Good Neighbor Guidelines

In response to the growing footprint of the logistics and warehousing industries, the County of Riverside established a Regional Air Quality Task Force (RAQTF), and directed them to study the air quality in the western portion of the county. These studies were used to draft the first Good Neighbor Guidelines (GNG), which were then adopted by the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) in 2005. 

The guidelines set forth in the WRCOG GNG are comprehensive and provide numerous policy suggestions for each of the seven goals aimed at helping the industry coexist with residents;

1. Curtail diesel emissions near warehouse/distribution centers.
2. Restrict diesel trucks from entering residential neighborhoods.
3. Prohibit truck use and maintenance in residential zones.
4. Limit or cease diesel idling at warehouse/distribution centers.
5. Formulate a diesel reduction plan for new diesel mobile source projects.
6. Educate truck drivers on the health risks of diesel particulates and the need for idling reduction.
7. Develop a community outreach program with scheduled meetings to address local concerns.

The City of Riverside adopted their first set of Good Neighbor Guidelines in 2008, revised them once in 2016, and again in 2020 to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the city.

They are split into three different categories:

1. Air quality
2. Noise
3. Neighborhood Character

There is less emphasis on diesel emissions, and a broader focus on what affects residents such as noise and neighborhood character. The guidelines address the daily operations of warehouse / logistic centers, however there are few (if any) guidelines for the construction and development phase of warehouses.

The City of Moreno Valley adopted a Good Neighbor Policy into their General Plan in 2016.

The overarching intent of the proposed goals is to mitigate the impact of diesel emissions and unnecessary truck travel through residential neighborhoods by emphasizing the enforcement of existing municipal codes.

Riverside County was the next jurisdiction to adopt a GNG in 2020.

The GNG aims to protect sensitive receptors from the harmful impacts that logistics and warehouse centers can cause, and are designed to be used as a tool in conjunction with existing land use ordinances.

The county specifies that the guidelines are designed to be incorporated into the approval conditions for each individual development project.

The City of Fontana's GNG differs from the rest as it was adopted via a lawsuit settlement in 2022.

Their guidelines aim to reduce environmental impacts from industrial centers by improving air quality protections and traffic management, including stricter buffering for sensitive areas.

It also promotes sustainability through energy efficiency and renewable energy use, helping to limit emissions and reduce the effects of warehouse operations on nearby communities.