Planning & Building
San Mateo County building permit services. Confirm which county or city agency handles your property before applying.
County planning-permit instructions cover unincorporated San Mateo County. Email/counter and listed online planning categories differ; an approved planning permit does not itself authorize construction.
- Availability · Planning approval and building-permit sequence
- You may need one or both depending on your proposed project. If you need both permits, you must get the planning permit before applying for the building permit. Having an approved planning permit does not mean that you can start construction without first getting a building permit.
Source & saved evidence
Planning approval and building-permit sequence
You may need one or both depending on your proposed project. If you need both permits, you must get the planning permit before applying for the building permit. Having an approved planning permit does not mean that you can start construction without first getting a building permit.
Agent source review: October 26, 2026 · Snapshot
64f234c8de5bb3d0 - Availability · Planning email/counter filing; only the listed planning categories are online
- The county describes email/counter planning submissions and a specific list of planning permits accepted online. Online building-permit filing is a separate process.
Source & saved evidence
Planning email/counter filing; only the listed planning categories are online
Application Submission. For a Planning permit, a permit application can currently be submitted by email or in person at the Planning Counter. Now Available: The following Planning permits are now accepted online. You do not need a separate planning permit application form. • Short-Term Rentals • Pre-applications for: • Bayside and Coastside Design Review • Development Footprint Analysis for Subdivisions (including Early Assistance Meetings) • Early Assistance Meetings for SB 9 Lot Splits and/or Housing Developments • Major Development Public Workshops • Other Pre-applications
Agent source review: October 26, 2026 · Snapshot
64f234c8de5bb3d0
Before you start · 1 requirement & conditions
- Processing time · Initial planning completeness review, not total approval time
- The page says initial completeness review is generally within 30 days. Missing material/fees and the later review clock are separate; this is not a guaranteed overall decision time.
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Initial planning completeness review, not total approval time
Initial Application Review. Staff reviews to determine application completeness, generally within 30 days for planning permits, and assesses initial fees for the project. If the application is not complete, staff will request missing information. Once the applicant has paid initial fees and the application is deemed complete, the review clock begins.
Agent source review: October 26, 2026 · Snapshot
64f234c8de5bb3d0
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San Mateo planning-permit application process
The Planning and Building Department issues permits for a wide range of planning and building projects in unincorporated San Mateo County. Because of varying procedural requirements in State law and County ordinances, each type of permit may be subject to different processing requirements. We process each permit as quickly as possible while ensuring full compliance with the law. The general process for planning permits and building permits is summarized below.
Agent source review: October 26, 2026 · Snapshot 64f234c8de5bb3d0