Periodic Special Events Zoning Code Update, File No. ORD25-0003

The Periodic Special Events Zoning Code Update, identified as File No. ORD25-0003, involves amendments to Chapter 26 of the Sonoma County Code to refine the regulation of periodic special events. A primary component of this update is the establishment of a 2500-person attendee cap for special events permitted via a Zoning Permit. However, events that require both a Zoning Permit and a Special Event Encroachment Permit are exempt from this specific attendance limit. Beyond the capacity restrictions, the ordinance aims to improve administrative clarity by updating term definitions, clarifying public noticing procedures, and streamlining the overall permitting process to ensure consistency throughout the Zoning Code. Managed by the County of Sonoma, this project is categorized as a minor administrative update intended to codify current practices and reduce potential community impacts. The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061(b)(3), as the changes are considered minor and do not result in significant environmental impacts. The performance of these updates is designated as countywide. For administrative inquiries, the lead contact is Katerina Mahdavi, a Project Planner within the Permit Sonoma Project Review Division.