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Land Development

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Land development in the City of Simi Valley requires either a Planned Development Permit or Conditional Use Permit.  In addition, if the division of land is required in conjunction with the development, a Tentative Parcel or Tract Map is required.  The development of a site may also include a General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan, Zone Change, Variance, and/or Development Agreement.

Please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have.  The City encourages a preliminary meeting to discuss your project and application.  The City's Preliminary Review application process is intended to determine potential issues and concerns the City and other reviewing agencies may have regarding proposed projects.

New Development Projects

Blueprints

Are you interested in developing a new residential project?

If you are interested in providing senior housing and/or including affordable units as part of your proposed residential project, please refer to Affordable and Senior Housing. 

Are you interested in developing a new commercial or industrial project?

 

Modifying Existing Projects

Are you interested in the Modification of existing projects?

Planned Development Permit

A Planned Development Permit is a method whereby land may be designed and developed to ensure high standards of environmental quality, public health and safety, and the intent, goals, policies, programs, and land use designations of the General Plan and any applicable specific plan.

A Planned Development Permit is required for all residential development projects with two or more dwelling units, and for all commercial and industrial development projects, unless a Conditional Use Permit is required.  For projects requiring a Planned Development Permit, no Building or Grading Permit shall be issued until the Planned Development Permit has been approved.  In approving a Planned Development Permit, the applicable review authority may impose conditions deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure that the proposed project is in compliance with the City’s General Plan and Development Code.  Please refer to SVMC Section 9-52.050 for further information on Planned Development Permits.

A Cluster Development Permit is a similar process that encourages the preservation of natural terrain and open space, especially on hillsides, by exploring design alternatives than is otherwise possible through strict application of the setback and parcel width standards.  The process encourages a variety of dwelling types, sizes, and site designs.  Please refer to SVMC Section 9-52.040 for further information on Cluster Development Permits.

Conditional Use Permit

As with Planned Development Permits, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is a method whereby land may be designed and developed to ensure high standards of environmental quality, public health and safety, and the intent, goals, policies, programs, and land use designations of the General Plan and any applicable specific plan.

A Conditional Use Permit allows for activities and land uses that may be desirable in the applicable zoning district and compatible with adjoining land uses, but whose effect on a site and its surroundings cannot be determined before being proposed for a particular location.  Conditional Use Permit procedures provide for the review of the configuration, design, location, and potential impacts of the proposed use, the compatibility of the proposed use with surrounding uses, and the suitability of the use to the site.  A Conditional Use Permit is required to authorize those proposed land uses and activities as identified in SVMC Section 9-26.030 as being allowable in the applicable zoning district. Depending on the gross square footage of your project or business that is located within an existing development, the level of review varies as follows:

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  • For projects 3,000 square feet or less, the proposal is reviewed as an Administrative Action
  • For projects between 3,000 and 10,000 square feet, an Administrative Conditional Use Permit is required
  • For projects 10,000 square feet or more, the proposal is reviewed by the Planning Commission

 

For projects requiring a Conditional Use Permit, no Building Permit or Grading Permit, if applicable, shall be issued until the Conditional Use Permit has been approved.  In approving a Conditional Use Permit, the applicable review authority may impose conditions deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure that the proposed project is in compliance with the City’s General Plan and Development Code.  Please refer to SVMC Section 9-52.070 for further information on Conditional Use Permits.

Tentative Parcel and Tract Maps

A subdivision is any division of contiguous land into separate parcels for sale, lease, or financing.  Any land transaction that legally separates property into distinct ownership units in which long-term ownership rights can be vested is a subdivision.  In most cases, a Parcel Map is the division of a parcel into two to four lots, and a Tract Map is the division of a parcel into five or more lots.

