15355. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS

CEQA Statute and Guidelines (2025 consolidated text) · 2026 edition · updated 2026-10-05 · California

“Cumulative impacts” refers to two or more individual effects which, when considered together, are considerable or which compound or increase other environmental impacts.

(a) The individual effects may be changes resulting from a single project or a number of separate projects.
(b) The cumulative impact from several projects is the change in the environment which results from the incremental impact of the project when added to other closely related past, present, and reasonably foreseeable probable future projects. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant projects taking place over a period of time.

Note: Authority cited: Section 21083, Public Resources Code; Reference: Section 21083 (b) , Public Resources Code; Whitman v. Board of Supervisors , 88 Cal. App. 3d 397, San Franciscans for Reasonable Growth v. City and County of San Francisco (1984) 151 Cal. App. 3d 61, Formerly Section 15023.5.

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Association of Environmental Professionals 2025

CEQA Guidelines

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▸Contents — CEQA Statute and Guidelines (2025 consolidated text)

CEQA Statute and Guidelines (2025 consolidated text)

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