Most development projects and permit applications are required to undergo environmental review to evaluate whether they will cause environmental impacts to the City and its residents. There are several types of environmental review, depending on the size and nature of the project, which can range from projects for which no review is needed, to small projects that can be evaluated over the counter, to those requiring an environmental impact report that may take a year or more to complete. As part of Planning’s review of your permit application, staff will determine what type of environmental review is needed for your project and will provide you with information about the fees and time required to complete the review.
Some actions are exempt from (that is, they do not require) environmental review; these generally include small-scale new construction or demolition, some changes of use, and some building additions.
