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Permit Information

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Office Hours:     Development Review Center Hours: Monday thru Friday     Planning Counter: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm call (650) 363-1825     Building Counter: 7:30 am -  5:00 pm call (650) 599-7311             for 24 hr. Automated Inspection Scheduling System, call (650) 306-8415     Public Works Counter: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm call (650) 363-4161     Appointments are temporarily unavailable until further notice   Online Permit Center General Procedures When Applying for a Planning or Building Permit, or a Use Permit for a Business How do I apply for a planning or building permit? You apply at the Development Review Center (DRC), Second Floor, 455 County Center, Redwood City. Counter hours at the DRC are 7:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. No appointment is necessary. The DRC handles permit applications for all unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. If your property is within the boundaries of any incorporated city or town, contact that city rather than the DRC. For more detailed information about how the DRC will assist you with your project, we suggest that you read the booklet A User's Guide to the Development Review Center. You may pick up a copy at the DRC, or you may call us and we will be glad to mail you a copy. What's the first step in this process? The DRC has pamphlets that describe the steps required to secure a permit for each kind of project, e.g., building a house, remodeling a house, or requesting a variance. Before you fill out an application, study the pamphlet that applies to your project to determine which approvals you will need and what plans and other documents you must submit with your application. Once you are familiar with your project’s requirements, we recommend that you prepare some very preliminary plans and bring them to the DRC counter so that we can review them before you submit your application. An informal meeting at this stage may save you considerable time and money later on. The goal of every staff member at the DRC is to help you get your project approved. After seeing very preliminary plans, the counter staff can help you by spotting potential problems and pointing out what kinds of changes, if any, you might have to make. Then you can create your formal plans and submit your application. If you are new to San Mateo County, you may also wish to make an appointment to meet with staff as part of the County’s Early Assistance Meeting Program. Early assistance meetings are designed to acquaint owner/builders, contractors, architects, and other professionals who are new to the area with our permit system, the different agencies involved, and the various costs and requirements. There is no charge for the meeting, which you can schedule with the Planning & Building Department by calling (650) 363-1825. Meetings are currently available. Please call for details.     How to Apply for a Permit by Fax or Mail   Express Permitting (Staff reviews plans at the counter and if all applicable criteria is met, the permit is issued at that time. Click link above for more information.)   What happens after I apply? The staff reviews your plans and routes them to several other departments for their review, including: Environmental Planning Health Building Inspection Fire Public Works Public Utilities Once you have made any required changes and all departments have given their approvals, we will send you a card telling you that you may pay your permit fees and receive your permit. What fees must I pay? The fees for a permit, plan check, and other services vary depending upon a number of factors. You may get a current fee schedule and pay your fees at the DRC counter.   Fee Schedule Document requires   General Procedures Brochure requires    When is a Use Permit Required for Businesses in Unincorporated San Mateo County? Anyone looking to open a business in Unincorporated San Mateo County should visit the Planning & Building Department and find out if their proposed business will require a  Use Permit. Some business uses are restricted by the Zoning designations for a particular land or building site. Businesses can be cited for a Use Violation if the appropriate Use Permit has not been obtained. Go to the  Planning & Building Division site for contact information and office hours.   San Mateo County Planning & Building Department County Office Building 455 County Center Redwood City, CA 94063 Phone: (650) 363-4161 Fax: (650) 363-4849