ALERT: In light of the directives on March 17th, 2020 from the County Public Health Official, all city public counters will be closed to the public for in person business until further notice after the close of business on March 18th, 2020. Online services may still be available during this time.

Projects may still be applicable for intake via email to DE@cityofsacramento.org.

Payments may still be available via our online portal at https://aca-prod.accela.com/SACRAMENTO/.

Major Encroachment/Plan Check

Development Engineering reviews plans to determine if the proposed development project may affect the public aspects of a project (i.e., the sidewalk, streets, etc.), and, if so, that these aspects are designed properly. The review ensures that the project will:

1. Provide a safe, efficient roadway network that serves the needs of the community.

2. Maintain public infrastructure.

3. Promote economic development by providing an efficient review process.

Review Criteria

The proposed project is assigned to a Development Engineering Project Manager, who reviews the project for the following:

• Proposed land uses and the project's effect on adjacent transportation facilities
• Identify any associated safety concerns
• Determine if there is a need for a traffic impact study
• Classify adjacent roadways (for example, arterial, collector, or local) based on design speeds, level of access control, roadway connectivity and traffic volumes
• Determine an appropriate access management strategy, which is based on adjacent roadway classifications. This includes identifying opportunities and constraints relating to driveway location and design, as well as turn movements to and from project sites
• Evaluation of on-site circulation for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as parking layout design and on-site maneuvering
• Evaluate other site design elements, including truck and service vehicle routing, emergency vehicle access, and loading dock location and design
• Identify improvements to the public roadway system required to support the project.
• Evaluate the effects of the proposed development on adjacent vacant parcels
• Review the on-site and off-site plans to ensure proper design and agreement with all public improvements for commercial and residential projects, including:
  • Determining if existing public infrastructure is in compliance with current City, State, Federal standards and regulations, as well as conditions of project approval
  • Reviewing public improvement plans for public infrastructure (i.e., roads, streetlights, utility lines, traffic signals, and bridges) provided with commercial and residential development projects. Frontage improvements are addressed either by off-site improvement plans, or by encroachment permits

Fee Deposits for Improvement Plan Processing and Construction Inspection

Fee deposits are based on the value of the improvements. Deposits are paid in two stages as provided below. If charges exceed the deposits, the applicant will be invoiced for additional deposits to keep the account current. 10% of deposits will be deposited into the warranty account to cover various project expenses such as overall fund and system management, project closeout and warranty inspection work. A Fee Deposit Calculator is available online that generates the Plan Check and Construction Deposit amounts based on the Council approved Fee Schedule.

1. Initial Plan Submittal: The amount of the plan check deposit is equal to 60% of the Plan Check & Construction Deposit defined by the equation below. The value of improvements is determined by the engineer's estimate of the work that is reflected in the improvement plans at time of submittal.

2. Issuance of Notice to Proceed with Construction: The construction deposit is equal to 40% of the Plan Check & Construction Deposit defined by the equation below. The value of improvements is determined by the contractor's bid of the work reflected in the approved improvement plans.

Engineering Fee Schedule

x = value of improvement

To calculate the deposit, locate the improvement value range and use the corresponding formula. A Fee Deposit Calculator is available online that generates the Plan Check and Construction Deposit amounts based on the Council approved Fee Schedule.

At project closeout there will be a final fee invoiced if the account is negative, or a refund issued if there are funds remaining in the account.

Transportation Related Impact Fees

The below impact fees are assessed with the associated building permits and are required to be paid prior to issuance of the building permit.  The fee rates are analyzed annually with new updated fees taking effect every July 1st. 

