The city's Community Development Department, headed by Dave Wallace, oversees planning, building, code enforcement and housing within the city limits. Any future commercial development projects must go through a rigorous review by Community Development before they are presented to the Novato City Council for approval. One goal of the department is to make sure future development is consistent with the desires of the community and follows previously approved plans. The city's General Plan is updated by Community Development staff every few years, with input from citizen volunteers, to give the city a target guideline for the future. Incorporated cities must update their General Plans by state law.