CEQA Resources

The Development Services Department works to streamline the entitlement process and ensure clear, efficient CEQA review. To support this, the city uses a list of pre-screened, qualified consultants who may prepare environmental documents and technical studies for private projects.

Applicants must contract directly with one of the city-approved consultants. Environmental documents prepared by others will not be accepted, except in limited cases where a county-approved consultant may be used for minor, CEQA-exempt projects requiring only one technical study.

Any document prepared by a non-listed consultant will require city peer review, and the applicant is responsible for all peer-review costs plus a 25% administrative fee.

To set clear expectations, City staff may require an informational meeting or early submittals before studies begin. The city may decline to accept studies prepared without this coordination or require revisions at the applicant’s cost.

Prior to establishing a contract with any of the qualified consultants below, private applicants  must contact city staff and establish an agreement to ensure a shared understanding of analysis scope and process.  Please contact Planning Division Director Joseph Farace at jfarace@sanmarcosca.gov

It is the city’s goal to ensure an efficient, cost-effective and positive process through close collaboration with the applicants and their consultant at the outset of any study preparation.  City staff may require additional information obtained through an informational meeting and/ or project application submittal to ensure that there are shared expectations regarding project description, study scope, timing of city document review, roles and overall project schedule prior to study initiation.

The city will peer-review any report that is prepared by a consultant not on the city’s list.  The Applicant will be responsible for payment of the Peer-review plus the city’s 25% administrative fees.

See CEQA resources