About City Plans and Codes

The City of Newcastle has regulations and policies that guide its decision-making. These rules help ensure that construction, development, and land use are safe, fair, and follow local, state, and federal laws. They also help city staff make consistent decisions that protect the community, support long-term growth, and maintain the quality of neighborhoods and public spaces.

Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan sets goals and policies to guide Newcastle’s growth and development over the next 20 years. Required under the state’s Growth Management Act, it balances population and job growth with protecting the environment and key resources. The plan establishes the City’s vision, directs development, and guides zoning and other development regulations.

View the 2044 Comprehensive Plan in the Document Center.

Newcastle Municipal Code

The Newcastle Municipal Code is a set of rules the City of Newcastle follows to manage development and land use. The Community Development Department uses these rules to review applications and make sure projects meet all requirements. The code helps staff compare applications fairly and guides decisions so growth is safe, organized, and aligned with community goals.

View the Newcastle Municipal Code.

Other Guiding Documents

In addition to the Comprehensive Plan and municipal code, staff use other documents to guide their work. Some plans focus on specific areas, like the Downtown Strategic Plan, while others focus on a particular topic, such as the Wetland and Stream Inventories. These documents provide detailed goals, strategies, and analyses that help staff make decisions and ensure growth supports the City’s vision for each neighborhood and for Newcastle as a whole.

View Community Planning documents in the Document Center.

Code Enforcement

Community Development staff prioritize investigations of potential development code violations based on the risk they pose to public health, safety, or the environment. Learn how to report different types of issues on our Report an Issue page.