Land-use permitting, made navigable.
One-Stop Permitting walks you through the discretionary permit process for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, step by step, department by department.
Not sure where to begin?
Answer a few quick questions to learn whether your project needs a ministerial or discretionary permit, and exactly where to go next.
Do you need a permit, and what to expect
A plain-language guide for anyone planning a project on their property, in under a minute.
Nine phases from idea to compliance
Every discretionary permit follows the same path. Click any phase to see what happens, what you’ll need, and which departments are involved.
Type of Permit Required
Determine whether you need a discretionary planning permit to complete your project.
Project Site Research
Gather information about your site, the regulations that apply, and potential constraints.
Pre-Application Review
Meet with the Discretionary Permit Coordinator and/or Development Review Committee.
Application Submittal
Assemble required materials and submit to the Planning Division for completeness review.
Application Review
County staff begins project review and preparation of environmental documents.
CEQA Review
County staff evaluates your project’s potential environmental impacts.
Permit Decision
The decision-maker approves or denies the discretionary planning permit.
Completing Your Project
Learn about the other permits you may need beyond the discretionary planning permit.
Condition Compliance
Periodic review of discretionary permits to ensure compliance with approved conditions.
The departments that review your permit
Depending on your project, some or all of these County departments, districts, and agencies participate in the review. Each page links forms, fees, ordinances, FAQs, and contacts.
A clearer path to your permit
Know where you stand
The Permit Helper routes ministerial vs. discretionary projects so you don’t start in the wrong place.
Use the Permit HelperFollow one clear path
Nine connected phases replace guesswork, each one shows what happens and who’s involved.
See the processFind the right documents
Department pages gather the forms, fees, ordinances, and FAQs that apply to your project.
Browse the Forms LibraryReady to take the first step?
Start with the Permit Helper, or reach out to a County department for project-specific guidance.