The Community Development Department guides and facilitates projects and development activities within the City.  We strongly believe in providing the highest standard of development to preserve the health, safety, general welfare, and quality of life for all people who live, work, and visit Corcoran.  Our department is responsible for planning and building activity within the City and assists with implementation of economic development plans and programs which strengthen and diversify the economic base of Corcoran.  The Community Development Department provides support to the City Manager, Planning Commission and City Council. 

The Community Development Department has the following divisions:  Building, Code Enforcement, Housing, and Planning.  
Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Building Division

The Building and Safety Division of the Community Development Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the California building codes and related federal, state, and City adopted laws and ordinances.  This responsibility includes compliance with state mandates assuring all structures meet or exceed the minimum life safety standards of codes, laws, and ordinances.

The Building Division assures these standards are met by providing organized procedures for reviewing and approving plans and specifications, issuing permits, and providing building inspections.

Building Inspections are made during the construction phase of development by the City's Building Inspector.  Periodic cite visits are made to ensure that projects are proceeding consistent with approved plans.  To schedule a building inspection, please call 559-992-2151 extension 234.  Before building construction can occur, plans must be prepared and submitted to the Building Division of the City's Community Development Department to be reviewed for compliance with zoning regulation.

Code Enforcement

The Code & Zone Enforcement Division of the Community Development Department provides inspections, investigations, and compliance guidelines in the City for residential and commercial code and zone violations.  The focus is on the maintenance of neighborhood and community assets, thereby assuring the health, safety, and welfare of residents in all neighborhoods.

The division is also responsible for Vehicle Abatement and the City's Annual Weed Abatement Program.  Property owners are notified to remove weeds, trash, and other material that constitutes a fire hazard.  If a property owner fails to respond the City performs the weed abatement through a private contractor and assesses the property owner for the incurred costs.

Housing Division
The City of Corcoran seeks State and Federal funding annually to provide several housing programs that provide financial assistance to homeowners and homebuyers.  Loan and grant funds are made available to homeowners to help with maintenance of their property, and to help First-Time Homebuyers achieve the American Dream of homeownership.  These services are provided through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program, City Paint Program, and First-Time Homebuyer Program.  Self-Help Enterprises, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of low-income residents in the San Joaquin Valley through housing and related programs and services, currently administers the City's Housing Rehabilitation and Homebuyer Assistance Programs. 

Click to read more about the Housing Element.

Planning Division

The Planning Division of the Community Development Department maintains and updates the City's General Plan, Annexation Projects, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and other development related ordinances and regulations.  The Planning Division informs developers and business owners regarding the process and requirements for constructing new projects in the City, and provides economic development information such as population projections, median household income levels, availability for commercial and industrial sites, and location of City infrastructure.  The Planning Division also processes applications for conditional use permits, variances, general plan amendments, tentative subdivision maps, and zone changes for private development projects in the City.

The City of Corcoran Zoning Ordinance includes a Zoning Map which divides the City into various zones for residential, commercial, and industrial development.  The ordinance regulates not only the location of various types of land uses, but also outlines other development requirements such as maximum building heights, building setbacks requirements, intensity of use, and required off-street parking.

The division of land within the City of Corcoran is regulated by the City's Subdivision Ordinance as contained in Title 12 of the Municipal Code, and by the State of California Subdivision Map Act.  The division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels is considered a subdivision of land is subject to compliance with the City's Subdivision Ordinance.  Information on the process and requirements for subdividing land may be obtained from the Permits Division of the Community Development Department.