Sonoma County and partner jurisdictions are partnering to update the Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan.  You can get involved now by completing the community survey!

The deadline for fire survivors to apply for the State of California’s consolidated fire debris removal program has been extended to Jan. 15, 2021 by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).

Approximately 9,500 rural well owners in Sonoma County will soon be receiving a survey designed to elicit their concerns and ideas about local groundwater conditions.

Sonoma County fire survivors who have residential property that was destroyed or significantly damaged by the Walbridge, Meyers or Glass fires have the ability to access Phase 2 of the Consolidated Fire Debris Removal Program being offered by the State of California to ensure properties are left free of hazardous waste and debris

Sonoma County Environmental Health and the City of Santa Rosa, in partnership with CalRecycle and California Office of Emergency Services, will hold a virtual webinar training on Fire Debris Removal for contractors and waste haulers on Monday, November 16, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Mobile Response Intake Center on Friday, Nov. 6 at Maria Carrillo High School, 6975 Montecito Blvd, Santa Rosa to provide one-on-one support to Glass Fire survivors registering for federal disaster assistance.

Sonoma County fire survivors who have residential property that was destroyed or significantly damaged by the Walbridge, Meyers or Glass fires have the ability to access Phase 2 of the Consolidated Fire Debris Removal Program being offered by the State of California to ensure properties are left free of hazardous waste and debris

Sonoma County has extended its free Residential Chipper Program for 2020 to reduce the risk for spread of wildfires. The expansion of the program is the result of a Board of Supervisors decision to increase funding for vegetation management in Sonoma County.

El Departamento de Control de Sustancias Tóxicas de California espera iniciar Fase 1 que incluyera barridos de residuos peligrosos.

The California Department of Toxic Substance Control is expected to initiate the Phase 1 Household Hazardous Waste Sweeps next week for residential properties with damaged or destroyed structures from the Glass Fire in Sonoma County.

On Oct. 22, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that three additional counties – Napa, Shasta and Sonoma – had been added to the Major Disaster Declaration, initially approved by The White House on Oct 16, 2020, to bolster the state’s emergency response to wildfires across the state and support impacted residents.

Sonoma County is preparing to support Glass Fire survivors in clearing their properties so that rebuilding can begin. The process of clearing properties consists of two phases.

Septic Professionals: This message is intended as a reminder to please submit complete septic applications in accordance with county standards including the OWTS Manual v7.0, policies and procedures, and published guidance documents as well as to encourage and promote professional communications.

Residents returning to areas burned in the Glass Fire are asked to visit  supply and support stations (also called commodity points of distribution or CPODs) operated by the County of Sonoma and the City of Santa Rosa to receive critical safety information and equipment.

Sonoma County and the City of Santa Rosa, with state and federal representatives, will host a virtual town hall to share information about Glass Fire recovery and re-entry on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Residents affected by the Glass Fire will be able to access recovery services and resources at a Local Assistance Center (LAC) beginning on Monday, October. 5, 2020. 

All properties that sustained structural damage as a result of the Meyers and Walbridge fires should have by now been swept for hazardous household waste. 

Information in this special newsletter features prevention and recovery information including these topics: Expanded 2020 Curbside Chipper Program, Rebuilding after the Walbridge and Meyers Fires, and Disaster Recovery Urgency Ordinance Chapter 40C

FAQs for properties damaged by the LNU Complex fires.

The California Department of Toxic Substance Control has initiated the Phase 1 Household Hazardous Waste Sweeps of properties with damaged or destroyed structures from the Meyers and Walbridge fires in Sonoma County.

Residents affected by the Walbridge and Meyers fires can access recovery services and resources at two Local Assistance Centers (LACs) beginning Saturday, Aug. 29.  Both LACs will provide the same resources to residents, including assistance with replacing documents (such as drivers licenses, identification cards and vital records), accessing financial resources, rebuilding information and the insurance claims process. Non-profits will be on-hand to assist with resource coordination but will not be issuing gift cards.

Residents returning to areas burned in the Meyers and Walbridge fires should stop at controlled entry checkpoints (called Commodity Points of Distribution or CPODs) operated by the County of Sonoma to receive critical safety information and equipment. To ensure that only residents enter the burned areas, staff will verify residents’ addresses. 

Staff gave a presentation regarding the Cannabis Ordinance Update key items for consideration, process, and timeline.

View the PowerPoint Presentation. 

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.

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.