News and Announcements​

• SB 9: New housing bill will take effect January 1, 2022

• SB 9 will impact development potential on single-family parcels in census-designated urban areas. The Planning Department will prepare educational materials to help property owners understand the law and how it relates to existing County regulations.  Here is a link to the law: Bill Text - SB-9 Housing development: approvals. (ca.gov)

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

• The 2021 update of the County’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is available for public review and comment.  Comments will be accepted until July 23, 2021. You can find more information and links to the documents here.

• Medical Office Building - Draft EIR

• The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Medical Office Building Project at 5940 Soquel Avenue has been released. Comments will be accepted until August 9, 2021. You can find the Notice of Availability and the Draft EIR here.

• Sea Breeze Tavern

• Information regarding the Sea Breeze Tavern demolition

• ePlan – Building Permit Processing

  Santa Cruz County has issued over 2,600 Building permits for projects using ePlan. Submittals are made electronically with pdf files, and legacy paper processes are being eliminated incrementally. Please note the following:
• Effective November 1, 2020: Building permit applications are required to use ePlan. This includes express plan check projects, construction change documents, and deferred submittals.
• Effective November 1, 2020: Property owners and applicants will access plan review corrections and application status online at the Application Status website; and the process of sending correction letters is discontinued. Website enhancements will be implemented over time.
• Approval Letters: Approval letters and related forms should be transitioned online in 2021. Check the Planning Department website for updates.

• ePermit – Instant OTC Permits Online!

  Contractors and Homeowners can process, pay & print permit cards online! Most projects meeting the over-the-counter (OTC) criteria, that do not require plan review, can be processed using ePermit. Please submit an online account request at ePermit.
  
  OTC examples include: Reroofing, water heater replacements, minor electrical alterations & service panel replacements, forced air & air conditioner unit replacements, minor mechanical alterations, minor plumbing alterations, window replacements (like for like), sheetrock/siding/stucco replacement, and fireplace inserts.

• Vacation Rental Permits

  The Board of Supervisors adopted an amended Vacation Rental Ordinance on January 26th, 2021. On February 25th, 2021, the amended ordinance went into effect. You may view the amended ordinance here: https://www.sccoplanning.com/Portals/2/County/Planning/zoning/Vacation%20Rental%20Ord-%20BoS%20Approved%201-26-2021.pdf
  
  As of February 25th, 2021, the moratorium on issuance of new vacation rental permits is now lifted. The Planning Department has commenced processing applications for new vacation rentals. For more information on how to apply for a new vacation rental permit, or to renew an existing (soon to expire permit), please visit the Vacation Rentals web page here: Vacation Rentals
  
  Please note, the three Designated Areas, which are the Live Oak Designated Area (LODA); the Seacliff/Aptos/La Selva Beach Designated Area (SALSDA); and the Davenport/Swanton Designated Area (DASDA) are currently at capacity. There is currently a Wait List for new permits in these areas. For more information on how to submit a Wait List request, please visit the Vacation Rental web page here: Vacation Rentals

• Sustainability Update

  The Sustainability Policy and Regulatory Update (Sustainability Update) is a comprehensive update to the County’s General Plan/Local Coastal Program and modernization of the County Code. The goal of this update is to implement new policies and code regulations that support more sustainable communities in Santa Cruz County. Click here for more information.
  The agency and public comment period on the Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the CEQA Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been extended until 5 p.m. on August 21st. Click here to view the NOP and/or submit comments on the scope of the EIR.

• The County is issuing a Notice of Preparation for a Draft Environmental Impact Review for a Medical Office Building. To view the item, please click here.

• Attention Multifamily Project Applicants! Find out if your project is eligible for streamlined SB 35 review using the SB 35 Streamlined Review Guide and Application Form.

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