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Permit Sonoma: streamlined permitting and chipper programs helped rebuild faster, but grant losses slow home-hardening
Summary
Scott Orr of Permit Sonoma described one-stop permitting, reduced fees, and education programs (including a county chipper service) that sped rebuilding after the Tubbs Fire; he warned that cancellations of major grants have reduced resources to support home hardening.
Scott Orr, director of Permit Sonoma, told the committee that after the Tubbs Fire staff reorganized permitting to remove barriers to rebuild quickly while ensuring stronger, safer construction. "We had to rethink ... how do we apply ... the affordability requirements for people who are trying to get back on their feet," he said, noting the county exceeded a 75% rebuild rate by using streamlined permitting and fee reductions.
Orr described outreach programs for older housing stock and a county-funded chipper program supported by transient-occupancy tax dollars (example figure referenced: $900,000) to remove fuel near homes. He warned that the cancellation of a $40 million 'building resilient infrastructure and communities' grant hurt capacity to support home-hardening outreach and incentives. Orr said early education and property assessments were effective but now face a funding gap that slows homeowner uptake of mitigation measures.
Orr urged policy that focuses on implementation and resources for maintenance of mitigations over time rather than additional planning requirements. The committee heard that short-term fee waivers and other rebuild incentives were useful as near-term investments to restore housing and community function.
