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
06/30/2025 41-06302025-0001 CITY OF FOSTER CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION POLICE DEPARTMENT KITCHEN REMODEL PROJECT (301-711)
07/03/2025 41-07032025-0001 CITY OF BURLINGAME NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 2025 STREET RESURFACING PROGRAM, CITY PROJECT NO 86970
07/07/2025 41-07072025-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO  NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P23-0061 EIR24-0002,PUD24-0001, RZ25-0002,PM25-0001,DR23-0024,TDM23-0007
07/08/2025 41-07082025-0001 SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION HEALING A WOUNDED WATERSHED WITH THE COLMA CREEK COLLECTIVE
07/08/2025 41-07082025-0002 SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION OLONE PORTOL'A HERITAGE TRAIL HISTORICAL MONUMENT PROJECT SITE 22 COWELL
07/09/2025 41-07092025-0001 CITY OF SAN MATEO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 3515 WINWAY CIR STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
07/10/2025 41-07102025-0001 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION LONE MADRONE FENCING AND CORRAL REPLACEMENT
07/11/2025 41-07112025-0001 CITY OF SAN MATEO NOTICE OF EXEMPTION POPLAR CREEK GOLF COURSE WELL DRILLING PROJECT
07/14/2025 41-07142025-0001 CITY OF BRISBANE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF EXEMPTION 2024 SLURRY SEAL
07/22/2025 41-07222025-0001 1-A DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION COW PALACE MASTER DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
07/23/2025 41-07232025-0001

MERTOPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

NOTICE OF EXEMPTION REGIONAL MAPPING WAYFINDING PROJECT
07/24/2025 41-07242025-0001 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0049: SIGNS25-0013
07/24/2025 41-07242025-0002 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, PLANNING DIVISION NOTICE OF EXEMPTION P25-0046: SIGNS25-0014
07/24/2025 41-07242025-0003 CITY OF REDWOOD CITY NOTICE OF EXEMPTION MAPLE STREET SEWER INTERCEPTOR 60-INCH EXTENTION PROJECT

Other Notices

Please click the title to access the document.

Date
Posted
Agency Title
07/08/2025 CITY OF MENLO PARK PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING DIVISION
07/11/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT  REGULAR MEETING - SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
07/15/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT  REGULAR MEETING - SANITATION DISTRICT AGENDA
07/24/2025 NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT   NOTICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NORTH SAN MATEO COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
07/28/2025 CITY OF MENLO PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATE