Sacramento, California – One year after its launch, Streamline Sacramento is showing measurable progress in reshaping how development moves through City Hall. A detailed update delivered to the Sacramento City Council on Feb. 24 outlined how the initiative has begun accelerating housing construction and supporting economic growth by simplifying long-standing approval procedures.
The effort, led by Mayor Kevin McCarty and Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, was designed to address a central challenge: how to strengthen the city’s financial future by expanding its housing supply and business base.
City leaders have emphasized that while local officials cannot influence broader economic forces such as inflation, labor costs, or interest rates, they can make the permitting system clearer and more predictable. The initiative focuses on reducing delays, improving transparency, and creating a more reliable path from project proposal to completion.
Streamline Sacramento is managed by the Community Development Department’s Building Division and operates as a cross-departmental effort. Over the past year, city staff examined every stage of the building permit process — from application submittal and plan review to inspections and final approvals. Officials said the goal was not only to move projects faster but also to make the experience less confusing for applicants.
Assistant Community Development Director Matt Hertel said the city spent months gathering feedback from builders, developers, and small business owners. That outreach resulted in nearly 40 identified improvement actions. According to the update presented to the Council, 72 percent of those actions were completed within the program’s first year.
Among the most notable changes was the creation of a Small Business Liaison Program. Through this program, restaurants and other small businesses can receive direct guidance from Building Division staff as they navigate permit requirements. The city also launched a detailed online resource hub and introduced “Permitting 101” classes to help applicants better understand the process before submitting plans.
Customer access has also expanded. The Public Counter, where residents and developers can seek in-person assistance, now operates five days a week. At the same time, the city has maintained its 24/7 online permitting portal, allowing users to submit materials and track progress at any hour.
Another key development was the rollout of virtual inspections for minor permits. Using a new application platform, inspectors can conduct real-time remote reviews, cutting down on travel time and increasing the number of inspections completed each day. This approach allows staff to dedicate more attention to larger, more complex projects while offering flexible scheduling options for customers.
City officials report that the combined effect of these changes includes shorter approval timelines, reduced development costs, and smoother pathways for businesses looking to open or expand. The initiative builds on Sacramento’s broader housing strategy; the city was the first in California to receive the state’s Prohousing Designation from the Department of Housing and Community Development.
As Streamline Sacramento enters its second year, city leaders say the work will continue. Additional refinements are expected as departments evaluate what is working and where further adjustments can be made. A full list of completed and ongoing actions is available on the program’s webpage, and residents and stakeholders can sign up for email updates as the initiative moves forward.