General Plan Elements
State law provides that the general plan must address seven elements: Land Use, Circulation (roads and types of transportation), Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety.

The City of Lake Elsinore has chosen an alternative design for the upcoming General Plan. Though all of the required elements will be incorporated, the document to not be organized in the traditional element-by-element style. The final organization of the General Plan is divided into five (5) chapters entitled: Chapter 1 (Introduction), Chapter 2 (Community Form), Chapter 3 (Public Safety and Welfare), Chapter 4 (Resource Protection and Preservation) and Chapter 5 (Administration and Implementation). Economic Development and Lake Elsinore Lake Plan are additional elements to the General Plan. An accompanying document titled District Plans are written specifically for each of the Districts within the City and surrounding Sphere of Influence. The Districts are noted as: Alberhill District, Ballpark District, Business District, Country Club Heights District, East Lake District, Historic District, Lake Edge District, Lake Elsinore Hills District, Lake View District, North Peak District, Riverview District, Lake View Sphere District, Lakeland Village Sphere District, North Central Sphere District and Northwest Sphere District. In addition, each of the District Plan contains the required elements specific to its District.

Master Environmental Impact Report
A Master Environmental Impact Report was prepared which analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the policies and measures proposed in the updated General Plan. Some of the issues addressed includes aesthetics, geology and soils, air quality biological resources (including the MSHCP conservation plan), cultural resources, hazards and hazardous materials, population growth and housing, hydrology and water quality, land use, and mineral resources, noise, utilities and public services, recreation and transportation/traffic.