Thank you for developing in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County. (Make sure to check if you are located in this area!) Please read this page carefully before selecting an application to prevent incorrect submissions. Complete, professional, and thorough applications enable Planning staff to process the entitlement application more expeditiously.
Unless otherwise specified, all applications and exhibits should be submitted by email to planning-applications@saccounty.gov.
Each component of your application must be saved as a separate PDF file. Please separate materials for the submittal into individual files separated by exhibit type and do not include exhibits that are not applicable to the submittal. For example, the Site Plan should be one individual file, and the Floor Plan should be a separate file. If there are multiple pages of the same exhibit type, such as multiple floor plans, they should all be consolidated into one floor plans PDF. We will no longer accept full Plan Set documents or files which contain structural calculations, architectural plans, or other extraneous files not pertaining to the Planning application.
(Applications where all files have been combined into a single PDF will not be accepted for processing. Applications that include exhibits/plan sheets that are not applicable to the planning application being submitted will also not be accepted.)
The following cards provide a "menu" of all the applications available to request action or information from Planning & Environmental Review.
If you are unsure of what applications you need, please email SacPlan@saccounty.gov for assistance.
Want to get detailed feedback on your project before a formal submittal? See these three options for preliminary feedback to make your application stronger upon initial submittal.
Review for compliance with the Countywide Design Guidelines for development projects located in zones where the proposed use is permitted by right and the proposed associated structures are in compliance with objective development standards. (PER-400)
Conditional Use Permits, Special Development Permits, Parcel Maps, Subdivision Maps, Rezones, General Plan Amendments, Development Plan Reviews, and other discretionary actions. (PER-001)
Request for Zoning Verification Letters, Planning Director's Determinations, Administrative Parking Reductions, Substantial Compliance Determinations, and any other requests for general review and determinations by Planning staff. (PER-002)
Requests for temporary uses, including, but not limited to carnivals, festivals, seasonal sales (pumpkin patches, Christmas tree sales, etc.), and banners. (PER-004)
Request to allow for short-term home and/or room rental services for 29 days or less, on an accessory basis. This application can only be submitted via the RentalScape portal. (PER-007)
Request for, as directed by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, a Letter of Public Convenience and/or Necessity from the Board of Supervisors (PER-006).
Request to reestablish an existing use or historical use which is no longer permitted on a subject property. (PER-003)
Requests to use provisions pursuant to mandated programs implemented by State legislation.
Want to get detailed feedback on your project before a formal submittal? See these three options for preliminary feedback to make your application stronger upon initial submittal. For any of these three options, at the very least, a conceptual site plan is required to provide you with actionable feedback. More detailed and complete concepts result in more detailed comments and productive reviews.
When applying for a Discretionary Planning Entitlement, you will need, at least, a General Application Form. You may also be required to fill out and submit Supplemental Applications as listed below.
For any discretionary project, Discretionary Design Review is required unless waived by the Design Review Administrator or exempted per the Zoning Code. Supplemental forms for Discretionary Design Review are available on the Design Review Program page.
As needed per the request type, submit the following forms in addition to the General Application Form.
When submitting your Discretionary Planning Entitlement project, please review the Landscape Review webpage to ensure that landscape plans submitted with your project are meeting our required standards for review.
Don't forget to fill out and submit Design Review Supplemental Forms! Discretionary Design Review is required unless waived by the Design Review Administrator or exempted per the Zoning Code.
Supplemental forms for Discretionary Design Review are available on the Design Review Program page.
Fill out the following forms as directed by environmental review staff.
For all applications submitted by email, payment should not be made until you receive an invoice from the intake planner. Planning staff may provide estimates prior to issuance of invoice, however actual applicable assessed fees are provided at time of submittal with the issued invoice. Checks with incorrect amounts sent to our office will be rejected.
All application fees (except for short-term rental permits) are paid online through the County's Accela Citizen Access Portal. See this Guide for Instructions for Payment. Please note that payments made by Mastercard or American Express credit cards have a surcharge of 2.35% and Visa credit cards have a surcharge of 2.29%. Payments by e-checks have a one-time processing fee of $0.95. Application fees may also be paid by visiting the Cashier's Window on the first floor of 827 7th Street in Downtown Sacramento. Please make sure to bring a copy of your invoice if you intend to pay in person.
Once you have paid for your application, the application will then be forwarded to a manager for assignment. Please allow 7-10 business days from payment confirmation for a lead planner to be assigned to your project. Upon assignment, the lead planner will contact you by phone or email. Once you have made contact with your lead planner, they will be your point of contact for all communications, including resubmittals, moving forward.