San Mateo County Building Department: Permits, Inspections, Planning, Zoning and Official Contact
San Mateo County building permits are mainly for properties in unincorporated county areas. If your property is inside a city such as San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City, South San Francisco, Menlo Park, San Bruno, Burlingame or another incorporated city, you may need that city’s building department instead. This guide explains how to use the official county Planning and Building resources, online permit center, inspection system, zoning contacts and code compliance routes without wasting time on the wrong office.
Office
455 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063.
Building
Call 650-599-7310 for San Mateo County building permit help.
Inspections
Call 650-599-7311 or use the online inspection scheduling system.
Hours
Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, closed 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.
Official San Mateo County Building Permit Links
Address: 455 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063. General information: 650-363-1827. Inspections: 650-599-7311. Planning: 650-363-1825. Code Compliance: 650-363-4825.
San Mateo County vs. City Building Departments: Check This Before Applying
The county permit portal is for Planning and Building permits in unincorporated San Mateo County. This is the first thing to confirm before starting an application.
Use San Mateo County if…
Your property is in unincorporated San Mateo County and not inside an incorporated city. County Planning and Building reviews land use and building permits for these unincorporated areas.
Use a city building department if…
Your property is inside a city such as San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City, South San Francisco, Burlingame, Menlo Park, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay or another incorporated city.
San Mateo County Online Permit Center: Apply, Track, Pay and Manage Permits
San Mateo County uses an Accela Citizen Access permit portal for public access to Planning and Building permits in unincorporated county areas.
Portal task | What it helps with | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
Create account | Apply for permits and manage records online. | Use one email consistently so county comments and notices are not missed. |
Apply online | Submit eligible residential and select commercial building permits. | Choose the correct record type before uploading documents. |
Track permit status | Check review progress, corrections, fees and record details. | Log in regularly during plan review so correction comments are not missed. |
Schedule inspections | Request inspections after the permit is issued. | Use the record number, then Record Info, then Inspections. |
Check inspection window | View the 3-hour estimated time window after 7:30 AM on inspection day. | Make sure the site is open and ready during the posted window. |
Common San Mateo County Building Permit Questions
The county Building Section reviews and inspects construction projects requiring building permits in unincorporated San Mateo County. Permit needs vary by project type, property location, zoning, fire district and state or county rules.
Project type | What to check | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
Residential remodel | Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy and fire requirements. | Confirm whether the work can be submitted online or needs more detailed review. |
Electrical service upgrade | Electrical permit, utility coordination and inspection requirements. | The building FAQ lists electrical service upgrades among online application examples. |
Plumbing work | Water, sewer, gas lines and inspection stages. | The building FAQ lists plumbing work among online permit examples. |
Re-roof | Roofing scope, materials, structural concerns and inspection requirements. | The county FAQ lists re-roof permits among online permit examples. |
Commercial work | Use, occupancy, accessibility, fire, structural, energy and planning requirements. | Check whether it is a select commercial permit accepted online or needs special intake. |
Solar and energy storage | Instant residential solar and energy storage permit options where applicable. | Review the county planning page for current solar and energy storage permit tools. |
Planning, Zoning, Design Review and Land Use Before a Building Permit
San Mateo County Planning and Building regulates land use and development in unincorporated county areas. Some projects need planning review before the building permit can move smoothly.
Planning permits
Use Planning contact routes when the project affects land use, development standards, design review or protected resources.
Zoning questions
Call Planning at 650-363-1825 for planning and zoning guidance in unincorporated county areas.
Design review
Some projects may be affected by design review or neighborhood standards before building plan approval.
Protected trees
The county provides protected tree ordinance and tree management resources. Check tree impacts before site work.
Coastal or hillside constraints
Unincorporated San Mateo County can involve coastal, slope, fire, septic, drainage or environmental review issues.
Code compliance
Code Compliance can become involved when work is unpermitted, unsafe or not consistent with county rules.
San Mateo County Building Inspections: Schedule, Time Window and Site Readiness
After permit issuance, inspections confirm that construction follows approved plans and applicable code requirements. San Mateo County schedules inspections between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Schedule online
Use the Schedule an Inspection page, log in, select the record number, open Record Info and choose Inspections.
Check time window
After 7:30 AM on inspection day, check online for your 3-hour estimated inspection time window.
Call inspections
For inspection help, call 650-599-7311 or use the official inspection email link from the county page.
Keep plans available
Approved plans, permit record information and job access should be ready for the inspector.
Do not cover work
Do not cover framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work before the required inspection approval.
Close the permit
Complete all required inspections and final approvals so the permit does not remain open against the property.
Why San Mateo County Building Permits Get Delayed
Most delays happen because the property is in the wrong jurisdiction, planning review is missed, documents are incomplete, the wrong permit type is selected, fire or environmental review is needed, or inspections are not scheduled correctly.
