Planning and Environmental Review

884 Review Process

The 884 review process follows guidelines created by Assembly Bill 884, which became effective in 1978. In an effort to expedite application processing, 884 review is conducted jointly between the Planning Division and DERA. In DERA, the 884 review process includes an initial review of projects to determine if the information provided with the application is adequate to begin an Initial Study for the project.​

We look for a variety of factors that may lead to environmental impacts. And additional project information may be requested to fully analyze those factors.

Do not prepare or submit this information without first consulting with our department. Many projects require no additional information. You will be notified if your project requires additional information.

Sites with Trees

Native oak trees (valley oak, live oak, blue oak), non-oak native trees (California sycamore and California black walnut), and "landmark trees" (large, healthy nonnative trees) are afforded various levels of protection through the environmental review policy. For environmental analysis of heavily treed sites, or development projects that will substantially impact or remove on-site or off-site trees, an arborist report is often required.

The following arborist report submittal requirements are not based solely on the Sacramento County Tree Preservation Ordinance. Tree inventories and arborist reports submitted to DERA are used to evaluate project impacts and create appropriate mitigation pursuant to Sacramento County General Plan policies and CEQA.

• Cover Sheet/Introduction
• Project Title, Assessor’s Parcel Number, Site Address (if applicable)
• Applicant Name, Address and Phone Number
• Arborist Name , Address, Phone Number, ISA Certification Number
• Date of Preparation
• Statement of Qualifications
• Tree Report: Inventory, Identification and Assessment
• Inventory
• All native oak and specified non-oak native trees (see species list) that are 4 inches in diameter (dbh) and larger (or 10-inch aggregate diameter for multi-trunk native oak and Northern California black walnut trees)
• Species List
• valley oak/Quercus lobata
• interior live oak/Quercus wislizenii
• blue oak/Quercus douglasii
• coast live oak/Quercus agrifolia (in the Delta area)
• oracle oak/Quercus X morehus
• native oak hybrids
• California sycamore/Platanus racemosa
• Northern California black walnut/Juglans californica v. hindsii
• Oregon ash/Fraxinus latifolia
• Goodding’s black willow/Salix gooddingii
• box elder/Acer negundo v. californicum
• white alder/Alnus rhombifolia
• California buckeye/Aesculus californica
• All on-site trees and all off-site trees that have canopies overhanging the site or that may be impacted by off-site project-related construction
• Although not required for inclusion in the report, the Tree Location Exhibit (see Section III below) must include the location, trunk size, species, and dripline of all existing trees (4” dbh or larger) on the site. 
• Identification
• Both common and scientific name (genus, species and variety if applicable)
• All trees shall be identified by number in the report and identified in the field by a corresponding numbered tag attached to the tree in a manner consistent with current arboricultural practices.
• Assessment
• Size:  Measured diameter of the trunk at 54 inches above grade, commonly referred to as diameter at breast height (dbh) or diameter at standard height; if other than dbh then alternate measurement height must be identified. If the tree is multi-trunked include the diameter of all stems that are 1” dbh and larger. Size must be rounded to the nearest inch.
• Root protection zone defined as a circle with the radius being the measurement of the length of the distance from the trunk to the end of the longest limb. If a larger RPZ is warranted or if the longest limb method would not result in adequate protection, provide an appropriate RPZ with a brief explanation.
• Tree Health:  a measure of overall vigor and vitality of the tree and rated as good, fair or poor based on an assessment of crown density, leaf color and size, active callusing, shoot growth rate, extent of crown dieback, cambium layer health, and tree age.
• Tree Structure:  a measure of the tree’s structural stability and failure potential and rated as good, fair or poor based on assessment of specific structural features, eg., decay, conks, co-dominant trunks, included bark, abnormal lean, one-sided canopy, history of failure, prior construction impact, pruning history, etc.
• Dripline Environment:  a brief written description of the growing condition of the immediate area beneath the defined dripline protection zone (natural grasses, steep terrain, existing roadway or structure, utility lines, drainage swales, previous grading cuts or fills, fire damage, etc.)
• Overall Tree Condition:  Based on the foregoing tree health and structural assessment, the arborist shall assign a numerical rating of the tree based on the following ratings:  0) dead, 1) severe decline, 2) declining, 3) fair, 4) good and 5) excellent.
• Recommendation for Preservation or Removal:  Based on the above overall tree assessment, the arborist shall provide a written recommendation either to preserve or to remove the tree.  A recommendation for tree preservation shall identify measures necessary for long term maintenance of the tree, such as crown cleanout, deep root fertilization, cabling, annual inspection, mulch placement, etc.  A recommendation for removal shall identify all significant health and structural (safety) defects that would justify removal, such as co-dominant structure with included bark, excessive canopy die back, excessive root crown or trunk decay, etc.
• General recommendations for the protection and preservation of oak trees, non-oak native or landmark trees on the site during and after construction. These recommendations should include such things as grading, trenching, filling, or paving beneath oak trees, fencing and landscaping requirements beneath oak trees, construction plan and specification requirements, etc.
• Tree Hazard Evaluation:  For those trees that are recommended for removal by the arborist and that have Heritage or Landmark status (defined below), a more detailed evaluation using the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Hazard Evaluation Form may be required.  This evaluation assigns a numerical value for the tree based on a combination of the following:
• failure potential
• size of part most likely to fail
• a target rating

