Permit Sonoma Latest News | December 2025

Latest News | December 2025

As winter settles over Sonoma County, Permit Sonoma is buzzing with preparation, collaboration, and the final push to complete key initiatives. This month brings several important Board hearings, updates to building and design regulations, and new tools to clarify and make the permit process more predictable for residents and businesses. Pour yourself something warm and settle in - here's what's on the horizon as we close out 2025 and look ahead to a productive new year.

Building Code Update & Event Reminder

Every three years, California updates statewide building and fire codes to reflect new safety standards, construction methods, and environmental requirements. On December 9, the Board adopted the local amendments to these codes, which include rules for wildfire-resistant construction in high-risk areas (WUI zones), updated energy-efficiency provisions, and new standards for materials such as mass timber. These updates ensure buildings are designed with fire safety, structural integrity, and sustainability in mind. Adoption keeps Sonoma County aligned with statewide requirements and allows updated codes to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Permit Sonoma is hosting our final Ask an Expert info session on Thursday, December 18th at 12 PM. Everyone is welcome to drop in. This one-hour virtual event offers a brief, high-level overview of the updates, followed by time for questions and answers from our team of engineering and construction experts.
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Online via Zoom (just drop in - no registration required)

Our team will highlight key changes and share what applicants can expect as Sonoma County transitions to the updated standards. Whether you're planning a project, navigating permit requirements, or simply looking for clarity on upcoming code shifts, this informal session is a quick way to stay informed and keep projects moving. Whether you're a homeowner, builder, or designer - feel free to pop in at noon on December 18th for guidance and upcoming-code answers.

Streamlining Improvements for Housing

ADU Modernization

Sonoma County is updating its ADU and Junior ADU (JADU) rules to fully comply with California law and expand opportunities for homeowners to add small, secondary units. The changes, adopted by the Board on December 9th,will now allow up to two ADUs of any type (such as detached or attached) on a single-family lot, clarify unit allowances, and align local rules with state streamlining requirements. These updates help increase local housing options while keeping the review process consistent and predictable for applicants.

Objective Design Standards

To support housing production and comply with state streamlining laws, the County adopted its first set of Objective Design Standards (ODS) on December 9th. These standards apply to most multifamily housing projects and outline clear expectations for building form, site layout, landscaping, access, and compatibility with surrounding development. Because the standards are "objective," they remove subjective interpretation from design review, helping projects move more smoothly through permitting and aligning County code with current state law.

Updates to Zoning Regulations

Periodic Special Events

The County is updating its rules for periodic special events (formerly called cultural events) to improve consistency, reduce potential for impacts, and provide clarity for organizers. The updated rules establish a 2500 maximum attendee limits for events (there currently is no limit), clarify public noticing requirements, and update definitions for internal code consistency. The intent is to clarify the permitting process and address larger events that could have impacts. On December 9th, the Board voted to approve staff's recommended changes and remain open to feedback and future conversations on event policies through the General Plan engagement process. The new changes, including the attendee cap, are set to take effect 6 months after adoption in June 2026.

Fence Guidelines

The Board will consider adopting changes to County fence regulations to streamline permitting requirements by establishing clear development standards and reducing permit thresholds. The update also specifies design review exceptions for certain agricultural fences that would otherwise be subject to design review. These changes, being considered on December 16, will set clear expectations for residential fences and accompanying permit requirements.

Deferred Submittals Return

You spoke, and we listened! Effective immediately, Permit Sonoma is reinstating the option for customers to submit certain permit types as "Deferred Submittals". This adjustment follows internal review and customer feedback, indicating that the prior requirement to submit these items concurrently with the building permit (BLD) has created unintended challenges for applicants.

Permit Sonoma will ALLOW the following items to be submitted as deferred submittals:

• Trusses
• Fire Sprinkler Systems
• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

Design professionals remain responsible for clearly identifying all deferred submittals on the construction documents at the time of the initial building permit application. Visit our website for more information: www.permitsonoma.org/building

Temporary Options Available for Solar Permits

To help homeowners qualify for the federal residential solar tax credit before it expires on December 31, 2025, Permit Sonoma is offering two temporary pathways that allow solar permits to be finalized prior to a home's final electrical inspection and work with industry partners to ensure systems can be demonstrated as operational for rebate eligibility, even when new construction is not yet ready for full electrical connection.

Under the temporary policy, contractors may either finalize using approved rough electrical and meter release inspections or use temporary power with a separate electrical permit to test the system. In both cases, a return visit will be required later to complete final connection and synchronization once the home is ready.

These options are available only through December 31, 2025. After that date, Permit Sonoma will return to standard permitting and inspection procedures.

Funding for Sea Level Rise Planning

This week, the California Ocean Protection Council authorized up to $1,170,820 for the Sonoma County North Bay Sea Level Rise Plan. The project, led by Sonoma County (Permit Sonoma) in partnership with the City of Petaluma, will provide coordination among regional transportation and climate agencies and other stakeholders. The goal is to produce a comprehensive shoreline vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan that includes updated sea-level rise modeling, hydrodynamic and sediment modeling of the Petaluma River, and a shared strategy for adaptation.

The plan will act as a coordinated roadmap focused on the San Pablo Bay/North Bay shoreline in Sonoma County, Sonoma Creek, and the Petaluma River corridor- including Environmental Justice Communities in and around Petaluma. The work is structured as a roughly three-year effort starting in mid-2026. This effort is being undertaken to safeguard communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems from sea level rise and flooding; center equity for historically underserved communities; and meet new state mandates for sea level rise planning by 2034. The project will update and integrate current science, identify and prioritize multi-benefit projects that support wetlands, agriculture, and working waterfronts, and create a common playbook that cities, the County, and partner agencies can use to pursue funding, update their plans and regulations, and move toward implementation in a coordinated, equitable way.