New Home Construction in San Mateo, CA
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New Homes in San Mateo
Single-Family Dwelling Design Review (SFDDR) is required for a new two-story home, a replacement home, any second-story addition to a one-story home, and second-story additions over 50 sq ft on a two-story home. Additions to a two-story home of up to 200 sq ft or 20% of floor area, whichever is less, can go straight to a building permit if they follow the guidelines. The guidelines set heights of 24 feet to the plate and 32 feet to the peak, with a daylight plane starting 12 feet up at the side lot line and sloping in at 45 degrees. Applicants reach out to neighbors before filing, and the Zoning Administrator decides or refers the project to the Planning Commission.
Historic homes: since June 2026, San Mateo’s Historic Resources Inventory is the official list of landmarks and districts, including Downtown and Glazenwood. Alterations to a listed home need a Certificate of Appropriateness, and demolition requires a historic evaluation.
Construction in Progress
Ask us about recent new-home and rebuild projects during your consultation.
Submittal and Requirements
- Title sheet, plot plan, floor plans, roof plan, elevations, sections, MEP and structural sheets as PDFs.
- Floor-area overlay, Title 24 energy forms and CALGreen checklist.
- Tree Disclosure Statement and air district notice for full demolition.
- Encroachment and stormwater permits as needed.
Electric-ready rules: San Mateo repealed its all-electric requirement in February 2025. What remains: a 240V/50A circuit at the range when a kitchen is altered, a 240V/30A circuit when laundry is altered, and heat-pump-ready wiring where a gas furnace is installed.
Heritage trees: oaks 10 inches or more in diameter and other species 15 inches or more at 54 inches, plus all street trees. An arborist protection plan is required when construction comes within 10 times the trunk diameter, and every submittal includes a Tree Disclosure Statement.
330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403 · Community Development (650) 522-7200
Planning (650) 522-7212 · Permit and inspection help (650) 522-7172
Building counter Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday mornings (Friday afternoons by appointment). Permits run through the Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal. Inspections are requested there by 3 p.m. for the next day; the inspector calls before 9 a.m. with a two-hour window.
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Other San Mateo services: Bathrooms · Kitchens · Additions · San Mateo ADU builder · San Mateo overview
Same service nearby: Burlingame · Belmont · Hillsborough
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San Mateo New Home Construction FAQ
Does a new home need design review in San Mateo?
Yes. New two-story and replacement homes need SFDDR.
Is all-electric required?
No, but electric-ready circuits are required.
Is the San Mateo Highlands in the City?
No. The Highlands is unincorporated and permitted by San Mateo County.
Who decides SFDDR?
The Zoning Administrator, or the Planning Commission on referral.