If you are interested in a project that involves the division of land, you must first obtain a Tentative Parcel or Tract Map.  A "tentative" map depicts the design and improvement of the proposed subdivision and the existing conditions that surround it.  Please refer to Applicability and Administration of Subdivision Regulations, SVMC Chapter 9-60, and note that the provisions of the Chapter are intended to supplement, implement, and work with the California Government Code and Subdivision Map Act.  Please refer to SVMC Chapter 9-62 for information related to Parcel Map Waivers and SVMC Chapter 9-63 for Lot Mergers.  If interested in a Lot Line Adjustment, please refer to the Department of Public Works checklist and application.

A map is normally processed in conjunction and concurrently with an application for land development.  If the request is part of a residential project, refer to the City’s Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 (use matrix) to ensure the property is zoned for the proposed density.

A Tentative Parcel Map is reviewed administratively; a Tentative Tract Map is reviewed by the Planning Commission. Please review Residential Single-Family Projects for any concurrent development with the map.

The first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  During review of your project, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to obtain any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  In addition, the project is reviewed for any potential negative environmental impact per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

The approval of the Tentative Parcel or Tract Map will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that review the project.  Requirements may include preparation of Conditions, Convents, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), a Common Area Maintenance (CAM) Agreement, and/or property deed restrictions related to required access easements.  The conditions are required to be addressed prior or concurrent to the recording of the Map.

Once the Tentative Parcel or Tract Map is approved, the next step is the submittal of Improvement Plans and Tentative Map to the Department of Public Works for review.  The following are required prior to recordation of the Map:

  • Approved Improvement/Grading Plans
  • Performance bond or security to ensure completion of proposed site improvements
  • Subdivision Agreement with the City
  • County of Ventura review of the Map
  • City Council formal acceptance of the Parcel Map or Final Tract Map

General Plan Amendments

In 2012, the City Council adopted a comprehensive update to the City’s General Plan.  The General Plan is the foundation for local land use planning.  It creates a vision for the foreseeable planning horizon and translates the vision into objectives, goals, policies, and implementation programs for the physical development of the community.  The General Plan covers all the land within the City and within its Sphere of Influence.  All proposed land uses must be consistent with the General Plan.

Four times a year, the City Council may consider amendments to the General Plan including land use changes.  These initial public hearings are referred to as the General Plan Prescreening meeting. Please contact the Planning Division for the City Council meeting dates and the application deadlines.

If you are interested in amending the General Plan, please contact the Planning Division at at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have regarding the process or submittal requirements.  After discussing with the City, please submit a  General Plan Amendment (GPA) Prescreening Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. This level of review requires a Public Hearing.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

The City Council, in reviewing your request to change a land use designation, desires to review a conceptual design of your proposed project.  This normally includes a site plan and elevation drawings of the proposal.  During the City review of the project, the application and exhibits are distributed to applicable City departments and outside agencies for their comments and concerns.

Once the application is complete, the item is formally scheduled for a public hearing before the City Council.  At that time, the City Council reviews your request and considers if the change in land use might be appropriate.  This level of review is not an approval but only an initial decision to proceed or not process with formal application for a General Plan Amendment and associated Zone Change and other appropriate entitlements requests.

Specific Plans

Specific Plans are a flexible planning tool often used for larger areas, to encourage comprehensive planning.  Specific Plans are adopted by ordinance and may focus on a particular planning or development issue, and provide detailed direction as to the type, location, intensity or design, financing, or infrastructure needed for development.  Please refer to SVMC Chapter 9-56 for the intent and applicability of Specific Plans. Specific Plans must be consistent with the City’s General Plan.

Town CenterIf you are interested in creating a Specific Plan, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have regarding the process or submittal requirements.  After discussing your project with the City, please submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.

In most situations, a Specific Plan is submitted with other entitlement applications, such as a Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map.  These requests are processed concurrently with the Specific Plan. Please refer to Residential Single-Family Projects, Commercial and Industrial Projects, or Mixed-Use Projects for additional information.

As with other entitlement applications, during review of your project, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include: You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission and City Council.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

Zone Changes

Zoning is the separation of a community into districts or zones that regulate land uses and the intensity of development.  A zoning designation is assigned to every legally defined parcel within a zone in the community.  There is an accompanying map and text that describes:  1) the boundaries of each zone; 2) uses are permitted within the zone; and 3) the standards that apply to the specific uses within the zone.  The goal of zoning is to assure that neighboring land uses are compatible.

If you are interested in requesting a Zone Change, including land use and Zoning Code text amendments, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have regarding the process or submittal requirements.  After discussing with the City, please submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.

In most situations, a Zone Change is submitted with other entitlement applications, such as a Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map.  These requests are processed concurrently with the Zone Change. Please refer to Residential Single-Family Projects, Commercial and Industrial Projects, or Mixed-Use Projects for additional information.

This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission and City Council.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

Variances

A Variance is a limited waiver of zoning standards for a use that is already permitted within a zone.  Variances are considered only in extraordinary circumstances where the physical characteristics of a property, such as size, shape, topography, location, surroundings, or its use pose a unique hardship to the property owner.  A Variance can only be granted in special cases where the strict application of zoning regulations deprives the owner of a use enjoyed by other property owners in the same zone. Economic hardship alone is an insufficient justification to approve a variance.  A Variance may not be used to permit a land use that is not otherwise allowed in a zone, such as a commercial use within a residential zone.  That would require a Zone Change. If you are interested in requesting a Variance, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have regarding the process or submittal requirements.  After discussing with the City, please submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

Development Agreements

A project that is in the approval process or has been approved but not yet built may be subject to new regulations and fees as they are adopted.  Developers generally do not have an assured (or "vested") right to develop until they obtain a building permit and have performed substantial work in reliance on that permit.  Until then, there is no guarantee that the local land use policies and regulations will remain the same.

The advantage of Development Agreement for developers is that they can "lock in" their entitlements and the local regulations that are in effect at the time the agreement is approved, allowing them to obtain financing and get the project underway.  For the City, the advantage is that there may be an agreement to additional conditions - such as extra parkland, school facilities, affordable housing, and other public improvements - beyond what the City could require through the normal development process. If you are interested in requesting a Development Agreement, including land use and/or Zoning Code text amendments, please contact the Planning Division at (805) 583-6769 to discuss your proposal and address any questions you may have regarding the process. This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission and City Council.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

After discussing with the City, please submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. The Development Agreement (DA) Request Checklist specifies mandatory items to be submitted with the application.

Residential Development Projects

Please select following appropriate link for the type of proposed project you are interested in developing:

If you are interested in providing senior housing and/or including affordable units, as part of your proposed residential project, please refer to Affordable and Senior Housing.

Residential Single-Family Projects

One Custom Single-Family Residence

If one custom single-family residence is being proposed and no division of land is involved, the project can be approved administratively with a Zoning Clearance.

First, refer to the Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 or contact the Planning Division, at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org, to ensure the property is zoned for single-family homes. Then, refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.

In planning your home, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. If you wish, you and your architect may visit with Planning for a preliminary review to analyze your property’s characteristics and let you know the design parameters based on your individual property, including setbacks, height limits, and any additional circumstances to consider when designing and building your home.

Once you know your parameters, your architect and engineer will need to prepare the site and civil/grading plans, floor plans, and building elevations. Submittal requirements and guidelines can be found on the City’s brochures: Sample Plot Plan and Minimum Setbacks, Residential Addition Submittal Requirements, and Residential Design Guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Planning at (805) 583-6769 or enviroservices@simivalley.org.

When your plans are ready, you will need to submit the required items to Planning and the Department of Public Works for review and comments. If changes are necessary, Planning and Public Works will work closely with you to ensure that your revised plans meet all City standards. Once the submittal items are approved, we will issue you a Zoning Clearance so that you may proceed to the next step. To obtain this clearance, you will also need to submit exhibits and obtain sign-off approvals from the following outside agencies (refer to the links to determine the respective requirements:

After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit. This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division. Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements, or you may also contact the Building Permit Counter at (805) 583-6723 or enviroservices@simivalley.org for more information. Please note that certain restrictions may apply if you are in a Special Flood Hazard Area. You may contact the Public Works Department at (805) 583-6786, and ask to speak to someone about flood zones. Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works will work with you through completion of the project.

