Placer County Conservation PROGRAM

PCCP Area

Find a property's Baseline Land Cover here.

PCCP & CARP Policy Document, Application, and Other Related Documents

  1. Decision Tree for Building Permits.pdf
  2. Foothills Grading or SFD Instructions and Application
  3. PCCP CARP Authorization Application.pdf
  4. Users Guide County_V1_July 2021
  5. EFFECTIVE JULY 1 2022_Land Conversion and Special Habitat Fees_FY 22-23
  6. BLRA_Survey Protocol_20220428
  7. SWHA Survey Protocol_02252022.pdf
  8. Appendix D - Aquatic Resources Delineation Guidance
  9. Appendix E - Master Conditions on Covered Activities Checklist
  10. Spatial_Data_Submission_Standards_210616 (PDF).pdf
  11. New PCCP Requirements Memo
  12. PCCP Executive Summary (PDF)
  13. PCCP Supplemental Information
  14. Placer County Conservation Program - Volume I (PDF)
  15. Placer County Conservation Program - Volume II - Appendices (PDF)
  16. CARP Final 2020.pdf
  17. Final HCP NCCP Programmatic General Permit (PDF)

What is the "PCCP"?

On September 1, 2020, the Placer County Board of Supervisors adopted the Placer County Conservation Program (PCCP), adding Chapter 19, Article 19.10 to the Placer County Code (effective November 2, 2020). The PCCP is a multi-component program comprised of:

  • Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) under the Federal Endangered Species Act and a Natural Community Conservation Plan (NCCP) under the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act
  • County Aquatic Resources Program (CARP)
  • In-Lieu Fee Program to fulfill Clean Water Act Section 401/404 compensatory mitigation requirements for impacts to aquatic resources

Conversion (ground disturbance) of natural or semi-natural lands, including oak woodland, grasslands, and wetlands may be subject to the applicable PCCP state and federal permits and impact fees. Find a property's Baseline Land Cover here.

Does your building permit require authorization? View the PCCP Decision Tree for Building Permits to find out.

Program Area & Land Use

The PCCP covers approximately 201,000 acres of Western Placer County. Within the PCCP plan area, 50,000 to 60,000 acres within the available potential acquisition area would become part of a reserve system. This conservation reserve system would preserve many acres of vernal pool habitat (approximately 50% of the County’s remaining stock of these fragile, seasonal ecosystems). This acreage occurs in the unincorporated County and City of Lincoln areas.

The  PCCP is designed to ensure that land will be managed to continue to support the survival and well being of the covered species, as well as the survival of hundreds of other species that are dependent on the same habitat. By proactively addressing the long-term conservation and development needs of the County, the  PCCP will strengthen local control over land use and provides greater flexibility in meeting the County’s social and economic needs for the future.

PCCP Authorization Application

The following project types are subject to new fee and application requirements:

  • Valley: Building permits for improvements over 5,000 square feet on parcels greater than 20,000 square feet
  • Foothills: Building permits for improvements over 5,000 square feet on parcels greater than 20,000 square feet
  • Grading more than 25 cubic yards within a Stream System

Informational Videos

For Project Applicants & Property Owners
General Overview of the PCCP - Provides general information about the purpose of the PCCP and how it is applied to Covered Projects.

For Consultants & Biologists
Part A: PCCP Covered Resources - Viewing this video is required to become a PCCP Qualified Biologist.

Part B (In Production)