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
08/28/2025 41-08282025-0001 CITY OF MENLO PARK NOTICE OF EXEMPTION ORDINANCE ADOPTING LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF MENLO PARK'S MUNICIPAL CODE
08/29/2025 41-08292025-0001 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION PURISIMA CREEK REDWOODS BICYCLE PARKING AMENITIES INSTALLATION
09/03/2025 41-09032025-0001 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION WUNDERLICH COUNTY PARK DRINKING FOUNTAIN REPLACEMENT
09/03/2025 41-09032025-0002 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION EDGEWOOD COUNTY PARK EDUCATION CENTER AND DAY CAMP RESTROOM AND TRAILHEAD DRINKING FOUNTAIN REPLACEMENT
09/03/2025 41-09032025-0003 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION HUDDART COUNTY PARK ZWEIRLIEN AREA RESTROOM AND TRAILHEAD DRINKING FOUNTAIN REPLACEMENT
09/03/2025 41-09032025-0004 TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BANK STABILIZATION AND RESTORATION OF SAN MATEO CREEK AT RESIDENCE 198 BRIDGE ROAD HILLSBOROUGH, CA
09/05/2025 41-09052025-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SCHOOL STREET/SPRUCE AVENUE AND HILLSIDE BOULEVARD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
09/09/2025 41-09092025-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0024: DR25-004
09/09/2025 41-09092025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0068: DR25-0015
09/10/2025 41-09102025-0001 CITY OF MILLBRAE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION MARINA VISA PARK RENOVATION PROJECT
09/10/2025 41-09102025-0002 CITY OF MILLBRAE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BAYSIDE MANOR PARK RENOVATION PROJECT
09/11/2025 41-09112025-0001 CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION AMENDMENT OF THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE
09/11/2025 41-09112025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P24-0133: UP24-0007
09/11/2025 41-09112025-0003 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P24-0004: DR24-0017
09/12/2025 41-09122025-0001 CITY OF SAN MATEO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 3387 COUNTRYSIDE DRIVE STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
09/12/2025 41-09122025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF DETERMINATION 800 DUBUQUE AVENUE, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080 (P21-0117; DA24-0001)
09/15/2025 41-09152025-0001 CITY/COUNTY ASS. OF GOVTS OF SAN MATEO COUNTY (C/CAG) NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SAN CARLOS ALUCP AMENDMENT - CHILDCARE IN SAFETY COMPATIBILITY ZONE 6
09/17/2025 41-09172025-0001 CITY OF SAN CARLOS NOTICE OF EXEMPTION TRILLIUM TRAIL CONNECTION
09/17/2025 41-09172025-0002 CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION AMENDMENT TO THE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE
09/18/2025 41-09182025-0001 YUBA COUNTY WATER AGENCY NOTICE OF DETERMINATION LOWER YUBA RIVER ACCORD 2026 WATER TRANFER PROGRAM
09/26/2025 41-09262025-0001 CITY OF HALF MOON BAY, PUBLIC WORK DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF DETERMINATION SMITH FIELD PARK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
09/26/2025 41-09262025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF DETERMINATION INFINITE 131 PROJECT
09/26/2025 41-09262025-0003 TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH NOTICE OF EXEMPTION MACADAMIA ACCESS ROAD REPAIRS PROJECTS

Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted
Agency Title
08/27/2025 BUTTE WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PREPERATION OF DRAFT EIR AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
08/27/2025 CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY NEWS RELEASE
08/28/2025 CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL ACCELERATES TIMELINE FOR 2026 RAIL INSTALLATION
09/08/2025 CITY OF HALF MOON BAY NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION HALF MOON BAY 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
09/09/2025 NORTH OF SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
09/10/2025 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/17/2025 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION - PLN2021-00432/PLN2022-00326
09/18/2025 CITY OF MENLO PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE - PARKLINE MASTER PLAN PROJECT
09/18/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
09/22/2025 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO  NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/23/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
09/25/2025 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVEIW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
09/25/2025 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC REVEIW AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION - UPDATED