Two to Four Single-Family Residences 

If you are planning to construct two to four single-family homes, a Planned Development Permit is required and, if a division of land is involved, a Tentative Parcel Map.  Also refer to the Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 to ensure the property is zoned for single-family homes. Both the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Parcel Map are reviewed and approved administratively.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

The first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.  In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community.

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approvals of the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Parcel Map, if required, will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans and Parcel Map, if required, to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Five or More Single-Family Residences

If you are planning to construct five or more single-family homes, a Planned Development Permit is required and, if a division of land is involved, a Tentative Tract Map.  Refer to Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 to ensure the property is zoned for single-family homes.  Both the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map are reviewed by the Planning Commission.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

The first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.  In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. 

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approvals of the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map, if required, will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans and Final Tract Map, if required, to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Residential Multi-Family Condominium/Townhome Project

If you are planning to construct a multi-family condominium/townhome project, a Planned Development Permit and a condominium Tentative Tract Map are required.  Note that the term townhome normally refers to a type of residential unit in which no one occupies above or below another unit.  Refer to the Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 to ensure the property is zoned for multi-family homes.  Both the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map are reviewed by the Planning Commission.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

TownhomesThe first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.  In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. 

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approvals of the Planned Development Permit and Tentative Tract Map, if required, will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans and Final Tract Map to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Residential Apartment Project

If you are planning to construct a multi-family apartment project, a Planned Development Permit is required.  Refer to the Zoning Code Section 9-24.030 to ensure the property is zoned for multi-family homes.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

Senior ApartmentsThe first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.  In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community.

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations. During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approval of the Planned Development Permit will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Modification of Existing Multi-Family Condominium/Townhome or Apartment Development

If the modification of the project is relatively minor, the proposal is reviewed administratively, which may be processed either with a Zoning Clearance or an Administrative Action. Please refer to Zoning Clearance requirements (SVMC Section 9-52.020) and Administrative Action requirements (SVMC Section 9-52.030) for the specific criteria.  If the modification is beyond the scope of an Administrative Action, a Modification to the approved project is required.

Administrative Action - Residential Projects

If an Administrative Action is required, the next step is to submit an Administrative Action Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050, and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc. In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. Once approved, the next step is to obtain a Zoning Clearance.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.  Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Modification - Residential Projects

A Modification to an existing development is generally applicable when substantial changes are proposed, beyond the scope of an Administrative Action.  The application may open review of the entire project site at the discretion of the applicable review authority.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing and is either reviewed administratively or heard before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

The first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. In designing the project, please refer to Residential Development Standards Sections 9-24.040, 9-24.050 and 9-24.060 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc.  In addition, please refer to the City’s Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. 

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.
During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approval of the Modification will be subject to conditions from the various City Departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be address to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans, if applicable, to the Department of Public Works for review. After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Commercial and Industrial Projects

If you are interested in the new development of a vacant or underutilized property, first, refer to the City’s Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (use matrix) to ensure the property is zoned for the proposed use and determine if the proposed use requires either a Planned Development Permit (PD) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP).  The approval of a CUP requires that a finding be made that the proposed use is compatible with the surrounding uses.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

Corporate Pointe

Once you determine the type of permit required, the next step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division. In designing the project, please refer to Development Standards SVMC Sections 9-26.040 though 9-26.070 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, loading, landscaping, lighting, etc. In addition, please refer to the Citywide Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community. 

Sierra VistaDuring the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.  Projects with an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must have the EIR prepared first.

Islands ResaturantThe approval of either the Planned Development Permit or Conditional Use Permit will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments

If the modification of the project is relatively minor, the proposal is reviewed administratively, which may be processed either with a Zoning Clearance or an Administrative Action.  Please refer to Zoning Clearance (SVMC Section 9-52.020) or Administrative Action (SVMC Section 9-52.030) for the specific criteria.  If the modification is beyond the scope of an Administrative Action, a Modification to the approved project is required.

