Chapter 19.84 — APPEALS

Sections:

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

• 19.84.010 Purpose of chapter.

• 19.84.020 Appeal subjects and jurisdiction.

• 19.84.030 Filing of appeals.

• 19.84.040 Processing of appeals.

Determinations or actions of the city planner and city commissions may be appealed as provided by this chapter. (Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

Determinations and actions that may be appealed and the authority to act upon an appeal shall be as follows:

A. Code Administration and Interpretation. The following determinations and actions of the city planner and department staff may be appealed to the planning commission or the historic preservation commission, as applicable, and then to the council:

1. Determinations on the meaning or applicability of the provisions of this development code that are believed to be in error, and cannot be resolved with staff;

2. Any determination that a permit application or information submitted with the application is incomplete, in compliance with state law (Government Code Section 65943); and

3. Any enforcement action in compliance with Chapter 19.90 SMC, Enforcement of Development Code Provisions.

B. Land Use Permit and Hearing Decisions. Decisions of the city planner on zoning clearances may be appealed to the planning commission or the historic preservation commission, as applicable. Decisions by a commission may be appealed to the council. (Ord. 10-2025 § 2 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. 06-2013 § 3, 2013; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

• A. Eligibility. An appeal may be filed by:

  1. Any person affected by an administrative determination or action by the city planner, as described in SMC 19.84.020(A); or

2. In the case of a land use permit or hearing decision described in SMC 19.84.020(B), by anyone who, in person or through a representative, appeared at a public hearing in connection with the decision being appealed, or who otherwise informed the city in writing of the nature of their concerns before the hearing.

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

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Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

3. Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance of this city, any member of the city council may, at his/ her discretion, appeal any final decision of any city commission board or official, to the city council. If an appeal is made by a council member, there shall be a presumption applied that the reason for the appeal is because the appealed decision or interpretation has significant and material effects on the quality of life within the city of Sonoma. No inference of bias shall be made because of the appeal and no other reason need be stated by the council person in his/her notice of appeal.

Appeals made according to this subsection shall not be subject to any fees.

• B. Timing and Form of Appeal. All appeals shall be filed within the time period and according to the requirements in SMC 1.24.020 and 1.24.040.

• C. Fee. Appeals shall be accompanied by the filing fee set by the city council’s fee resolution, except as provided for in subsection (A)(3) of this section.

D. Scope of Land Use Permit Appeals. An appeal of a decision by the city planner or commission on a land use permit shall be limited to issues raised at the public hearing, or in writing before the hearing, or information that was not known at the time of the decision that is being appealed.

E. Effect of Filing an Appeal. The filing of a valid appeal shall have the effect of staying the issuance of any permit until such time as the matter on appeal is resolved. (Ord. 04-2024 § 2(C), 2024; Ord. 03-2022 § 1B, 2022; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).

A. Scheduling of Hearing. After an appeal has been received in compliance with the procedures listed in SMC 1.24.020, 1.24.040, and 19.84.030(C), the appeal shall be transmitted to the community development director who shall place the item on the next available commission agenda, or the city clerk shall schedule the matter for the next available council agenda, as applicable to the appeal.

B. Report. Report. After the appeal hearing has been scheduled, the community development director shall prepare a report on the matter, and forward the report to the appropriate appeal body.

• C. Reserved.

• D. Action and Findings.

1. General Procedure. The appeal body shall conduct a public hearing in compliance with Chapter 19.88 SMC, Public Hearings. At the hearing, the appeal body may consider any issue involving the matter that is the subject of the appeal, in addition to the specific grounds for the appeal.

a. The appeal body may affirm, affirm in part, or reverse the action, decision, or determination that is the subject of the appeal, based upon findings of fact about the particular case. The findings shall

The Sonoma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 13-2025, passed December 3, 2025.

Page 349 of 410

Title 19 Integrated Development Regulations and Guidelines | Sonoma Municipal Code

identify the reasons for the action on the appeal and verify the compliance or noncompliance of the subject of the appeal with the provisions of this development code.

• b. When reviewing a decision on a land use permit, the appeal body may adopt additional conditions of approval that may address other issues or concerns than the subject of the appeal.

2. Appeals to the City Council.

   • a. By an Appellant. A decision by a commission may be appealed to the city council as provided by SMC 19.84.030, Filing of appeals.

   • b. Council’s Decision Is Final. The decision of the council on an appeal shall be final.

   • c. Tie Vote. A tie vote by the city council with regard to an appeal shall result in the affirmation of the decision of the body whose decision was appealed.

E. Effective Date of Appeal Decision. A decision by the commission is effective on the eleventh calendar day after the decision, when no appeal to the decision has been filed with the council. The effective date extends to the following business day when the eleventh calendar day falls on a day when City Hall is closed to the public. A decision by the council is effective as of the date of the decision. A final decision by the city council with regard to an appeal shall take the form of a resolution. (Ord. 04-2024 § 2(D), 2024; Ord. 03-2022 §§ 1C, 1D, 2022; Ord. 2003-02 § 3, 2003).