The Hazard Evaluation also requires a recommendation for hazard abatement.  Such an evaluation may require root crown excavation and inspection including decay probing and climbing the tree for close inspection of the trunk and major scaffold limbs.
If adequate information regarding the reason for a removal recommendation is included in the report, the Tree Hazard Evaluation Form is not required.

• Definitions
• Landmark Tree:    This classification is for an especially prominent or stately tree, or a special variety of a certain tree.  It can be any native or non-native tree that is exceptional for its type that is in good health and structural condition. Size is not a mandatory criterion (definition from September 2, 1992 memo and SCC §19.04.030).
• Heritage Tree:       This classification is for a California native oak tree growing on any land in Sacramento County, including privately owned land, with a trunk sixty (60) inches or greater in girth (equal to 19 inches dbh or larger) measured four and one-half feet above the ground (from SCC §19.04.030).
• Tree Location Exhibit
  The arborist report must be accompanied by Tree Location Exhibit (two full-size copies, two 8 ½” x 11” reductions, and PDF files of each on CD) that may be prepared by the project engineer. The Tree Location Exhibit must include the following information:
• Title Block:  project name, name, address and phone number of the consultant/arborist, date, and County Control Number.
• Project vicinity map
• Legend or Key:  a description of the symbols used on the plan.
• Tagging:  All trees on the project site, and off-site trees that may be affected by the project, must be tagged and identified on the plan with the assigned arborist report number. This includes all trees 4” dbh or larger, and is not limited to only those native oak and non-oak native trees.
• Trunk and Dripline Location:  All trees shall be identified on the plan by accurate trunk location and dripline protection zone (a circle using the longest tree limb as radius).
• Scale:  The location map must be drawn to a standard engineering or architectural scale, not less than 1” = 40’.  The map must indicate the scale at which the plan is drawn.  If the map is to be reduced or enlarged then a bar scale must also be included.
• North Arrow:  A north arrow must be included on the plan.  Convention places north toward the top of the plan so that the project site should be oriented on the plan accordingly.
• Topography:  The plan shall include existing geodetic survey elevations showing contour lines at one-foot intervals and spot elevations at all high and low points and at the base of each tree trunk.
• Property Boundary and Site Features:  An accurate survey of the property’s legally recorded boundaries must be shown in relation to other on-site features, e.g. trees, roadways, utility easements, fencing, drainage courses, existing structures, etc.

Wireless Communication Towers

The Planning Division provides a list of specific application requirements for wireless communication facilities. In addition to the Planning Division requirements, the following items are required for environmental review of all new towers, tower height increases, and substantial facilities expansions. This information may not be required for collocation of additional facilities on an existing tower.

