelines is now available for public review and comment through May 31, 2026.

Review the draft revised guidelines
Redline version showing changes compared to the current (2017) guidelines

Three options are being considered for Section 8.2.2.4 regarding how tribal monitoring of construction sites is handled when multiple tribes request to participate:

• Option 1: Project applicant chooses which tribe or tribes will monitor (as presented in the draft revised guidelines)
• Option 2: Multiple tribes may monitor the same project, with the city notifying the applicant which tribes request to monitor
• Option 3: Tribes take turns monitoring projects based on a rotation list, with the city notifying the next tribe when it is their turn

Staff are seeking input on the full draft guidelines and which option is preferred for Section 8.2.2.4 related to tribal monitoring. In all cases, at least one tribe must be selected when monitoring is required.

How to provide feedback
Comments can be provided through this online form, or by mail or email to: 

Senior Planner Kyle Van Leeuwen
Faraday Administration Center
1635 Faraday Ave.
Carlsbad, CA, 92008
kyle.vanleeuwen@carlsbadca.gov

Background
The guidelines were last updated in 2017 to reflect changes in state law and local policy. In particular, the 2017 update responded to the City Council’s adoption of Council Policy No. 83, which set a stronger framework for consulting with tribal governments and protecting tribal cultural resources. 

This update continues that work and addresses new legal requirements, incorporates expanded resource protection best practices and clarifies language and processes. The overarching goal is to better protect resources while making the environmental review process more efficient and predictable.

Additional refinements were also made based on input received from local tribal representatives, archaeologists, historians, paleontologists and city staff.

Next steps

• City staff will consider feedback received to make final changes to the guidelines before they are presented to the Historic Preservation and Planning commissions later this year.
• City staff will then present the final guidelines to the City Council in 2027.

Sign up to be notified when those meetings are scheduled.

If you have questions or need help accessing the materials, please contact Senior Planner Kyle Van Leeuwen at kyle.vanleeuwen@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2611.

More information
Tribal, Cultural & Paleontological Resources Guidelines webpage