Environmental Review

California Environmental Quality Act

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that certain land use actions be reviewed for their potential adverse effects on the environment. If your project requires this review, you will be notified by City staff.

Fee

A separate fee is required for environmental review and can be paid at the time you submit your application package. Upon review of your application, staff will make one of the following three determinations regarding environmental review:

  • That the project could have a significant effect on the environment and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared.
  • That the project could have a significant impact on the environment but that certain mitigation measures have been incorporated into the project to preclude the impacts
  • That the project will not have a significant impact on the environment

Review Process

To the extent possible, environmental review is done concurrently with processing of the related planning application. If an EIR is necessary, action on the application will be deferred. Please note that many projects that require permit processing are exempt from environmental review. Check with staff to make sure.

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