Resources for Approved County Qualified Biologists
This webpage provides various resources for Ventura County Approved Qualified Biologists that are within the County’s Qualified Biologist Program. The resources are meant to centralize the available biological information available for completing required environmental documents associated with development projects in the County.
The table below contains links to biological data resources to be utilized when conducting environmental review within the County of Ventura.
Permitting Resources for Project Design and Biological Review Access the Permitting Resources page for information about required biological report procedures. | Non-Coastal Zone: Initial Study Biological Assessment (ISBA) Standards and Template
Required standards and template for biological assessments in the non-coastal zone of the County. | Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines
Ventura County’s board-adopted CEQA guidance and standards for determining significant impacts of proposed development. | Biological Assessment in the Coastal Zone: Coastal Initial Study Biological Assessment Template
Coming Soon! |
Ventura County Biological Resources Viewer Public GIS Viewer containing Countywide biological resource data. | Publically Available Databases of Biological Resource Information
Coming soon! | Summary of Biological Resources Goals, Policies, and Regulations
Coming soon! | Biological Assessment Materials and Resources Google Drive: The Ventura County Biological Assessment and Resources Google Drive is a repository of biological resource materials for County approved qualified biologists. |
Important Announcements for County-Approved Qualified Biologists
Required 2025 Trainings for Approved Qualified Biologists
A series of required trainings are scheduled in 2025 for Approved Qualified Biologists. The two trainings will cover the County’s requirements for ISBAs, CISBAs, applicable policies and zoning regulations. Attendance at each of the two workshop topics is required to be completed by all Approved Qualified Biologists by the end of 2025. Attendees will be responsible for adherence and application of the material covered in the workshop during the preparation of ISBAs and CISBAs. Each meeting will have in-person and virtual attendance options. If you are an Approved Qualified Biologist and have not received the email announcement, please contact Abigail.Convery@venturacounty.gov as soon as possible to sign up.
2025 Required Qualified Biologist Training Session Schedule
- ISBA Biological Resource Regulations & Submission Requirements for projects within the Non-Coastal Zone.
- Date: Friday, March 7, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 PM [Completed]
- Date: Friday, October 24, 2025, 10:00 – 12:00 AM
- Date: Friday, March 7, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 PM [Completed]
- CISBA Biological Resource Regulations & Submission Requirements for projects within the Coastal Zone.
- Date: Monday, September 15, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 PM [Cancelled]
- Date: Friday, November 7, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Date: Monday, September 15, 2025, 1:00 – 3:00 PM [Cancelled]
COASTAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS: APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED FOR INITIAL PROJECT SITING DESIGN AND BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS FOR DISCRETIONARY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL ZONE AREAS OUTSIDE ESTABLISHED COASTAL EXISTING COMMUNITIES.
Please refer to Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) Section 8178-2.2 for the applicability of these regulations to new development. Biological assessments prepared by Approved Qualified Biologists must meet all new Coastal Initial Study Biological Assessment (CISBA) standards (Sec. AE-1.3) in Coastal Zoning Ordinance Appendix E1– Site-Specific Environmental Assessments for Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA). In addition, a least damaging alternatives analysis (CZO Sections 8178-2.3 (b) and 8178-2.6.1) must be conducted for siting the building site and this analysis must be based on the results of the CISBA.
NON-COASTAL ZONE: APPROVED QUALIFIED BIOLOGISTS PREPARING AN INITIAL STUDY BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (ISBA) FOR DISCRETIONALRY DEVELOPMENT ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE REPORT TEMPLATE LINKED HERE: Standards for Initial Study Biological Assessments
All Approved Qualified Biologists must be subscribed to the Qualified Biologist Update E-Mail List to receive periodical important notifications and updates.
Updates to Qualified Biological Consultant Contact Information
If you are an approved Qualified Biologist and have any updates for contact information or employer changes, please contact the email or phone number below and send the updated information. The list of Qualified Biological Consultants will be updated within one week of the date the notification and adequate information is received by the Planning Division.
For questions regarding the County’s Qualified Biologist Program, please contact Abigail Convery, Qualified Biologist Program lead at Abigail.Convery@venturacounty.gov or 805-654-2834.
For questions regarding a specific ISBA for a permit application, please contact the permit case planner assigned to the project.
Contact Us
Abigail Convery
Qualified Biologist Program Lead
Senior Planner/Staff Biologist
Abigail.Convery@venturacounty.gov
(805) 654-2489