Latest News | September 2026

Department Updates | September 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Permit Sonoma's Latest News! Read on for important updates on:

• Pilot program: new Friday schedule
• More online resources and tools
• Program updates for Rebuilding Together and SoCo Adapts
• General Plan Sonoma news
• Other information to help you stay connected with Permit Sonoma

In-Person Customer Service Counter Schedule Change

Beginning October 2, 2026, Permit Sonoma will begin a six-month pilot program of closing the in-person customer service counter to public walk-ins on Fridays. Staff will continue working on permits, meetings by appointment, field work, and inspections, and online services will remain available. In-person customer service will continue Monday through Thursday, and customers are welcome to walk in or schedule an appointment in advance.

Customer visits to the Permit Center have changed significantly since 2020. Average weekly visits have declined from 658 in fiscal year 2018-19 to 242 in fiscal year 2025-26, a 63% decrease. The Friday closure will give staff dedicated time to process applications and address work in progress without splitting time between projects and counter service.

Most Permit Sonoma services can be accessed through Permits Online. Customers can also search Permit Answers for frequently asked questions or submit a question for staff review.

More Online Resources: Building Inspections

Our Building Division has created several new resources to help customers schedule, and in some cases complete, building inspections online.

• Step-by-Step Guide for Scheduling Online

  Ready for your inspection? Building inspections can be scheduled online through Permits Online. Simply log in, find your permit, select the inspection you need, and choose an available date.

  Scheduling online is quick and convenient and lets you manage your inspection request anytime without having to call Permit Sonoma.

• VuSpex Video Inspection How-to Guide

  For less complex projects such as water heaters, furnace replacements, solar photovoltaic systems, and energy storage systems, routine inspections may be completed using video inspections through VuSpex. This gives eligible customers another way to complete an inspection without waiting for an inspector to travel to the project site.

  Virtual inspections are intended to make appropriate lower-complexity inspections more convenient for customers while allowing field inspectors to focus on projects that require an on-site visit.

Need more help? Visit the Building Division website or call:

• Building Inspection Line: (707) 565-1928. For inspection assistance, please call this number rather than Permit Sonoma's general line.
• Building Division Support Staff, Johana Herrera: (707) 565-1679.

New Licensed Professional Lookup Tool

Permit Sonoma has improved the Licensed Professionals lookup tool used in our Permits Online application process. When an applicant enters a professional's information, such as a contractor license number, the system now checks information directly against state licensing databases in real time. This helps ensure important information, including license, bond, and workers' compensation status, is accurate and current.

Previously, Permits Online relied on information stored in a local database, which did not automatically update when a professional's licensing information changed. This could result in applicants being unnecessarily stopped during the application process while staff manually verified and updated the information.

With the new system, current licensing information is automatically brought into the application. If there is an issue with a professional's license or other required information, applicants will see what needs attention so it can be addressed.

The update is another step toward making the online permitting process easier and more efficient for our customers.

Rebuilding Together Program Update

Nearly a decade after the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fire, Permit Sonoma is preparing to sunset the remaining special provisions of the Rebuilding Together program on December 31, 2026.

The Rebuilding Together program, including a temporary Resiliency Permit Center, was established in 2018 to help fire survivors rebuild more quickly and affordably. The program provided reduced permit fees, expedited plan review, and other special provisions for properties affected by the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fire and subsequent Kincade, Walbridge, and Glass fires.

Reduced fire rebuild permit fees ended July 1, 2026. The remaining program provisions will end December 31, 2026. These include special allowances related to expedited plan review, grading, stormwater requirements, driveways, wells, fees, temporary housing, and other rebuilding requirements.

Beginning January 1, 2027, rebuilding applications will generally be processed using the same requirements and electronic submission process as other projects. Fire survivors with an active or future rebuilding project are encouraged to review the changes and contact Permit Sonoma with questions about how this change may affect their project.

Learn more about the Rebuilding Together program and upcoming changes.

SoCo Adapts Program Impact Report

Over the past several years, Sonoma County's SoCo Adapts wildfire resilience work has helped residents and communities better understand wildfire risk and take steps to make homes and properties more resilient.

Through the FEMA-funded Wildfire Resilient Communities project, the County worked with communities to provide wildfire risk reduction assessments, defensible space and structure-hardening education and support, and planning for larger-scale vegetation management projects. The program also helped strengthen partnerships among residents, community organizations, fire agencies, and the County.

Program activities are wrapping up as of September 30, 2026. The information and lessons gathered through this work will help inform future wildfire resilience efforts in Sonoma County.

Want to see what the program accomplished? Explore the SoCo Adapts Program Impact Report for a closer look at the work, partnerships, and community impact.

General Plan Sonoma: Milestones and Next Steps

General Plan Sonoma is reaching an important milestone. On September 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will consider the project's Vision and Guiding Principles and review the Existing Conditions and Trends Report, important building blocks for updating the County's General Plan.

The General Plan is a key planning document that guides long-term decisions about housing, transportation, agriculture, jobs, services, natural resources, growth, and development in unincorporated Sonoma County. These guiding documents were developed through more than a year of community engagement, consultation with technical panels, and numerous public workshops. They will help guide policy choices in the next phases of the update.

View the Board of Supervisors meeting materials, including:

• Vision and Guiding Principles, which will guide the next steps in the General Plan update process.
• Existing Conditions and Trends Report, which summarizes current conditions, trends, and opportunities across the county.

Learn more about the General Plan Sonoma update.