San Mateo County Building Permit Expediter Services
HomeWiP's permit expediters work throughout San Mateo County — Redwood City, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Atherton, and neighboring cities. Each city runs its own plan review, and we know the local quirks city by city, so your project moves without the guesswork.
We know what and how to avoid
Why San Mateo County Projects Stall Before Construction Starts
Redwood City, San Mateo, Menlo Park, and Atherton each run their own Planning and Building departments with their own submission process — what works in one city can get rejected in the next.
Setback, height, and lot-coverage rules vary by city even within the same county, and homeowners often assume one set of rules applies everywhere.
Small errors in plan sets — a missing dimension, an inconsistent site plan — are a common cause of delay in any jurisdiction.
Every extra review cycle adds carrying costs to your project, from holding fees to slipping contractor scheduling.
What Clients Say
HomeWIP helped me build my ADU to rent out. Their knowledge of project milestones, typical costs and accurate budget have saved me headaches from figuring this all on my own. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to build their ADU.
Our San Mateo County Permit Expediters Handle the Process
- Site-specific feasibility study against your city's or the county's zoning rules
- Full code compliance review before submission
- Application preparation, submission, and correction follow-up — wherever your project sits in the county
- Direct coordination with your city's planning department, or the County Planning & Building Department for unincorporated areas
- One team across every San Mateo County jurisdiction we serve
No guesswork. No red tape. No delays. Just a streamlined path from idea to construction, anywhere in San Mateo County.
Starting from $750
What you get with Building Permit Expediter Package?
- Custom Zoning Feasibility Report for Your Property
- Complete Permit Roadmap & Timeline
- Pre-submission review
- Application Preparation
- Submission to City Portal
- Agency Liaison and Follow-up
Multiple consultants and multiple city departments involved
How to calculate the total price of the building permit?
Boundary Survey — Starting from $4,000
Confirms property lines
Geotechnical Report — Starting from $3,500
Confirms soil conditions for foundation design
Architectural Design — Starting from $7,000
Includes site plan, floor plan, elevations, building sections
Energy Efficiency report (a.k.a. T24)— Starting from $350
Includes parameters for insulation, windows, PV system etc.
Structural Engineering — Starting from $5,000
Includes drawings and calculations by a licensed engineer
Plan check fees — Starting from $1,500
Charged by the city at initial submittal
Utility connection fees — Starting from $3,000
Includes charges for water and sewer lines
Permit Fees at Issuance — Starting from $5,000
Includes inspection fees
FAQ
San Mateo County Permit FAQ
It depends on your address. Incorporated cities like Redwood City, San Mateo, Menlo Park, and Atherton each run their own planning and building department. Only unincorporated areas of the county go through the San Mateo County Planning & Building Department directly. We confirm which applies to your property before we submit anything.
Timelines vary by city and project complexity. State law (AB 2221) caps ADU plan review at 60 days for any California jurisdiction, with auto-approval if that deadline is missed. Permits in unincorporated areas tend to take longer.
We regularly work in Redwood City, San Mateo, Menlo Park, and Atherton, plus neighboring cities and unincorporated county areas. If your city isn't listed, ask — we're always adding jurisdictions.
Yes — daylight plane requirements, front-yard rules, and pre-approved plan programs vary by city even though state ADU law sets a shared baseline. We check your specific city's rules before submission.
In most cases yes — most cities in San Mateo County now review permits through online portals. We recommend an in-person site visit when your project involves plumbing or electrical work. Our site visits allow for more accurate site plans and less back-and-forth with city/County plan checkers.