• Please indicate the power density (mw/cm²) for the proposed microwave antenna(s) and cellular antenna(s) with comparisons to current maximum allowable ANSI and NCRP radio frequency protection standards for general public exposure. Your response should be supported by manufacturers technical data and operating characteristics, with exhibits as appropriate.
• Submit information describing how the proposed tower will conform to the safety requirements of the Uniform Building Code. Specifically, provide structural information that documents the wind load the structure has been designed to withstand and the extremely low probability of a tower collapse, or in the event the tower were to collapse, information documenting how the tower has been designed to fail (i.e., tower will collapse on itself and strew debris within a given radius of the tower base). Either provide a map showing the expected area of impact or provide a narrative description (i.e., the radius of the circle would be no more than two-thirds of the tower height).

Sites with Wetlands

Initial review of a project includes study of aerial photographs. The photographs may reveal the potential presence of wetlands on a project site. You may be aware of seasonal wetlands or perennial wetlands on your project site. Wetlands are a significant resource in Sacramento County. In our area, vernal pools are a prominent type of seasonal wetland. They are of particular note because they are the only habitat to a variety of rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species. Wetlands are regulated at the federal, state, and county level. For sites with wetlands you may be asked to submit the following information:

• In consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submit a delineation of the existing wetlands on the subject property. Prior to submitting the map, the wetland delineation must be verified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If there will be any fill placed in on-site wetlands, then you will be required to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Please contact the Corps regarding their permit requirements for this project and submit evidence of such contact with the Corps.
• Provide a biological inventory, prepared by a qualified biologist, to determine if there are any listed or proposed rare, threatened, endangered, or candidate plant and animal species on State or Federal lists on the property. If listed species are found on the site, you will need to redesign the project or otherwise provide mitigation for impacts to these species based on consultation with the State Department of Fish and Game and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A list of wetland/vernal pool consultants operating within the Sacramento Metropolitan area is available through our website.
• County General Plan policy requires that the project result in no net loss of wetlands. If any wetlands will be impacted by the proposed development, provide a Wetland Preservation/Compensation Plan prepared by a qualified biologist which contains at least the following:
• A description of how the proposed project will impact wetlands on the project site including direct impacts and indirect impacts through changes to on-site drainage, if any.
• A complete description of mitigation methods proposed, including methods for wetland restoration, vegetation establishment and the location of mitigation efforts.
• A description of long term maintenance and protection activities including the source of funding and personnel who will conduct these activities to assure permanent protection of the wetlands.
• An exhibit showing the location and type of any fencing that is proposed to protect the wetlands.

Please note that the result of your consultation with the Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could significantly influence the content of the Wetland Mitigation Plan. The Wetland Mitigation Plan may include monetary compensation into the County Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund (for specific wetland mitigation options see General Plan Policy CO-96).

Sites with Topographic Relief

Steep sites, sites with creeks or swales, and/or sites impacted by a flood hazard are often considered for grading during the development process. This may be done to provide level building pads, to develop roads, or to reduce flood hazard, or simply to facilitate efficient development. Grading can impact surrounding sites, on and off-site drainage, floodplain characteristics, and the aesthetic of the site. Development projects that have substantial topographic relief or involve grading may require the following information:

• A map showing the existing site topography with 2-foot contour intervals (1-foot intervals if the project is within the 100-year floodplain). The map should also show the existing features of the site, such as roads, structures, drainage swales, etc.
• If any on site grading is proposed, provide a "preliminary grading plan" that indicates areas and magnitudes of cuts and fills. The area of fill should be clearly depicted on the grading plan (i.e. with cross hatch marks or shading) using the following increments of fill depth (0-1 feet, 1-2 feet, 2-3 feet, 3 feet). Indicate the finished floor elevation of all proposed structures on the grading plan.

The Department of Water Resources can provide information regarding the 100-year floodplain and local flood hazards. ​