A Summary of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

(California Public Resources Code, Sections 21000 – 21178, and Title 14 CCR, Section 753, and Chapter 3, Sections 15000 – 15387)

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California’s broadest environmental law.  CEQA helps to guide the Department during issuance of permits and approval of projects. Courts have interpreted CEQA to afford the fullest protection of the environment within the reasonable scope of the statutes. CEQA applies to all discretionary projects proposed to be conducted or approved by a California public agency, including private projects requiring discretionary government approval.

The purpose of CEQA is to:

  • Disclose to the public the significant environmental effects of a proposed discretionary project, through the preparation of an Initial Study (IS), Negative Declaration (ND), or Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
  • Prevent or minimize damage to the environment through development of project alternatives, mitigation measures, and mitigation monitoring.
  • Disclose to the public the agency decision making process utilized to approve discretionary projects through findings and statements of overriding consideration.
  • Enhance public participation in the environmental review process through scoping meetings, public notice, public review, hearings, and the judicial process. 
  • Improve interagency coordination through early consultations, scoping meetings, notices of preparation, and State Clearinghouse review. 

For more information, please visit CEQA Procedures for Internal CDFW Actions

Section 21092.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

The notices required pursuant to Sections 21080.4 and 21092 for an environmental impact report shall be posted in the office and on the internet website of the county clerk of each county in which the project will be located and shall remain posted for a period of 30 days. The notice required pursuant to Section 21092 for a negative declaration shall be so posted for a period of 20 days, unless otherwise required by law to be posted for 30 days. The county clerk shall post the notices within 24 hours of receipt.

CEQA Filing

Filing can be done in person or by mail.

Bring the following items with you or send it in the mail:

San Mateo County Clerk - Recorder
555 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063

  • Original Document (Notice of Determination/ Notice of Exemption) with wet signature
  • 4 additional copies of the NOD/NOE Document
  • Filing Fee (if previously paid, please provide previously issued Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Document filing fee receipt and copy of previously filed document)

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Online Postings

Please click the project title to access the document.

Date
Filed
Fish/Game
Receipt #
Lead Agency Type of
Document
Project Title
05/13/2025 41-05132025-0001 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 901 EL CAMINO REAL, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063

05/14/2025

41-05142025-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF DETERMINATION ALEXANDRIA CENTER FOR LIFE SCIENCE PROJECT
05/15/2025 41-05152025-0001 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO - PARKS DEPARTMENT  NOTICE OF DETERMINATION PSA AND ADDENDUM TO THE CALVTP PEIR PESCADERO CREEK COUNTY PARK
05/19/2025 41-05192025-0001 CITY OF SAN MATEO NOTICE OF DETERMINATION 435 E 3RD AVENUE MIXED-USE BUILDING
05/20/2025 41-05202025-0001 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING WATER DRINKING FOUNTAIN WITH A WATER BOTTLE REFILL STATION AT FRIENDSHIP COUNT PARK
05/20/2025 41-05202025-0002 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION REPLACEMENT OF FIVE EXISTING WATER DRINKING FOUNTAINS WITH A WATER BOTTLE REFILL STATIONS AT COYOTE POINT RECREATION AREA
05/21/2025 41-05212025-0001 SAN MATEO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION FERDINAND AVE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
05/22/2025 41-05222025-0001 WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT POINT REPAIR PROJECT - PHASE III-A
05/22/2025 41-05222025-0002 CITY OF SAN MATEO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 31ST & EL CAMINO REAL SIDEWALK REPAIR PROJECT
05/22/2025 41-05222025-0003 THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION FAIR OAKS FIELD TURF REPLACEMENT PROJECT
05/22/2025 41-05222025-0004 THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION RED MORTON PARK - MITCHELL INFIELD SYNTHETIC TURF PROJECT
05/27/2025 41-05272025-0001 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION TICONDEROGA DRIVE RETAINING WALL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
05/27/2025 41-05272025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P24-0099- DR24-0028
05/27/2025 41-05272025-0003 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION CAN18-0001- UP25-0002
05/27/2025 41-05272025-0004 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P21-0120- UP21-0014
05/27/2025 41-05272025-0005 CITY OF BURLINGAME NOTCE OF EXEMPTION BURLINGAME POLICE STATION ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADE AND BUILDING REMODEL PROJECT, PHASE 2
05/28/2025 41-05282025-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF DETERMINATION 2045 GENERAL PLAN RESET
05/28/2025 41-05282025-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF DETERMINATION ALEXANDRIA CENTER FOR LIFE SCIENCE PROJECT
05/29/2025 41-05292025-0001 D.C. HOUSING DEV. FIN. AGENCY NOTICE OF DETERMINATION CORMORANT ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT
05/29/2025 41-05292025-0002 CITY OF SAN BRUNO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION CRESTMOOR CANYON FIRE MAINTENANCE
05/29/2025 41-05292025-0003 CITY OF SAN BRUNO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION CRESTMOOR CANYON RESIDENTIAL DEFENSIBLE SPACE FUEL MODIFICATION MAINTENANCE
05/30/2025 41-05302025-0001 CITY OF SAN BRUNO NOTICE OF DETERMINATION WATER TANK 1 (CUNNINGHAM TANK) REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS/MND
06/05/2025 41-06052025-0001 TOWN OF WOODSIDE NOTICE OF EXEMPTION EMERGENCY CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE COMPANY PROJECT - SOIL NAIL AND SHOTCRETE WALL
06/05/2025 41-06052025-0002 SAN MATEO COUNTY PLANNING AND BUILDING NOTICE OF EXEMPTION STREAMBANK RESTORATION
06/09/2025 41-06092025-0001 HILLSBOROUGH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION

WEST HILLSBOROUGH ELEMENTRY SCHOOL MPR

06/10/2025 41-06102025-0001 NORTH COST COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) PROJECT

Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted
Agency Title
05/16/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
05/21/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
05/22/2025 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PLANNING AND BUILDING NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
05/28/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
06/06/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS