Article Date: Friday, February 28, 2025

Sacramento County is making significant improvements to its Accela online permitting system, enhancing transparency and efficiency for residents and businesses navigating the building permit process. As part of these upgrades, the building permit portal will be temporarily unavailable from March 15 – 19, 2025. Additionally, the County’s in-person Building Assistance Center will be closed to the public from March 17 – 19, 2025, while our staff is hard at work implementing these improvements.

Accela is the County’s online permitting and development management system, allowing residents, contractors and developers to apply for building permits, track project progress and communicate with County staff. The upcoming improvements will provide users with greater insight into their project status, including:

• Identification of which plan reviewers their project has been assigned to
• Estimated completion dates for plan reviews
• Real-time updates on review status

Additionally, customers will benefit from all plan review comments being consolidated into a single letter, streamlining the response process and improving communication between design teams and reviewers.

“These upgrades to Accela are designed to improve overall efficiency and clarity for our customers,” said Troy Givans, Director of the Sacramento County Community Development Department. “By offering better visibility into project status and a more user-friendly review process, we are making it easier for customers to navigate the permitting system and get their projects moving forward.”

While the Building portal of Accela is offline, customers will be unable to submit new building permit applications or access existing project details. The County advises residents and businesses to plan accordingly and complete any time-sensitive transactions before March 15. During this planned outage, residents will still be able to schedule inspections, they simply need to call (916) 875-5296 and press 0 to speak with a representative. 

CONTACT INFO:

​KEN CASPARIS​, SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, 916-874-1319​​

Sacramento County has a new Podcast! Listen in on various departments discuss a wide range of topics. Click the photo to learn more!

As a business owner in Carmichael, California, it's essential to stay informed about new laws and updates that may impact your operations. Here are ten important developments for 2025:

1. Minimum Wage Increase
   Effective January 1, 2025, California's minimum wage has increased to $16.50 per hour for all employees, regardless of company size. This adjustment is based on a cost-of-living provision in the state's minimum wage law. Carmichael Times 
2. Prohibition of 'Captive Audience' Meetings
   A new law prohibits employers from requiring employees to attend meetings primarily intended to convey the employer's opinion on religious or political matters, including union organizing. This aims to protect workers' rights to refrain from such discussions. KCRA 
3. Changes to Driver's License Requirements for Employment
   Senate Bill 1100 prohibits employers from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition of employment unless driving is an essential function of the job. Employers must also demonstrate that alternative transportation methods are not feasible. Carmichael Times 
4. Organized Retail Theft Laws
   Several new laws have been enacted to combat organized retail theft, including increased penalties for those involved in the resale of stolen goods and provisions allowing district attorneys to consolidate charges for theft offenses committed across multiple counties. Carmichael Times 
5. Electronic Funds Transfer Requirement for Alcohol Transactions
   Starting January 1, 2026, retailer licensees must pay wholesaler licensees by electronic funds transfer for deliveries of beer, wine, or distilled spirits. This aims to streamline payment processes within the alcoholic beverage industry. Beverage Law 
6. Ban on Certain Hemp Products
   An emergency regulation prohibits hemp products from containing any detectable amount of THC and restricts the sale of industrial hemp food products to individuals under 21. Businesses should review their product offerings to ensure compliance. Beverage Law 
7. Establishment of Cannabis Cafes
   Starting January 1, 2025, local jurisdictions may permit the operation of cannabis cafes where the consumption of cannabis is allowed alongside the sale of non-cannabis food and beverages. Businesses interested in this model should seek local approval. Beverage Law 
8. Bottle Bill Amendments
   By July 1, 2025, all wine and distilled spirits sold in California must comply with California Redemption Value (CRV) labeling requirements, indicating the container's recyclability. Tasting rooms are exempt from this requirement. Beverage Law 
9. Use of Biometric Devices for Age Verification
   Senate Bill 1371 allows businesses to use biometric systems, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to verify a purchaser's age for alcohol sales. Utilizing such technology can serve as a defense in cases involving sales to minors. Beverage Law 
10. Limitations on Junk Fees
    A new California law prohibits state-chartered banks from charging fees for ATM withdrawals that are instantaneously declined. Businesses in the financial sector should adjust their fee structures accordingly. Patch 

Staying informed about these developments will help ensure your business remains compliant and can adapt to the evolving legal landscape in California.

• Increased Business License Fees
  As of October 1, 2024, general business license fees in Sacramento County have increased by 29%, raising the cost to $230. This adjustment affects all businesses operating within the county. CBS News