If you own a business in the city, you must apply for a Business License with the city and renew it each year.

More Information about Business Licenses

If you own a rental property or properties, you must apply for a Rental Registration with the city and renew it each year. This registration ensures health and safety for our residents, improves quality of life in rental communities, and safeguards the interest of property owners.

If you are planning to do construction and/or traffic control on city streets, you must submit an Encroachment Permit to the city.

Submit Encroachment Permit Online

Resources

• Encroachment Project Standard Requirements
• Encroachment Bond Form
• Street Trench Fee Ordinance
• COI Requirements and Submittals

Contact

If you have any questions, contact EncroachmentPermits@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8849.

Certain businesses in the city, such as taxi drivers, card dealers, ice cream vendors, massage therapists, etc., are required to have a character review of employees by submitting an Employee Permit to the city. These permits are reviewed by RCPD.

Submit Employee Permit Online

If you want to sell food or merchandise on a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path, you must submit a Sidewalk Vendor Permit.

Submit this permit online, or download the Sidewalk Vendor Permit application and submit it in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact the Planning Division PlanningServices@cityofranchocordova.org 916.851.8750.

If you want to host a group or party in the street, you must submit a Street Use Permit. These permits are reviewed by the city and RCPD.

Use the documents below to submit your application online. 

• Online Street Use Permit Application
• Block Party Requirements
• Petition to Request Road Closure

Contact

If you have any questions, contact EncroachmentPermits@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8849.

If you would like to attach small cell equipment for telecommunication facilities to private poles within the public right-of-way, you must apply for an Administrative Use Permit with the city.

Small cell equipment attachments on city-owned poles shall also apply for a Master License Agreement and Pole License.

Should excavation, trenching, or boring be required for connections into city-owned street light pole, a separate Encroachment Permit will be required.

Resources

• Small Cell Installation Guidelines
• Small Cell Permit Check List
• Small Cell Master License Agreement Application

Contact

If you have any questions questions, contact encroachmentpermits@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8849.

If you have a protected tree on your property, including street trees, native oaks and prominent or stately trees, you must apply for a Tree Removal Permit with the city to remove or prune it.

Submit a Request for a Tree Removal Permit permit online.

• Protected Tree Frequently Asked Questions
• City of Rancho Cordova Arborist Report Requirements

Contact

If you have any questions, contact Public Works at EncroachmentPermits@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8849.

All permits are available online. You can apply, pay and print a permit, schedule inspections, upload documents, and more. Information about the status of your permit and any required documentation will also be available. Visit Rancho Cordova Online to get started. 

Effective January 1, 2023, due to the new 2022 California Code, the city will not accept emailed permit submittals.

Visit the Building and Safety Division webpages for more information.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact the Building and Safety Division at 916.851.8760 or PermitServices@cityofranchocordova.org.

Temporary Use Permit

If you want to display temporary signage, host a temporary outdoor event, or utilize a portion of your property for a temporary use you must obtain a Temporary Use Permit.

Submit a Temporary Use Permit online or in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive using the documents below.

• Temporary Sign Application
• Temporary Use Permit Event Application
• Temporary Use Permit Non-Event Application

Required Processes

Prior to opening a new business, making changes to your building or other site improvements, you should verify with the Planning Division if any of the below processes would be required.

Projects can be submitted online or in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive using the documents below.

• Discretionary Entitlement Application: Application for General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment, Tentative Parcel Map, Tentative Subdivision Map, Rezone, Design Review, Minor Design Review and Conditional Use Permit.
• Unified Sign Program
• Zoning Certification Plan
• Administrative Entitlement Application: Application for Administrative Use Permit or Adjustment.
• Letter of Public Convenience & Necessity
• Boundary Line Adjustment Application
• Variance Application
• South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) Permit Application

Zoning Verification

If you would like to verify that a property is in compliance with zoning regulations you can submit a request for a Zoning Verification Letter.

Submit a Zoning Verification request by email, or use the Zoning Verification Letter Form and submit it in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact Kelly Whitman at 916.851.8759.

If you are a developer, contractor or architect applying for a development in the City of Rancho Cordova, following are resources to get started.

Applications

If you are proposing a new development or renovating an existing development, please select the applicable entitlement application below.

Submit the applicable permit online or in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive using the documents below.

• Discretionary Entitlement Application: Application for General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment, Tentative Parcel Map, Tentative Subdivision Map, Rezone, Design Review, Minor Design Review and Conditional Use Permit
• Unified Sign Program
• Zoning Certification Plan
• Administrative Entitlement Application: Application for Administrative Use Permit or Adjustment.
• Letter of Public Convenience & Necessity
• Boundary Line Adjustment Application
• Variance Application
• South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan (SSHCP) Permit Application

Design Guidelines

The Design Guidelines provide a framework to evaluate new development projects against the city’s adopted vision and are intended to reflect the city’s desires relative to land planning, as well as individual site design and architecture.

Informational Guides

Following are Informational guides to assist in the preparation of items required for planning applications and fee schedule.

• 500' Radius and Mailing Information
• Alcohol Sales/Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity
• Planning Department Fee Schedule

Contact

If you have any questions, contact Kelly Whitman at 916.851.8759.

Improvement Plan Review is available to serve the development community through review of planning applications and engineered improvement plans in conformance with city standards, conditions of approval, and good engineering practice.

Application

Submit the improvement plans online or in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive using the documents below.

• Improvement Plan Submittal Application and Checklist
• Cover Sheet Sample for Improvement Plans (PDF)
• Cover Sheet Sample for Improvement Plans (CAD file)
• Cover Sheet Sample for Grading Plans
• General Notes for Improvement Plans (PDF)
• General Notes for Improvement Plans (CAD file)
• Erosion & Sediment Control Notes (PDF)
• Erosion & Sediment Control Notes (CAD file)
• Right of Entry Form
• Surety Bond Form for Commercial Improvements
• Surety for Commercial Improvements in Letter of Credit Format
• Improvement Standards
• Standard Construction Specifications
• City Standards
• Specifications for Digital Submissions of Civil Engineering Plans and Final Maps Standards
• Digital Submissions Form

Contact

If you have any questions, contact PWDevelopmentEngineering@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8863.

Review and approval of final subdivision maps, parcel maps, and certificates of compliance for technical accuracy and conformance with State Law and City Conditions of Approval.

Application

Submit the review and approval online or in person at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive using the documents below.

• Final Map Submittal Requirements
• Mapping Manual
• Subdivision Performance Bond Form
• Subdivision Labor and Material Bond Form
• Subdivision Letter of Credit Form
• Certificate of Compliance Waiver Application

Contact

If you have any questions or for information on assignment of street addresses, contact PWDevelopmentEngineering@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8863.

If you are planning to have oversized/overweight loads on city streets, you must apply for a Transportation Permit with the city.

Submit the Transportation Permit Online

Resources

• Transportation Conditions and Restrictions including Attachment 2
• Transportation Permit Special Conditions for Manufactured Housing

Contact

If you have any questions, contact EncroachmentPermits@cityofranchocordova.org or 916.851.8849.

If you are planning to abandon a city street or easement pursuant to California Street and Highways Code Section 8300-8363, contact Quoc Nham at 916.851.8863 and refer to the documents below.

• Abandonment Application Requirements
• Street or Highway Abandonment Petition
• Easement Abandonment Petition