Who will review your application?

Planning & Development

Planning and Development Staff are the primary contacts for permit requests. They determine whether your development proposal conforms to State and local planning regulations and they complete or coordinate any environmental review required by State law. Your Planning and Development planner works closely with other department representatives and will represent the County at any public hearings on your project. Once your project is approved, Planning and Development issues any required Land Use, Grading or Building Permits.





County Agencies / Departments

While not every application is reviewed by every department, you may want to contact the departments listed below to see what requirements they may have for your project. If your application is for a large development project, Planning and Development will provide an application to these representatives who will review your project together at the Subdivision/Development Review Committee meeting scheduled during the first 30 days of review. If they do review your project, they will send comments in the form of technical advice and analysis and conditions to be applied by the decision maker. Planning and Development synthesizes this information with information obtained by their own research to develop documents and recommendations intended to aid appointed and elected officials in their decision making.

Public Works

Roads Division

Reviews traffic circulation, roadway capacity and safety issues. Examples:

• New driveways off public roads; Widen a driveway to meet access standards.
• Work within the County Road right-of-way.
• Hauling/transporting 1,000 cubic yards or more.
• Street lighting / Frontage improvement.
• Annexation into any applicable Lighting District.
• Long term road maintenance agreement for private roads or privately maintained roads within Public easements.


Flood Control

Reviews site development in relation to streams, creeks, and identified flood hazard zones; drainage. Includes:

• All projects subject to the County’s ministerial review process and that are located along the coast, creeks, rivers and/or special flood hazard areas or those that potentially adversely increase stormwater runoff.
• All projects subject to the County’s discrectionary review process.


Project Clean Water

Reviews new and redevelopment projects for treatment of storm water runoff through infiltration, filtering, or detention. The following projects are subject to special conditions:

• 1 acre residential or 10 or more units.
• 0.5 acre commercial, industrial, or transportation / vehicle facilities.
• Automotive repair shops, gasoline outlets, or parking lots greater than 5,000 sf or with 25 or more parking spaces.


Surveyor

Reviews subdivision maps, mergers, lot line adjustments and certificates of compliance. Reviews compliance with Subdivision Map Act requirements, proper monumentation.




Environmental Health Services

Ensures wells, water systems and private sewage disposal systems are designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance to standards.

• Onsite sewage treatment systems; water wells; domestic water systems.
• New construction (New building or remodel) or demolition on a parcel with an onsite sewage system.
• Swimming pools or spas (except single family residence ( SFD)); Mosquito, rodent or fly sources.
• Retail food services, including temporary food facilities and events (profit or nonprofit).





Air Pollution Control District

Reviews potential long-term, construction and operational air quality impacts (e.g., dust generation, automobile emissions, construction emissions, and stationary source emissions).  Regulates asbestos removal and issues permits for equipment or processes that may cause pollution (e.g., gas stations, dry cleaners, engines, boilers, etc.)  More info...

• Demolition/asbestos removal; some commercial operations and some commercial building re-roofs.
• Equipment or processes that may cause pollution (i.e. gas stations, dry cleaners, engines, boilers, etc)





County Fire Department

Reviews adequate fire protection access, hydrant location, protection systems and water availability, hazardous material storage and waste disposal. If you are not served by the County Fire Department, contact your local Fire Department for information.  Includes:

• All new buildings or conversions requiring a building permit.
• Residential additions greater than 1,000 sq ft (500 sq ft for non-residential) or an addition that causes the total area of the building to exceed 5,000 sq ft.
• Additions or tenant improvements if a fire sprinkler system is in place. Fire suppression systems.
• New road or access over 100’, exceeding 10% gradient or serving more than one residence.
• Addressing and road naming issues.
• Demolition (asbestos removal).





Parks Department

Reviews potential impacts to local recreational facilities and access (e.g. trails, parks, beach access).





Other Agencies

Local

Contact any public services district which has jurisdiction over your property such as a water or sewer district and homeowners associations governing your property. Local school districts usually require fees for development prior to issuance of building permits.




State and Federal

If there is any watercourse drainage or wetland on your property you will probably need permits from the following agencies:

California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast)

Army Corp of Engineers

California Department of Fish & Game