Locations
Permits in the City of Sacramento.
Permit-ready plans and permit coordination for homes, ADUs, and additions inside Sacramento city limits, from Planning clearance through building permit issuance.
Our office is downtown on Capitol Mall. The City of Sacramento's Community Development Department reviews permits inside city limits. Unincorporated areas such as Carmichael and Rio Linda go to the county. See Sacramento County permits.
What we handle here
- Obtain Planning clearance before the building submittal.
- Prepare the construction document set to the city's Electronic Plan Check standards.
- Coordinate preservation review for landmarks and historic districts.
- Prepare the site plan and package for a pre-approved ADU plan.
- Answer plan check comments and track the permit through issuance.
Planning clearance comes first
In the city, a project needs clearance from the Planning Division before it can go to Building for plan check. Every new submittal and resubmittal then goes through the city's Electronic Plan Check system. Some smaller work qualifies for electronic over-the-counter review.
We confirm zoning and Planning requirements at intake, so the building submittal starts with the clearance it needs.
Historic districts and landmarks
For a landmark, or a property in one of the city's historic districts, preservation staff review the project through Site Plan and Design Review before the building permit application. Staff check it against the City Code, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, and any district plan or guidelines. Many small projects, such as maintenance, are exempt.
ADUs are the exception. The city reviews ADUs on historic properties ministerially through the building permit, against its ADU design standards for historic properties.
Pre-approved ADU plans
The city offers pre-approved ADU plans in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom sizes. Under state law (AB 1332), it also lists ADU plans that designers have had preapproved. A pre-approved plan still needs a site plan and site-specific review before the permit issues.
We prepare the site plan and the rest of the package, or a custom set when a pre-approved plan does not suit the lot. See ADU permits.
Common questions
- Is my address in the City of Sacramento or the county?
- A Sacramento mailing address does not always mean city limits. Many unincorporated areas use Sacramento addresses. We confirm the reviewing agency from the parcel at intake.
- Why does Planning review my project before Building?
- The city requires Planning clearance before a project can go to Building for plan check. Planning confirms zoning and any design or preservation review. We handle that step as part of the submittal.
- My house is in a historic district. Can I still add on?
- Often, yes. Additions to a landmark or a property in a historic district go through preservation review first. We prepare drawings with that review in mind. See additions.
- Does a pre-approved ADU plan skip review?
- No. The plan itself is reviewed in advance, but the site plan and site-specific requirements are still reviewed before the permit issues.
Start a project
Building in Sacramento? Send the address.
Drawings, permit coordination, or both. One team, then a dashboard through issuance.