County Building Permits

San Mateo County Building Permit Guide

Building permit information for unincorporated San Mateo County and all incorporated cities and towns. Find your jurisdiction's permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Important: San Mateo County issues building permits only for properties in unincorporated areas of the county. If your property is inside an incorporated city or town, select your jurisdiction below - that local building department handles your permits, not the county.

Unincorporated San Mateo County

Permit authority
San Mateo County Planning and Building Department
Online portal
Accela Citizen Access
Apply for permit
Apply online
Schedule inspections
Schedule inspection
Governing body
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

Cities and towns in San Mateo County

Select your jurisdiction for local permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Atherton Permit guide → Belmont Permit guide → Brisbane Permit guide → Burlingame Permit guide → Colma Permit guide → Daly City Permit guide → East Palo Alto Permit guide → Foster City Permit guide → Half Moon Bay Permit guide → Hillsborough Permit guide → Menlo Park Permit guide → Millbrae Permit guide → Pacifica Permit guide → Portola Valley Permit guide → Redwood City Permit guide → San Bruno Permit guide → San Carlos Permit guide → San Mateo Permit guide → South San Francisco Permit guide → Woodside Permit guide →

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change - confirm current requirements directly with the relevant city, town, or county department before applying.

Related California Resources

License Requirements Verify your contractor's CSLB license → Contract Template Free homeowner-contractor agreement →

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in San Mateo County can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authorities listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.