Resilient City Zoning

Dozens of homes and structures in the eastern area of Santa Rosa were destroyed or damaged in the 2020 Glass Fire. To ensure property owners can rebuild as as quickly and efficiently as possible, the City has put several measures in place. 

The Resilient City (-RC) combining zoning district, originally established by the City following the October 2017 fires, has been expanded to apply to properties within the Santa Rosa city limits that were most impacted by the Glass Fire. The district is combined with the primary zoning district in place for each property.  For example, a property within the impacted area that is currently zoned Single-Family Residential (R-1-6) would be zoned Single-Family Residential-Resilient City (R-1-6-RC). 

The -RC combining district provides for streamlining of the permit process and expedited review for reconstruction and repair of damaged or destroyed residential and non-residential structures. Also included is waiving of  discretionary planning permit fees, as well as fees for demolition permits and temporary housing. In addition, the -RC combining district delegates the review authority of any required discretionary planning permit to the Director of Planning and Economic Development. 

In order to provide an opportunity for property owners to live on site while their homes are reconstructed, the -RC district allows for temporary housing including trailers, recreational vehicles, manufactured homes, tiny homes and other similar structures. Further, the construction and occupancy of a new detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on site, prior to the construction of a single-family residence on the site, is allowed.