This page provides resources and info to help local governments and community stakeholders in California pursue their own prohibition on new gas stations.
CONGAS “How-To” Guide — How to Stop the Permitting and Construction of New Gasoline Stations: A Guide for Communities. First edition, published August 2022.
Prohibition Tracking: Click HERE for a spreadsheet that tracks city and county ordinances permanently prohibiting new gas stations.
The Signs Are Clear: Why a growing movement of local governments is taking action to prohibit new gas stations and fast track the clean energy transition.
Sample Ordinances and Resolutions
Model Ordinance. The main resource is this MODEL ORDINANCE that can be tailored to suit local circumstances. Every city or county effort will be somewhat different. The key part of the action is not an ordinance, per se, but an administrative action to remove gasoline stations as permitted uses in all land use zones within a given jurisdiction.
The following are cities that have adopted ordinances, in chronological order:
Petaluma. The first city in the United States to institute a prohibition on new gas stations was Petaluma, California, approved unanimously on February 22, 2021. Here is the Petaluma Ordinance and attachments 1-7. And here is CONGAS’s Letter of Support for the prohibition.
Calistoga (Napa County). The second city, December 2021. Agenda Staff Report which includes the draft ordinance.
Rohnert Park. Moratorium (January 2022), and Permanent Prohibition (March 2022)
Sebastopol. April 19, 2022 – Ordinance.
Cotati. Resolution – July 26, 2022
Santa Rosa Ordinance – August 23, 2022
Two other resolutions that may be helpful:
Sierra Club California Resolution. On September 6, 2021, Sierra Club California adopted the RESOLUTION supporting local government adoption of ordinances that prohibit or limit new gasoline station construction.
RCPA Resolution. On September 13, 2021 Sonoma County’s Regional Climate Protection Authority adopted a RESOLUTION encouraging Sonoma County and all nine cities in the county to adopt ordinances prohibiting the construction of new gasoline stations. The agenda packet with all of the details and background is HERE.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Gas station prohibitions are not subject to CEQA pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2). The activity will not result in a direct or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; and 15060(c)(3). The activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines, because it has no potential for resulting in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Additionally, new gas station prohibitions are exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308.