Rebuilding Process

The expedited plan review process of a guaranteed 5-day processing time will cease. Fire rebuilding applications will be processed as any other dwelling permit. Processing times are less than 6 weeks to first review.

The relaxed grading threshold exemption of 100 cubic yards for fire-related parcels will revert to the 50 cubic yard threshold.

Storm water low impact development requirements for the treatment and runoff control of storm water were waived for fire rebuilding. Fire rebuilding projects will be subject to these requirements like all construction projects.

The County has thresholds for when driveways are required to be upgraded and/or new driveways are required. Fire survivors were allowed to reuse existing driveways without enforcing the driveway thresholds. Fire rebuilding projects will be subject to the driveway thresholds.

Fire rebuilding projects were allowed to reuse existing septic systems provided a modified findings report supported the reuse of the system, i.e., it was not damaged beyond repair. The modified findings report was intended to document that the system was not damaged and was functional or could be functional with minor repairs as needed.

After December 31, 2026, OWTS Manual section 6.4 spells out the type of system required (existing or new; code compliant or non-conforming) for the proposed structure (primary dwelling, ADU, bedroom swaps, increase in bedrooms). OWTS Manual sections 6.7 and 6.8 list the documentation needed to justify a code-compliant and non-conforming system, respectively.

An existing modified findings report could be used in conjunction with a regular findings report if/when a findings report is needed pursuant to OWTS Manual section 6.7 or 6.8.

OWTS Manual section 6.1 does provide that dwellings damaged due to any number of reasons (fire, tree fall, flooding, etc.) and applying for a building repair permit will bypass the Well and Septic Section, provided the building permit is limited to replacing or repairing the damage from the event and the application is within five years of the event that damaged the dwelling.

Fire rebuilding replacement dwellings were not subject to Sonoma County Code section 7-12 for well yield testing. Nor was there a requirement for new wells. The County will honor existing wells; however, adding additional dwelling(s) (ADUs) may trigger the requirement for a well yield test.

For dwellings previously connected to a sanitary sewer, shortly after the fire the sanitation district stopped the sewer utility charges, as the landowners were not using that service. Once the dwelling was rebuilt and reoccupied, those utility charges resumed. There is no change in this approach.

Traffic mitigation fees were waived for fire rebuild replacement dwellings. This waiver is set to sunset, and the applicable traffic mitigation fees will be assessed on new/replacement dwellings after December 31, 2026.

Affordable housing fees were waived for fire-affected replacement dwellings. This waiver is set to sunset, and the applicable affordable housing fees will be assessed on new/replacement dwellings after December 31, 2026.

School fees were waived for fire-affected replacement dwellings with the caveat that the replacement dwelling did not expand by more than 500 square feet. This fee waiver is set to sunset, and the applicable school fees will be assessed on new/replacement dwellings after December 31, 2026.

Residential use of manufactured homes and recreational vehicles was allowed as temporary housing. This allowance is being sunset; however, both of these can be used as tiny homes (Tiny Houses page).

Rental of guest houses, pool houses, and similar accessory structures was allowed as temporary housing; however, this provision is being sunset.

Rental of promotional/marketing accommodations was allowed as temporary housing; however, this provision is being sunset.

The County provided an ADU Fee Waiver (no building permit fees for ADUs) for ADUs within the fire-affected areas. This fee waiver is set to sunset. For current impact fee waivers, please visit our ADU Fees page.

Legal nonconforming structures exceeding allowable densities were allowed to be replaced, as well as changing the dwelling’s location on the fire-affected parcel. This allowance will sunset, and the replacement of a legal nonconforming dwelling will be subject to Sonoma County Code Chapter 26, Article 94.

The County waived design review requirements for replacement dwellings for fire rebuilding. This waiver is set to sunset.