Recovery planning is a critical component of the conservation of threatened and endangered species. In recognition of this need, the California legislature amended the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) to empower the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) to create non-regulatory recovery plans aimed at conserving listed species to the point where CESA protections are no longer required. In 2025, the Department formalized this process by developing Guidelines for Recovery Planning, structured around a three-part framework paralleling federal recovery planning: Scientific Assessment, Recovery Plan, and Implementation Strategy. Here, we outline the three-part framework, discuss the Department’s approach to prioritizing CESA-listed species for recovery planning, and review the current progress of recovery planning initiatives under CESA.