Cut Red Tape
Vision
Sacramento’s growth and prosperity are being held back by a permitting and approval process that is too slow, too complex, and too costly. We can keep strong standards for safety, equity, and environmental protection while delivering housing, opening businesses, and building modern infrastructure faster and at far lower cost. Let’s start with a city government that acts as a reliable partner, not a bureaucratic barrier, to progress.
Policy
- Streamline and digitize permitting to reduce approval times, lower administrative costs, and provide clear, predictable timelines for applicants.
- Fast-track priority projects that meet clear standards, including infrastructure upgrades, utility installations, adaptive reuse of vacant spaces, and housing that meets affordability criteria.
- Accelerate approvals for broadband and wireless infrastructure to close connectivity gaps and support a modern economy.
- Implement standardized plans and pre-approved designs for common project types, coupled with digital checklists, to shorten review cycles and reduce uncertainty.
- Create a “concierge” service for small businesses and homeowners navigating their first major project with the city.
Why This Matters
Excessive red tape isn’t just an annoyance… It’s a direct tax on our city’s future. Every month of delay in opening a new business or building a new home represents lost jobs, lost housing, and lost economic vitality. Small business owners, in particular, face overwhelming hurdles, draining their capital and morale before they can even open their doors. This inefficiency stifles entrepreneurship and tells innovators that Sacramento is not open for business.
The costs are also human. A family waiting months for a simple home addition, a shop owner struggling to expand, or a neighborhood plagued by a vacant lot that could be activated. These are the daily consequences of a system that prioritizes process over outcomes. Furthermore, slow approvals for essential infrastructure, like broadband and cell towers, leave entire communities behind in the digital age, harming remote work, education, and even emergency communications.
Cutting red tape is not about lowering standards; it’s about raising efficiency. By simplifying steps, embracing technology, and focusing staff time on complex reviews rather than routine approvals, we can accelerate housing construction, help small businesses create jobs faster, and improve city services without raising taxes. This builds public trust, generates new revenue through growth, and demonstrates a city government that is competent, responsive, and firmly on the side of its residents and their aspirations. Let’s build a Sacramento that says “yes” to progress.