Administrative Action

If a proposed project meets the criteria in SVMC Section 9-52.030, an Administrative Action is required and the next step is to submit an Administrative Action Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Development Standards, SVMC Sections 9-26.040 – 9-26.070, for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, etc. In addition, please refer to the Citywide Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community.

Once approved, the next step is to obtain a Zoning Clearance.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building, and Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Modification

A Modification to an existing development, whether a Planned Development Permit (PD) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP), is generally applicable when substantial changes are proposed, beyond the scope of an Administrative Action. The application may open review of the entire project site at the discretion of the applicable review authority.  This level of review requires a Public Hearing and is either reviewed administratively by staff or heard before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

If you are interested in modifying an existing development, the first step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Services/Planning Division.  In designing the project, please refer to Development Standards SVMC Sections 9-26.040 through 9-26.070 for applicable standards including the required setbacks from the property line, maximum building heights, parking, loading, landscaping, lighting, etc.  In addition, please refer to the Citywide Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community.

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.

The approval of the Modification will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans, if applicable, to the Department of Public Works for review. After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

Mixed-Use Development

If you are interested in the development of a mixed-use project, first, refer to the City’s Zoning Maps, SVMC Section 9-26.020, and SVMC Section 9-28.080 to ensure the property is zoned for the proposed use.  This level of development requires a Planned Development Permit (PD) and a Public Hearing before the City’s Planning Commission.  Prior to the Public Hearing, the City will mail notifications to the surrounding property owners to inform them of your proposal and to receive any public comments.

The next step is to submit a Formal Application, with applicable Planning Review Fees, to the Department of Environmental Service/Planning Division. In designing the project, please refer to Mixed-Use (MU) Overlay District Standards (SVMC Section 9-44.105) and for applicable standards including percentage of commercial vs. residential uses, required setbacks, building heights, parking, loading, landscaping, lighting, etc.  In addition, please refer to the Citywide Design Guidelines and Residential Design Guidelines to review the quality of architecture the City is visualizing for our community.

During the review of the project, which is often done through the City’s Development Advisory Committee (DAC) process, the City distributes your application and exhibits to applicable City departments and outside agencies, for their comments and concerns, who may include:

You may contact these agencies prior to submitting your application to identify any preliminary requirements and/or comments regarding your proposal.  During this process, the City also reviews the project for any potential negative environmental impacts, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  This review may require the submittal of project-specific information to make such evaluations.

During the initial review of your proposal, the City will notify you of any required or advised corrections in writing within 30 days of when you submitted your application.  After you address the corrections, you will resubmit plans with the goal of submitting a complete application, which means the City has all the information needed to process the application.  At that time, the Planning Division tentatively schedules a Public Hearing date, finalizes the environmental review, and prepares a staff report.  The City’s goal is to schedule the Public Hearing before the decision makers within 45-60 days for environmentally exempt projects and 75-90 days for those with a Negative Declaration.  Projects with an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must have the EIR prepared first.

The approval the Planned Development Permit will be subject to conditions from the various City departments and outside agencies that previously reviewed the project.  Various conditions are required to be addressed to obtain a Zoning Clearance, while others are completed prior to final inspection of the project.

The next step is the submittal of improvement/grading plans to the Department of Public Works for review.  After a Grading Permit is issued and the building pads certified, a Zoning Clearance is issued.  After you obtain a Zoning Clearance, you need to obtain a Building Permit.  This involves submitting construction drawings into plan check at the Building & Safety Division.  Please refer to the Building & Safety Plan Submittal Checklist for requirements.  Note that you may, with submittal of a hold harmless letter and City concurrence, submit into Building & Safety plan check prior to issuance of a Zoning Clearance.

Planning, Building & Safety, and Public Works  staff will all work with you through completion of the project, including completion of the project’s conditions of approval.

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