Delay reason | What it means | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
Wrong jurisdiction | Property is inside a city, not unincorporated county. | Confirm jurisdiction before applying through the county portal. |
Planning review missed | Zoning, design review, tree, coastal or land-use review may be needed. | Call Planning at 650-363-1825 early. |
Incomplete documents | Plans, site details, calculations, owner/contractor information or energy documents are missing. | Use county permit guidance before uploading. |
Wrong online permit type | The record type does not match the actual work. | Read permit type details carefully before submitting. |
Inspection not ready | Work is incomplete, covered, inaccessible or not matching approved plans. | Schedule only when the inspection stage is ready. |
Permit left open | Final inspection or final approval was not completed. | Track inspection results and close the permit properly. |
San Mateo County Building Department Phone Number, Address, Hours and Map
Use these official contact routes for unincorporated San Mateo County building permits, inspections, planning, zoning, code compliance and general permit questions.
Need | Official contact | Best use |
|---|---|---|
General Information | General Planning and Building Department questions. | |
Building | Building permits, building review and permit intake questions. | |
Inspections | Inspection scheduling and inspection-related questions. | |
Planning | Planning permits, zoning, design review and land-use questions. | |
Code Compliance | Unpermitted work, code complaints and compliance questions. |
Main office
Address: 455 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Lunch closure: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Friday to Sunday: Closed
Before visiting
Use the county appointment, email and online portal links first where possible. Permit records and inspection windows can often be managed online without visiting the Redwood City office.
Map shows 455 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063. The Planning and Building Department main office is listed on the 2nd Floor.
Open official San Mateo County Planning and Building Contact Info
San Mateo County Building Department FAQs
These FAQs focus on the most common user searches around San Mateo County building permits, unincorporated county jurisdiction, inspections, online portal, planning, zoning and official contact information.
QHow do I contact the San Mateo County Building Department?
Call Building at 650-599-7310. General information is 650-363-1827. The office is located at 455 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063.
QWhat areas does San Mateo County Planning and Building serve?
The county Planning and Building Department serves unincorporated San Mateo County. If your property is inside an incorporated city, that city’s building department may be responsible instead.
QWhere do I apply online for a San Mateo County building permit?
Use the official San Mateo County online Permit Center at the Accela Citizen Access portal for eligible planning and building permit applications.
QHow do I schedule a San Mateo County inspection?
Use the official Schedule an Inspection page or call Inspections at 650-599-7311. Inspections are scheduled between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
QWhen can I see my San Mateo County inspection time window?
The county says that after 7:30 AM on the day of your inspection, you can check online for your 3-hour estimated time window.
QWhat is the San Mateo County Building phone number?
The official Building phone number is 650-599-7310.
QWhat is the San Mateo County Inspections phone number?
The official Inspections phone number is 650-599-7311.
QWhat are San Mateo County Planning and Building office hours?
The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and closed from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM for lunch. Friday through Sunday is closed.
QWhich permits can be applied for online in San Mateo County?
The county building FAQ says it accepts online applications for residential and select commercial building permits, including examples such as electrical service upgrades, plumbing work and re-roof permits.
QWho do I call for San Mateo County zoning questions?
Call Planning at 650-363-1825 for planning, zoning, design review and land-use questions in unincorporated San Mateo County.
QWho handles San Mateo County code compliance issues?
Call Code Compliance at 650-363-4825 for code compliance questions, including possible unpermitted work or complaint-related issues.
QIs Building-Department.org the official San Mateo County website?
No. Building-Department.org is an independent guide. Official applications, inspections, payments, zoning decisions, code compliance and approvals must be handled through San Mateo County or its official online permit center.
Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
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Check Permit Type, Estimate Fees, Prepare Inspections and Find Official Building Department Links
Use this free tool before applying for a building permit, booking an inspection, checking zoning rules, or searching permit records. It helps homeowners, contractors, landlords, buyers, and business owners understand the next step before visiting the official building department portal.
What building department task do you need help with?
Choose your goal. The tool will suggest the right next step, what to prepare, and which official page to check.
Before starting work, check whether your project needs building, zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, right-of-way, or HOA approval.
Many portals require contractor registration, license details, insurance, plans, owner authorization, and inspection scheduling access.
Building Permit Type Finder
Select the project type to understand which permits or reviews are commonly required. Always confirm with the official local building department.
Permit Fee Estimate Calculator
Estimate a rough permit fee using project value and common percentage-based review assumptions. Local minimum fees, technology fees, impact fees, reinspection fees, and trade fees can change the final amount.
Inspection Readiness Checklist
Use this before scheduling framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, final, or certificate-related inspections.
Zoning and Setback Pre-check
Use this before applying for a permit when your project may affect land use, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, signs, fences, accessory structures, or business use.
Plan Review Timeline Estimator
Estimate how complex your review may be. Local staffing, incomplete plans, corrections, holidays, fire review, zoning review, and outside agency review can change timing.
Permit Records Search Helper
Use this if you are trying to find old permits, inspection history, certificate of occupancy details, open permits, or code-related records.
Official Building Department Resource Finder
Enter city/county and state to create safe searches for official permit portals, inspection scheduling, building codes, zoning maps, forms, fees, and contact pages.
Building Department vs Planning/Zoning
- Building Department: permits, plan review, inspections, code compliance, certificates.
- Planning/Zoning: land use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, signs, parking, variances.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first main guide section or before FAQs. It turns a normal article into a practical permit-preparation page.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Final permit requirements, fees, inspections, forms, and deadlines must be confirmed with the official local building department.