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
05/30/2025 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
06/11/2025 41-06112025-0001 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM & HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FY2025-2026
06/12/2025 41-06122025-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P24-0130: UP24-0006
06/12/2025 41-06122025-0002 WESTBOROUGH WATER DISTRCIT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION WESTBOROUGH WATER DISTRICT SKYLINE TANK NO.3 RETOFIT PROJECT
06/12/2025 41-06122025-0003 CITY OF DALY CITY  NOTICE OF DETERMINATION VISTA GRANDE DRAINAGE BASIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
06/16/2025 41-06162025-0001 COUNTY OF SAN MATEO PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION INSTALLATION OF NEW SHADE SHELTER AT QUARRY COUNTY PARK
06/16/2025 41-06162025-0002 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION PROPOSED PURCHASE OF PROPERTY AS AN ADDITION TO RUSSIAN RIDGE OPEN SPACE RESERVE
06/20/2025 41-06202025-0001 CITY OF BURLINGAME NOTICE OF EXEMPTION CITY OF BURLINGAME VICTORIA PARK BLACKTOP AREA RESURFACING AND STRIPING PROJECT
06/23/2025 41-06232025-0001 TOWN OF COLMA - PLANNING DEPT. NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 480 COLLINS AVENUE, UNIT H USE PERMIT FOR CARPENTRY BUSINESS
06/23/2025 41-06232025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO - PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0044 - SIGNS25-0015
06/23/2025 41-06232025-0003 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO - PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0008 - DR25-0002
06/27/2025 41-06272025-0001 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 2024 CURB RAMP PROJECT
06/27/2025 41-06272025-0002 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION VERA AVENUE BICYCLE BOULEVARD PROJECT
06/30/2025 41-06302025-0001 CITY OF FOSTER CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION POLICE DEPARTMENT KITCHEN REMODEL PROJECT (301-711)

Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted
Agency Title
06/06/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
06/17/2025 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF THE BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK
06/17/2025 CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY HIGH-SPEED RAIL COMPLETES FIRST TULARE COUNTY GRADE SEPERATION AT AVENUE 56
06/24/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING - SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
06/26/2025 CITY OF SAN BRUNO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE TANFORAN REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT (SCH #2023120409)