New Homes:
When building a new home in Santa Cruz it is important to know in advance all of the Public Works improvements in the public right-of-way that will be required as a condition of your building permit and what must appear on your plans. The requirements are as follows: 

• Install new or repair existing curb, gutter, and sidewalk per City standards. For new sidewalk installation, when the property line along the frontage is set back 7 feet or more from the back of curb, a landscape strip between the curb and sidewalk is required. For more information please go to Residential Street Trees & Landscaping.
  
  
• Remove and replace non-conforming driveway approach with a City standard driveway approach. Corner lots shall install a City standard disabled access ramp at the corner.
  
  
• If the garage and driveway are accessible to a public alley then the property owner shall provide asphalt concrete paving of the alley along the property frontage. 
  
  
• Installation of a new City standard street light may be required if an existing light in the direct proximity of your property is mounted on a PG&E wooden utility pole.  For new Home construction all utilities must be placed underground.
  
  
• Click on this link to view the City Standard Details described above.
  
  
• In addition to the improvement requirements there are also storm water requirements for Low Impact Development (LID) to be incorporated in the design as specified in the City’s Best Management Practices Manual for Single-Family Home Projects.

Additions and Remodels:
When building an addition or remodeling your home it is important to realize what will trigger improvements in the public right-of-way. If your project will either increase the conditioned floor space by 50% or increase the area of conditioned floor space by 500 square feet or more, some or all of the above conditions will be required. Reference Municipal Code Title 15.24.010

New Garage:
When constructing a new detached garage it is considered by Public Works to be a new structure (regardless of size) and is thereby subject to the same requirements as set forth above per the  municipal code.