Up until recently developers could start construction projects in Sacramento without a permit or a single fee being paid. Permission was granted verbally. That may change with a vote on a new program on May 24th.

The old program called the facilities permit program was suspended last year after the city attorney found it violated city code. A few on the city council criticized the program. They found out that the program was used to start construction on the Nestlé bottled water plant. Apparently the city council had no issues with the program when developers benefited, but as soon as a company that did not donate to their political campaigns benefits the program ended.

Now the new program will streamline the permit process while requiring fees be paid up front. The prior program allowed work to begin on an oral or written “authorization to start work” and before fees were paid. The permit process will be cut to 5 days instead of the 10 days under the previous program.

At his weekly news conference Tuesday, Mayor Kevin Johnson said the city “found the middle ground to move forward, and we certainly have a resolution that everyone feels comfortable with.” “The best of the program is preserved and the areas that could be improved upon have been addressed,” he said.