13 permits · verified 2026-10-09
What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in San Mateo County?
In short
A contractor or trade in San Mateo County, CA has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 11 more that depend on your premises, signage or how you are set up. California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division charges $20 per filing, biennial for the statement of information (llc). 7 of the 13 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.
Permits particular to a contractor or trade in San Mateo County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous Materials Business Plan Permit (CUPA)only if it applies to you | San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services | The annual permit fee, tiered by the quantity of hazardous materials stored (low hazard or multi-program, then by gallons), is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount. | annual | 2026-10-09 |
| Hazardous Waste Generator Permit (CUPA)only if it applies to you | San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services | The annual permit fee, tiered by the volume of hazardous waste generated each year, is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount. | annual | 2026-10-09 |
| Underground Storage Tank / Aboveground Petroleum Storage Permit (CUPA)only if it applies to you | San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services | The annual fee, charged for the first underground tank and each additional tank, and for aboveground petroleum storage by tier of total capacity, is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount. | annual | 2026-10-09 |
| Contractor License | Contractors State License Board | $450 original application for one classification, then an initial license fee of $200 for a sole owner or $350 otherwise. Renewal every two years is $450 sole owner or $700 otherwise, with C-10 electrical contractors paying $20 more at each tier | 2 years | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
Local permits that apply to every type of business in San Mateo County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Permit (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you | San Mateo County Planning and Building Department | Varies — formula on the San Mateo County page | per project (one-time) | 2026-10-09 |
| Use Permit / Kennel-Cattery Permit (unincorporated area)only if it applies to you | San Mateo County Planning and Building Department | Varies — formula on the San Mateo County page | per permit; renewals and inspections billed when due | 2026-10-09 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
CA registrations that apply to every type of business
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Information (LLC)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $20 per filing, biennial | biennial | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $70 one-time filing | no expiry, but a Statement of Information is due biennially | 2026-09-03 |
| Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $100 one-time filing | no expiry, but a Statement of Information is due annually | 2026-09-03 |
| Statement of Information (Corporation)only if it applies to you | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | $25 per filing, annual | annual | 2026-09-03 |
| Seller's Permitonly if it applies to you | California Department of Tax and Fee Administration | No fee — no fee to apply | no expiry while actively engaged in business as a seller | 2026-09-03 |
| Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxonly if it applies to you | California Franchise Tax Board | Varies — formula on the CA page | annual, until the entity is cancelled | 2026-09-03 |
| General Business License — California position (city or county, not state) | California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division | No fee | set by the issuing city or county | 2026-09-03 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
How much does it actually cost to permit a contractor or trade in San Mateo County?
There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 13 records listed for a contractor or trade in San Mateo County, CA, 2 apply to every business of this type and 11 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.
7 of the 13 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:
Hazardous Materials Business Plan Permit (CUPA): The annual permit fee, tiered by the quantity of hazardous materials stored (low hazard or multi-program, then by gallons), is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount.
Hazardous Waste Generator Permit (CUPA): The annual permit fee, tiered by the volume of hazardous waste generated each year, is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount.
Underground Storage Tank / Aboveground Petroleum Storage Permit (CUPA): The annual fee, charged for the first underground tank and each additional tank, and for aboveground petroleum storage by tier of total capacity, is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount.
Contractor License: $450 original application for one classification, then an initial license fee of $200 for a sole owner or $350 otherwise. Renewal every two years is $450 sole owner or $700 otherwise, with C-10 electrical contractors paying $20 more at each tier
The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the San Mateo County permits page and the CA state page.
Which offices issue these permits in San Mateo County?
Permits for a contractor or trade in San Mateo County, CA come from 6 separate offices: San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services, San Mateo County Planning and Building Department, California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California Franchise Tax Board, Contractors State License Board. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.
- San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health ServicesIssues 3 permits on this page: Hazardous Materials Business Plan Permit (CUPA), Hazardous Waste Generator Permit (CUPA), Underground Storage Tank / Aboveground Petroleum Storage Permit (CUPA)2000 Alameda de las Pulgas, Suite 100, San Mateo, CA 94403 · (650) 372-6200smcehs.my.site.com/s/?language=en_US
- San Mateo County Planning and Building DepartmentIssues 2 permits on this page: Building Permit (unincorporated area), Use Permit / Kennel-Cattery Permit (unincorporated area)455 County Center, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 · (650) 363-4161www.smcgov.org/planning/fees
- California Secretary of State, Business Programs DivisionIssues 5 permits on this page, including Statement of Information (LLC), Articles of Organization (LLC), Articles of Incorporation(916) 657-5448bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov
- California Department of Tax and Fee AdministrationIssues 1 permit on this page: Seller's Permitonlineservices.cdtfa.ca.gov
- California Franchise Tax BoardIssues 1 permit on this page: Annual LLC Tax and Minimum Franchise Taxwww.ftb.ca.gov
- Contractors State License BoardIssues 1 permit on this page: Contractor Licensewww.cslb.ca.gov
What does a contractor or trade need in San Mateo County that other businesses do not?
