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Encroachment

heavy equipment at work

End of Extended COVID Permit Expiration Date

In order to support the difficulties the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the community, Permit Sonoma offered customers a two-year extension above and beyond the regular timelines for various ministerial applications and permits. The conditions attributing to the local emergency no longer exist and the Board of Supervisors is rescinding the local emergency as of May 16, 2023. As such, the policy extending the expiration dates will sunset effective May 17, 2023.

This change does not affect permits that have already been extended. All applications received beginning May 17, 2023 will be valid for one year, and the COVID-19 extension will not be applied.

View Affected Permit Types

An encroachment permit is needed to conduct activities in the “public right of way,” which is public property in unincorporated Sonoma County such as roadways, driveways, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. You need an encroachment permit if any structure, object or improvement is placed or constructed in, under or over any public right of way.

Examples of activities that require an encroachment permit if conducted in the public right of way include:

  • Driveway entrance upgrades
  • Dumpsters, storage bins, or debris boxes
  • Fencing
  • Landscaping
  • Mailboxes, placement of
  • Public utilities repair and installation
  • Roadway widening
  • Scaffolding, temporary placement of
  • Signs, posting of
  • Special Events – Events such as parades, marathons, bike races, street fairs, farmers' markets, etc. that will occur in the public right of way
  • Trenching and excavations   (Find out about OnePave Program for fire-damaged properties in Larkfield-Wikiup)

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