Sonoma County and several other jurisdictions throughout the County are collaborating on an update to the 2016 Sonoma County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Sonoma Water’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution approving the Flood Management Design Manual (FMDM) to provide guidance and criteria for the conveyance of storm water. The FMDM is a significant update to the existing criteria and will replace the current Sonoma County Water Agency Flood Control Design Criteria (FCDC).

Permit Sonoma is currently open for 20 hours per week for live phone assistance as well as limited video and in-person appointments. The Permit Center is closed to the public until further notice. Virtual services remain available during regular business hours.

Permit Sonoma will be reopening for limited services and for limited hours starting July 6, 2020.

As Independence Day approaches, the County of Sonoma Fire Prevention division would like to remind residents and visitors that all fireworks are illegal in unincorporated Sonoma County.

Take the Sonoma County Community Development Commission's Assessment of Fair Housing survey

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has announced the burn suspension, beginning 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2020, and bans all outdoor burning.

Today marks the first day of the season for Sonoma County’s Residential Curbside Chipper program. This free curbside chipper service supports residents in creating defensible space around their homes and reduces vegetation along access routes.

The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) has entered a new chapter as the County and State embark on a unique partnership to prepare a Specific Plan for the site that will guide the progress of the site.

Cloverdale, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol are all closed for testing. Rainfall totals data and/or testing dates have been updated as of April 17, 2020.  More Information

Permit Sonoma is extending the scoping period for the Housing Sites EIR and hosting a virtual public meeting on May 6, 2020. 

Permit Sonoma Virtual Offices will be closed Tuesday, March 31st in observance of the Cesar Chavez Day holiday and will reopen Wednesday, April 1st at 8:00 AM.

The Permit Center and the Resiliency Permit Center have moved from physical to virtual operation, using e-submittals, telephony, and other technologies. Both offices remain physically closed. Most employees are working from home. Inspections are being performed virtually as well. Staff communications with the public will occur by e-mail and telephone.

Permit Sonoma and the Resiliency Permit Center have moved from physical to virtual operations. Both public offices are physically closed. Below are pertinent resources to learn about this transition:

Instructions for electronic Permit Applications

More information about virtual services and contact information: sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Virtual-Office

Due to the State and local shelter-in-place orders, the scoping period for the Housing Sites Environmental Impact Report will be extended to at least May 1, and the scoping meeting originally scheduled for April 2, 2020, has been cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled and noticed at a later date. 

Update March 31, 2020: Due to to the extension of the Shelter in Place order, Permit Sonoma and the Resiliency Permit Center will continue their virtual operation, and will be using e-submittal tools, communications via telephone, and other technologies. Both Permit Centers remain closed physically until further notice.

More Information

Permit Sonoma is publishing a Notice of Preparation (NOP), which notifies responsible agencies and interested parties of its intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze sites proposed for possible rezoning to allow for the development of housing.

Permit Sonoma is publishing a Notice of Preparation (NOP), notifying responsible agencies and interested parties of its intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze sites proposed for possible rezoning to facilitate the development of housing.

In this issue of our newsletter, we have the following topics: Sonoma County Winery Events, USDA Home Repair Funding Opportunity, New OnePave Program for Roadway Trenching When Rebuilding, and Lead Hazard Warnings on Pre-1978 buildings

The county has adopted a OnePave Program intended to provide better-quality, longer lasting roads and facilitate rebuilding efforts specific to the fire damaged areas of Larkfield-Wikiup where a high concentration of utility and other infrastructure work for individual rebuilding projects is anticipated to result in extensive trenching in the area’s roadways.

In this issue of our newsletter, we have the following topics: Meet the Permit Sonoma Ombudsperson, Septic Permitting Changes for 2020, 2019 Progress Infographic, Changes to Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations.

Permit Sonoma is implementing a variety of septic permitting improvements in an effort to assist customers comply with the recently adopted Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Manual version 7.0 and to make our permitting processes clearer and more efficient.

Changes in State law related to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) will take effect January 1, 2020. These regulatory updates will remove minimum lot size requirements and reduce setback requirements, and private covenants (CC&Rs) may no longer prohibit ADUs on lots zoned for single family dwellings. 

Sonoma County Fire Prevention and Hazmat responded to a sodium hypochlorite leak Wednesday morning at 7:09 AM. This leak was the result of a truck fire, which took place at northbound U.S. Highway 101 at the South Cloverdale exit.

Effective December 9, 2019, the burn permit suspension in Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Yolo, and Colusa counties was lifted by Cal Fire. Those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can resume burning on permissible burn days.

New state-mandated building codes, that govern the design and construction of structures and the maintenance of life safety systems within structures for fire prevention, go into effect on January 1, 2020.

