San Mateo · new construction permits
San Mateo new construction permits.
What it actually takes to permit a ground-up build in San Mateo: jurisdiction, plan check, inspections, and the local overlays that change the path. Every link below points at an official City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division resource.
Quick answer
New single-family permits in San Mateo are issued by City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division; California Title 24 Part 6 and CALGreen Part 11 apply statewide on top of any San Mateo reach-code amendments.
Homeowner & investor takeaway
Determine which review track applies — San Mateo Park AR, HR hillside, or Shoreview FEMA — before architecture. The wrong assumption typically costs a comment cycle.
Local jurisdiction.
Permits are issued by City of San Mateo 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 San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division
- Permit portal: City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division
- Planning: City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division
- Zoning lookup: City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division
- Municipal code: City of San Mateo 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 San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division; sloped parcels require geotech and an erosion-control plan.
Sewer / utility
Municipal sewer service in developed San Mateo 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 in most neighborhoods; 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. San Mateo 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 (in Shoreview) FEMA elevation; protected-tree ordinance applies.
Entitlement & planning review.
Most R-1 SFRs are ministerial; San Mateo Park's Architectural Review and HR-overlay parcels add design review and slope rules.
Inspections.
City of San Mateo 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 San Mateo.
Local overlays & constraints.
San Mateo uses R-1 sub-districts (with size-keyed FAR and coverage), R-2, R-3 districts plus Hillside (HR) overlays in the western areas; downtown is governed by precise plans.
Hillside. HR overlay in western neighborhoods adds slope-band density and Architectural Review.
Flood. Shoreview and bayside parcels in FEMA SFHA — verify on FEMA MSC.
Seismic. San Andreas Fault zone west in the hills; CGS liquefaction zones in bayside Shoreview and parts of older fill areas.
Common delay drivers.
Risk 1
AR design revisions during plan check
Risk 2
FEMA SFHA finished-floor surprise
Risk 3
HR slope-band reducing buildable area
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 San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division.
Questions.
- Who issues new-home permits in San Mateo?
- The City of San Mateo Community Development Department — Building Division issues permits; Planning handles zoning, Architectural Review, and HR overlays.
- What is the HR overlay?
- Hillside Residential overlay in western neighborhoods adding slope-band density, retaining-wall limits, and Architectural Review.
- Is my Shoreview lot in FEMA SFHA?
- Many Shoreview parcels are; verify on the FEMA MSC and plan elevation certificate work.
- Who provides water service?
- California Water Service (Cal Water) provides water in most neighborhoods; the City provides sewer.
- Does CALGreen apply?
- Yes, statewide. Confirm any local reach-code amendments at intake.
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