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Types of Permits
Because the Commission administers two state laws, it issues two legally different permits--San Francisco Bay permits and Suisun Marsh development permits. Applications for both permits are processed in the same way, but there are different types of each kind of permit. The size, location, and impacts of a project determine which type of permit is appropriate for a particular project. In turn, the type of permit that is applied for affects the information that must be provided to complete a permit application. A brief description of each type of permit follows. In an emergency, any of the three types of permits can be issued almost immediately if a project is needed to protect life, health, or property.
Regionwide Permit Routine maintenance work that qualifies for approval under an existing Commission regionwide permit can be authorized in a very short period of time by the Commission's executive director without Commission review or a public hearing.
Administrative Permit An administrative permit can be issued for an activity that qualifies as a minor repair or improvement in a relatively short period of time and without a public hearing on the application. Although an administrative permit application can be processed quickly, the proposed project must be reviewed against the same policies that are used to determine whether a major permit can approved.
Major Permit A major permit is issued for work that is more extensive than a minor repair or improvement. A public hearing is held on an application for a major permit and the application may be reviewed at hearings held by the engineers and designers who advise the Commission.
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