Riverside District Attorney Room 452 Conversion Project
Summary
SCH Number
2026050509
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Riverside District Attorney Room 452 Conversion Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/13/2026
Document Description
The Riverside Office of the District Attorney (DA) is located within the Downtown Law Building at 3960 Orange Street. DA Office Room 452 is currently outdated, under-sized, and under-utilized. Due to increased workload, the DA would like the space to be updated and expanded to provide a safer work environment for staff. To accomplish this, Room 452 would be expanded into Room 453 by opening the wall in between, removing all shelving, and converting the storage space into an office environment with cubicles. The scope of work for the Project will include, but is not limited to, fire-life safety, electrical, mechanical, framing, drywall, paint, flooring, data and finishes. All work will be completed in compliance with applicable building codes and health and life safety requirements. The improvements to Room 452 of the DA facility is defined as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the site will continue to provide public services at the existing facility and will not result in a significant expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Project Number: FM08220015252
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
3960 Orange Street, north 10th Street
Zip
92501
Parcel #
215-373-019, 215-373-018
State Highways
SR-91
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The improvements to Room 452 of the DA facility are limited to expanding into Room 453 to enlarge the space and provide increased functionality. The improvements are minor alterations within the facility would not expand the building footprint or the capacity of the site and would result in the continuation of public services; therefore, the project is exempt as the improvements meet the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The improvements to Room 452 of the DA facility will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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