• TDIF (Transportation Development Impact Fee) – The purpose of the Transportation Development Impact Fee is to partially mitigate the impact of new residents and employees on the citywide transportation network. The TDIF is a levied on new residential development (on a per unit basis) and nonresidential development (primarily on a per square foot basis). A nexus study was performed which established a clear linkage between new development and the need for citywide transportation facilities. The TDIF is included as Chapter 18.56, Article III of the City Code. Key criteria for this fee include:
  • The rates are both broken up into either residential or commercial categories. 
  • All residential and commercial properties that fall within an active Development Agreement area (DA), and low-income housing projects are exempt. 
  • Credits are given when buildings are demolished with a City issued demolition permit within 3 years of the new permit and rebuilt or when there is a change in use of a building or a portion of an existing building.
  • There are also incentive zones, which match up with the reduced rates shown on the fee schedule.
  • TDIF Fee Schedule

• STA (Sacramento Countywide Transportation Mitigation Fee) - The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) is an independent agency that implements the voter-approved Measure A half-cent sales tax program. Renewal of Measure A by the voters in 2004 required that each jurisdiction in the county implement collection of an impact fee on new development and remit those fees to the STA. The City Council adopted the Sacramento County Transportation Mitigation Fee Program, commonly referred to as the “STA fee,” as City Code Chapter 18.48.  The fee, which went into effect April 1, 2009, is assessed at building permit issuance.  Key criteria for this fee include:
  •  The rates are both broken up into either residential or commercial categories.
  • All residential and commercial properties that fall within an active Development Agreement area (DA) and low-income housing projects are exempt. 
  • Credits are given when buildings are demolished with a City issued demolition permit within 3 years of the new permit and rebuilt or when there is a change in use of a building or a portion of an existing building.
  • STA Fee Schedule

• SCMP (I-5 Subregional Corridor Mitigation Program Fee) – The I-5 Subregional Corridor Mitigation Fee Program is a regional program to be implemented by the Cities of Elk Grove, Sacramento, and West Sacramento in order to avoid project specific mitigations for project impacts on the freeway system as required by Caltrans.  Development projects south of the American River that exceed 100 AM or PM peak hour vehicle trip-ends may be subject to this fee. 
  • The rates are both broken up into either residential or commercial categories and between the City’s boundaries for Districts 1 and 3 as defined by the regional program.
  • The types of projects that would be exempt from the I-5 Subregional Corridor Mitigation Fee Program include a transit priority project consistent with the sustainable communities strategy  Public Resources Code (PRC) §21155 et seq.), qualified housing projects (PRC §§21159.21 and 21159.24), affordable low-income housing projects (PRC §21159.23), infill developments (PRC §21094.5 and CEQA Guidelines §15332), and projects that are not required to address traffic impacts which qualify for residential streamlining (PRC §21159.28).
  • Application of this fee is generally determined during the planning entitlement review phase. Some adopted Specific Plans require this fee as a required mitigation measure, including projects within the Railyards Specific Plan Area.  
  • SCMP Fee Schedule

Notices

• Engineering Services will be updating forms for Residential and Commercial Offsite Submittal Applications in November 2018. The new forms will be posted to this web page for viewing or download. Prior to submitting an application, please ensure that the latest form is being used. 
• Revision of "Section 15 - Street Design Standards" of the Design and Procedures Manual has been completed and approved. Effective immediately, please use this revised section for design of City streets. The revised Street Design Standards can be found below.

Related Forms and Documents

• Engineering Fee Schedule
• City AutoCAD Forms (ZIP - 1.5 MB)
• Design and Procedures Manual
  • Definitions
  • General Requirements for Public and Private Development Projects
  • Capital Improvements and Subdivision Procedures
  • Consultant Selection
  • Drafting Standards and Sheet Layout
  • Existing Utilities
  • Agency Permitting Requirements
  • Electrical and Street Lighting Design Standards
  • Street Design Standards
  • Construction Procedures
  • Digital Map Submission Standards
• General Notes for Public Improvement Plans
• Major Encroachment Permit Application (Residential & Commercial Offsite Plan Submittal)
• Major Encroachment Permit Application Instructions/Checklist
• Residential Public Improvement Plan Process for Subdivisions Flowchart
• Utilities Design Standards (Water, sewer, etc.)
• Standard Specifications for Public Construction
• Standard Electrical Details & Special Provisions (PDF) (ZIP - 12MB)
• Curb Ramp & Driveway Details
• COSS GPS Static Survey
• California Coded Sign Specifications
• Caltrans - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)