1 of the 4 permits particular to a contractor or trade here applies to no other business type we cover in San Mateo County: Contractor License.
Hazardous Waste Generator Permit (CUPA)
A business that generates hazardous waste — used oil, solvents and parts-washer waste at an auto-repair shop, chemical waste at a salon or veterinary practice, or paint and fuel waste at a contractor's yard — registers with the Hazardous Waste Generator Program of San Mateo County Environmental Health Services, which the EHS CUPA page lists among the countywide CUPA programs. The annual fee is tiered by the volume of waste generated each year under the Board-approved EHS fee schedule, which adjusts each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Ordinance Code §5.64.060(e) lets the Director of Environmental Health exempt a County/State sanctioned public used-oil drop-off centre from applicable hazardous waste generator fees. Because the CUPA is countywide, the permit comes from EHS in every city and the unincorporated area.
Contractor License
The fees are the small part. Every licensee must carry a $25,000 contractor's bond, raised from $15,000 by Senate Bill 607 with effect from 1 January 2023. Two more bonds can stack on top: a $25,000 Bond of Qualifying Individual where the license is qualified by a responsible managing employee, or by a responsible managing officer who does not own at least 10 per cent of the voting stock; and, for an LLC license, a further $100,000 surety bond for the benefit of employees for unpaid wages. An LLC contractor therefore carries $125,000 of bonding before it starts. Fingerprinting is paid separately to the Live Scan operator — $32 to the Department of Justice and $17 to the FBI, plus a rolling fee CSLB does not set. An inactive license needs no contractor's bond while it stays inactive.
Shared with other businesses in San Mateo County
- Hazardous Materials Business Plan Permit (CUPA) — San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services, The annual permit fee, tiered by the quantity of hazardous materials stored (low hazard or multi-program, then by gallons), is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount., annual. Also required for auto repair shops, restaurants and coffee shops; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
- Underground Storage Tank / Aboveground Petroleum Storage Permit (CUPA) — San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services, The annual fee, charged for the first underground tank and each additional tank, and for aboveground petroleum storage by tier of total capacity, is set by the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services fee schedule, approved by the Board of Supervisors under Ordinance 4901 and Ordinance Code §5.64.070 and adjusted automatically each January 1 under Ordinance 4901. Contact Environmental Health Services, (650) 372-6200 or envhealth@smcgov.org, or see its Environmental Health Services Fees page, for the current amount., annual. Also required for auto repair shops; what it involves is set out on the auto repair shops page.
The other 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in San Mateo County, CA; what each one involves is set out on the San Mateo County permits page. The 7 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across CA and are covered on the CA state page.
How does a contractor or trade compare with other businesses in San Mateo County?
The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 3 of these permits. A contractor or trade also needs Contractor License. A auto repair shop needs Weighing and Measuring Device Registration and Annual Operational Fire Permit (San Mateo County Fire service area), which a contractor or trade does not.
| Business | Its own permits | Shared with a contractor or trade | Only a contractor or trade needs | Only it needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Veterinary clinics | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Salons and barbers | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Restaurants | 9 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Coffee shops | 10 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Childcare centres | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| Fitness studios | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Food trucks | 7 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Retail stores | 10 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Sources
Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits shared with other businesses are listed with their explanations on the auto repair shops page. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the San Mateo County permits page and the CA state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.
- Environmental Health Services FeesSan Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- Ordinance No. 4901 — amending the Environmental Health Services fee schedule and authorizing automatic annual adjustment (adopted 10 December 2024)San Mateo County Board of Supervisors · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 5.64 — Fees for Enforcement of State Public Health LawsCounty of San Mateo / Municode · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- Hazardous Materials Program / Countywide Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA)San Mateo County Health, Environmental Health Services · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
- Contractors State License Board — schedule of feesContractors State License Board · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
- California Business and Professions Code section 7071.6 — $25,000 contractor's bond, raised by Senate Bill 607 with effect from 1 January 2023California Legislative Information · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
Related
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.