San Mateo County has 20 incorporated cities, most of which manage their own building permits and zoning. The County Planning Department handles unincorporated areas. Coastal, hillside, and seismic overlays are common and may require additional review depending on location and project scope.
Many coastal cities have specific regulations regarding view preservation and coastal development permits due to the sensitive environment.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is California Contractors State License Board. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · City-by-city; cities run their own permit operationsLast verified · 05 / 2026