In this issue of our e-newsletter we have:

Local Coastal Plan Update Workshops
Fire Rebuild Updates
Tanker Rollover HazMat Response Near Sonoma
Updates Coming to Sonoma County Building & Fire Codes

On November 16, 2019, Sonoma County Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Unit responded to an overturned tanker on Highway 121 near Sonoma. Approximately 3,000 gallons of fuel spilled on the ground. A successful stinger operation was initiated and the situation was mitigated.

In response to the Kincade Fire County leadership recognized the need for swift action so property owners could start the rebuilding process as quickly as possible. Important elements include debris cleanup, expedited permitting processes, and additional services for fire survivors. 

View the County of Sonoma’s interactive RESA map to see current structure-specific post-fire damage assessments.

On November 5, 2019, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors took action to meet the urgent housing needs of Kincade Fire survivors. The Kincaid Fire destroyed or damaged 434 structures, 209 of which are residential. In response to this fire, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Urgency Ordinance to add a new code, Kincade Fire Disaster Recovery (Chapter 40A), to Sonoma County Code.

As part of the County’s winery events work, the County retained a consultant to conduct traffic studies to address capacity and safety issues related to the increased traffic volumes associated with winery events.

The County of Sonoma will conduct an initial Household Hazardous Waste sweep on properties impacted by the Kincade Fire to protect the public and the environment.

Permit Sonoma's main Permit Center and Resiliency Permit Center reopened to the public on Monday, November 4, 2019.  This includes the resumption of regular inspections in areas that are not under mandatory evacuation and are not in the Kincade Fire burn area.  Additional News and Information

Residents impacted by the Kincade Fire can access recovery services and resources at the Local Assistance Center (LAC) which will open Monday, November 4, 2019 at the Healdsburg Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave. 

Los residentes afectados por el Incendio Kincade pueden acceder a los servicios y recursos de recuperación en el Centro de Asistencia Local (LAC) que abrirá el lunes 4 de noviembre de 2019 en el Centro Comunitario de Healdsburg, 1557 Healdsburg Ave. 

On October 10, 2019, the Board of Supervisors voted to extend the Temporary Emergency Housing Ordinance related to the 2017 Complex Fires. The ordinance was originally scheduled to expire December 31, 2019, but will now be extended until December 31, 2021. With this extension, temporary recreational vehicles and manufactured homes will continue to be permitted for temporary emergency housing through December 31, 2021. Conditions of the permit require that a final inspection be requested prior to that date, confirming that the structure(s) have been removed by December 31, 2021.

Updated October 25, 2019 and Updated November 1, 2019 – In recognition of recent community events, including the evacuations related to the Kincade Fire and the extended power and gas outages, the public workshop series is being revised and extended into 2020. The first public workshop in the series will now be at The Sea Ranch.
Sonoma County Local Coastal Plan Update workshops on the Public Review Draft will be starting in November. View upcoming workshops locations, dates, and times.

Permit Sonoma’s Fire Prevention Division invites the public to celebrate Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2019. The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) theme for the week “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” reminds the community to take action by developing and practicing a home fire escape plan.

The City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma continue to encourage residents living in and around the areas burned by the Sonoma Complex Fires to prepare their property for the rainy season and remain alert for possible threats from intense winter storms. 

The California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) announced that they will be awarding their 2019 Innovative Program Award to Permit Sonoma’s Code Enforcement Division. This award recognizes code enforcement programs that are both innovative and effective.

Sonoma County was recently awarded $586,739 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to support projects that mitigate seismic and wildfire hazards throughout the County.

In this issue of our e-newsletter we have:

• Temporary Occupancy Procedures for Fire Survivors
• Chapter 40: Sonoma Complex Fire Recovery Code Extension
• Cannabis Ordinance Update
• Accessory Dwelling Unit Code Changes
• Get Involved in the Local Coastal Plan Update!
• Permit Requirements for Back-up Generators
• Third Party Plan Check - Permit Process Improvement
• Expedited Plan Reviews - Permit Process Improvement

During a power de-energization event, a generator can provide emergency electrical power to your home. If you live in unincorporated Sonoma County and plan to use a generator that connects to your electrical panel, you will need a permit from Permit Sonoma for the electrical work. If the generator will be housed in a structure of its own, the structure may be subject to additional permits.

On Tuesday, September 17, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors removed zoning restrictions that prohibit the ability to apply to construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADUs) on over 1,900 agricultural properties. 

As part of our continued pursuit of process improvements, Permit Sonoma has revived our expedited plan review process.

As part of our continued pursuit of process improvements, Permit Sonoma has revised the Third Party Plan Check policy (BPC-013). The goal of the revision is to reduce permit processing time by removing some of the obstacles in our previous practice.