Concurrent Plan Review Program

Sacramento County is excited to launch a Concurrent Plan Review Program that helps streamline the post-entitlement phase of development projects. This program allows eligible projects to undergo multiple County reviews—like building permits, grading permits, civil improvements, maps, and technical studies—all at the same time.

Concurrent Plan Review allows eligible projects to shorten overall permitting times by processing plans and permits simultaneously rather than sequentially. This program is part of our long-term commitment to improving the development experience in Sacramento County.

​Project Eligibility and How to Apply

For all projects, required technical studies including, but not limited to, traffic studies, water supply assessments, drainage studies, wetland delineations, arborist reports, etc. must be accepted as complete or the County Department/Division that requested the study agrees to allow for concurrent review prior to completion of any such study. Please note that projects that require a FEMA floodplain map revision are not eligible for concurrent review.

Additionally, a Concurrent Review Application and At-Risk Acknowledgement form signed by the applicable County approval entity is required and provided below.

Post Entitlement Development Plans

Projects that do not require a discretionary or non-discretionary planning entitlement or that have already obtained these approvals may submit for concurrent review of civil improvement/grading plans with building permits, final maps and/or technical studies, if all eligible criteria are met along with the submittal criteria provided in the application.  The County Engineer or designee within the Site Improvement and Permit Section (SIPS) will determine if a project is eligible for post entitlement concurrent review. 

Submit the following materials via email as part of your improvement plan or grading plan submittal to e-sips@saccounty.gov:

Non-Discretionary Design Review

Concurrent review of development plans (i.e., grading, building permits, improvement plans, final maps or other post entitlement development plans) with Non-Discretionary Design Review may be considered by the Planning Director or designee if all eligible criteria listed below are met along with submittal criteria provided in the application. 

  • The project is a public facility, or a project that meets at least one of the County’s strategic priorities (affordable housing, infill development located within an identified Infill Corridor or infill map, or projects that support addressing the climate emergency), or other demonstrated need for concurrent processing at the discretion of the Planning Director. 
  • A Non-Discretionary Design Review application (DRCP) has been accepted for processing (control number issued and application fees have been paid).
  • The applicant shall not submit for plan check of development plans until the first review of the DRCP application exhibits has been completed by PER for completeness and consistency with the Sacramento County Development Code (Zoning Code; Countywide Design Guidelines).  

If the concurrent review request meets all the criteria above, please submit the following materials via email to per-cpassignments@saccounty.gov:

Discretionary Planning Entitlements 

Due to the discretionary nature and due process requirements of certain planning entitlements, such as use permits, tentative maps, and special development permits, concurrent review of plans related to these entitlements will generally not be allowed. However, exceptions may be made in special circumstances, as determined at the discretion of the Community Development Director and/or Planning Director and is subject to additional eligibility criteria. 

Such special circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

  • Public facility projects that are required to be completed prior to issuance of additional development permits;
  • Projects with state/federal grant funding that need to meet certain deadlines for completion;
  • Other circumstances that justify the need and/or County benefit of processing the discretionary entitlement concurrently with the post entitlement development plans as determined by the Community Development Director and/or Planning Director.

Such eligibility criteria include:

  • No submittal for plan check of development plans (grading, improvement plans, building permits, final maps or other post entitlement development plans) shall occur until the draft Conditions of Approval (COA) for the discretionary planning entitlement have been reviewed by the Project Review Committee (PRC); and
  • The draft CEQA mitigation measures (where applicable) for the discretionary planning entitlement have been prepared.

Projects that require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) may be deemed ineligible for concurrent processing. If approved for concurrent review it shall not commence until the public review period for the Draft EIR has been completed. 

Projects that cannot be considered for concurrent processing include projects requesting an amendment to the General Plan, a Specific Plan/Master Plan, a Rezone, or amendments to an approved roadway system.

If the concurrent review request warrants a special circumstance and meets the criteria provided above, please submit the following materials via email to per-cpassignments@saccounty.gov:

Important to Know

  • Concurrent Review is offered at the applicant's own risk
  • All reviews follow standard County plan review timelines
  • You must still receive all necessary approvals before permits can be issued
  • Applicants are responsible for County staff time and labor costs during the process
  • The number of projects accepted for concurrent processing may be limited based on the number of projects currently in workflow, staffing and if the project would help advance one of the County’s strategic priorities.
  • Acceptance into the Concurrent Plan Review Program does not guarantee approval of any discretionary entitlements. 

Helpful Links

Improvement Plan Submittal Package

Grading Plan Submittal Package