Burlingame · new construction permits
Burlingame new construction permits.
What it actually takes to permit a ground-up build in Burlingame: jurisdiction, plan check, inspections, and the local overlays that change the path. Every link below points at an official City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division resource.
Quick answer
New single-family permits in Burlingame are issued by City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division; California Title 24 Part 6 and CALGreen Part 11 apply statewide on top of any Burlingame reach-code amendments.
Homeowner & investor takeaway
Run a DHE study before committing to a massing — Burlingame's envelope is more restrictive than neighboring cities and frequently triggers Design Review Commission action if exceeded.
Local jurisdiction.
Permits are issued by City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division (San Mateo County). Use the official portals below — do not rely on third-party permit aggregators.
- Building department: City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division
- Permit portal: City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division
- Planning: City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division
- Zoning lookup: City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division
- Municipal code: City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division
Permit types typically involved.
Building permit
Required for a new dwelling unit, including structural, MEP, and envelope review.
Grading / drainage
Grading thresholds and Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater requirements apply per City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division; sloped parcels require geotech and an erosion-control plan.
Sewer / utility
Municipal sewer service in developed Burlingame parcels; verify lateral condition and any point-of-sale sewer compliance requirement before scoping. PG&E electric/gas; California Water Service (Cal Water) for water; City for sewer.
Electrical / mechanical / plumbing
Often pulled with the building permit; some jurisdictions require separate sub-permits per trade.
Title 24 compliance
California Energy Commission Climate Zone 3. New single-family homes must comply with the current Title 24 Part 6 envelope, HVAC, hot-water, and rooftop solar-PV requirements.
CALGreen
CALGreen Part 11 mandatory measures (≥65% C&D waste diversion, water-efficient fixtures, indoor-air-quality measures) apply to all new homes. Burlingame may layer reach-code or local green-building amendments — confirm the current adopted ordinance at intake.
Plan check process.
Plan check rigorous on Title 24, structural lateral, and tree-protection; comment cycles common for second-story projects.
Entitlement & planning review.
R-1 SFRs over FAR or DHE limits require Design Review Commission action; otherwise ministerial.
Inspections.
City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division schedules inspections through its permit portal; foundation, framing, rough trades, insulation, drywall, and final are the standard hold points for new SFRs in Burlingame.
Local overlays & constraints.
Burlingame uses R-1 sub-districts with detailed FAR, declining-height-envelope (DHE), and rear-yard rules; Burlingame Hills (county pocket / city edge) adds slope rules.
Hillside. Burlingame Hills parcels add slope-based design considerations and view-corridor sensitivity.
Seismic. San Andreas Fault zone west in the hills; CGS liquefaction zones touch bayside areas.
Common delay drivers.
Risk 1
DHE exceedance discovered late
Risk 2
DRC revisions extending design phase
Risk 3
Heritage-tree siting reducing footprint
Prepare before submittal.
- Confirm zoning, setbacks, height, and FAR for the parcel.
- Order soils / geotech early — many overlays require it before plan check.
- Complete Title 24 energy modeling and confirm CALGreen targets.
- Have a clear utility upgrade plan (sewer lateral, panel, gas) documented.
- Pre-assemble any overlay-specific studies (hillside, coastal, fire, flood).
This page is general information, not legal advice. Permit requirements change. Confirm the current process directly with City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division.
Questions.
- Who issues new-home permits in Burlingame?
- The City of Burlingame Community Development Department — Building Division issues permits; the Planning Division and Design Review Commission handle entitlement.
- What is the declining-height envelope (DHE)?
- A geometric envelope rule limiting how tall a building can be at a given distance from the side property line; one of the more restrictive on the Peninsula.
- When does a project trigger Design Review?
- When the project exceeds FAR or DHE thresholds, or otherwise meets the city's design-review criteria. Staff can confirm at pre-application.
- Who provides water service?
- California Water Service (Cal Water); the City provides sewer.
- Does CALGreen apply?
- Yes, statewide. Confirm any local reach-code amendments at intake.
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