A Win for South Livermore Wine Country!
We are excited to announce a significant win for the future of agriculture, viticulture, and open space. On June 12, 2025, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved amendments to the East County Area Plan (ECAP) and the South Livermore Valley Area Plan (SLVAP) that will protect Livermore Valley’s agricultural lands and enhance its identity as a premier wine-growing and agritourism destination.
These critical amendments clarify and modernize land use policies in the region. The changes aim to encourage investment in agriculture-related tourism while ensuring the area’s farmland is protected in perpetuity. Tri-Valley Conservancy extends deep appreciation to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the Planning Department, Planning Commission, and all of our community partners who contributed to this major milestone.
A Strategic Step Forward
The approved amendments fulfill long-overdue commitments first outlined in SLVAP and respond directly to the needs of winegrowers and landowners in the South Livermore region.
UC Davis’s 2022 study, "Realizing the Heritage," found that Livermore Valley has the right conditions to be a world-class wine region but lacks the necessary infrastructure to support it. A shortage of visitor-serving amenities, such as lodging, tasting rooms, and regional dining, has limited demand for local wine, leaving many small vineyards economically vulnerable. Livermore’s 2,800 planted vineyard acres also fall short of the 5,000-acre vision outlined in the SLVAP, and without action, many parcels risk conversion to non-agricultural uses.
The newly adopted amendments create the conditions necessary to attract appropriate investment, support existing growers, and allow Livermore to compete with other established wine regions. The policy changes also build on decades of land use planning in East Alameda County.
The SLVAP (1993) promotes vineyard cultivation and agricultural investment. Measure D (2000) and its renewal in 2022 protect open space and prevent urban development outside of growth boundaries. Measure P (2022) allowed limited sewer extensions in South Livermore to support agricultural and visitor-serving development.
What are the new ECAP Amendments?
The newly adopted amendments:
Clarify and expand the types of visitor-serving uses permitted in South Livermore, including tasting rooms, restaurants, small inns, and hotels (up to 140 cumulative rooms) that are secondary to agricultural operations.
Preserve 90% of large parcels for agriculture, bolstering our grape-growing economy
Establish new parameters for clustered development through a "clustering plan" that concentrates development within building envelopes while ensuring that at least 90% of each parcel remains in cultivation.
Align local zoning with state law and existing county policy, ensuring consistency with environmental, infrastructure, and public service requirements.
Permit access to sewer infrastructure, authorized by Measure P, for eligible agricultural and visitor-serving uses in accordance with the SLVAP.
Maintain strong environmental oversight, as all new development must still undergo the County’s standard planning review process.
What’s Next?
With these amendments now in place, Livermore Valley has a path forward that strengthens its identity as a winegrowing and agritourism region, provides tools for economic sustainability, and protects the historical lands that make this region so special.
Tri-Valley Conservancy will continue working with landowners, policymakers, and the public to ensure the amendments are implemented in a way that continues to protect open space and agricultural land.
To learn more about what these changes mean for the future of South Livermore, visit our FAQ page.