Council Slashes Appeal Fee Deposits, Expands Parkland Fees to All Housing

The San Ramon City Council unanimously overhauled its land-use appeal fee structure, cutting the entry-point deposit from $4,500 to $1,500 in a move that directly addresses resident complaints that the old system priced ordinary families out of the process. In a busy session, the council also advanced an ordinance extending parkland impact fees to apartments for the first time and directed staff to explore a ban on commercial sales of bred animals.

• Appeal fee deposits drop from $4,500 to a $1,500–$2,500 tiered system, restoring pre-2024 entry points after residents called the old flat rate a "paywall"

• All residential projects, including apartments, will now owe parkland impact fees under an ordinance set for adoption March 24

• 1,008-fee master schedule introduced with 51% of fees adjusted by 2.82% CPI and seven development impact fees updated by a new nexus study

• Vice Mayor Rubio pushes to ban commercial sale of bred animals not covered by state law, citing distressed birds in local pet stores

• City bridge project wins Cal Cities' statewide Project of the Year and qualifies for a national award in September

After nearly an hour of deliberation — the longest item of the evening — the San Ramon City Council voted unanimously to replace its $4,500 blanket appeal deposit with a three-tier structure that significantly lowers the cost for residents to challenge land-use decisions.