Types of Permits
The Commission issues permits for work in and along the shoreline of the San Francisco Bay and within the Suisun Marsh. Applications for all permits are processed similarly, but different types of permits are issued. Regionwide Permits are not available for projects in the Suisun Marsh.
The size, location and impacts of a project determine which type of permit is appropriate. In turn, the type of permit determines the information that must be provided to complete a permit application.
As described under permit amendments, existing BCDC permits may be amended to authorize project changes or revise project completion dates.
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.
Major Permit
A major permit is issued for work that is more extensive than a minor repair or improvement. A public hearing is mandatory for a major permit application (PDF) and the application may be reviewed by the Commission's Design Review Board and/or the Engineering Criteria Review Board.
Administrative Permit (Minor Permit)
Abbreviated Regionwide Permits and Regionwide Permits
Regionwide permits are not available for work in the Suisun Marsh. Work that qualifies for approval under an existing Commission regionwide or abbreviated regionwide permit (PDF) can be authorized in a very short period of time by the Commission's Executive Director without Commission review or a public hearing.
Abbreviated Regionwide Permits
Three Abbreviated Regionwide Permits cover the following routine repairs and maintenance work, and temporary installations. 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.
Abbreviated Regionwide Permit No. 1 (PDF) - Minor repairs and maintenance (i.e., less than approximately 50% of an existing structure) to utilities, boat docks, pilings, and the removal of structures in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands, and shoreline band.
Abbreviated Regionwide Permit No. 2 (PDF) - Minor repairs and removal of one- and two-family residences in the shoreline band.
Abbreviated Regionwide Permit No. 3 (PDF) - Temporary Installations in the Bay, certain waterway, managed wetland and Shoreline Band.
Regionwide Permits
Eight Regionwide Permits cover the following routine construction, reconstruction, replacement, and maintenance work. A ninth authorizes temporary live-aboard limit increases for marinas providing affordable slips to boats illegally anchored in Richardson Bay on or before August 2019. 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.
Regionwide Permit No. 1 (PDF) - Reconstruction, replacement and maintenance of bulkheads and seawalls in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands, and shoreline band.
Regionwide Permit No. 2 (PDF) - Reconstruction, replacement, incidental additions, and maintenance of service lines, utility cables, pipelines, and outfalls; and installation of new pipelines where majority of work occurs below ground surface and Bay bottom in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands, and shoreline band. Please note that BCDC no longer requires a permit for conducting small-diameter geotechnical borings and their backfill.
Regionwide Permit No. 3 (PDF) - Construction, reconstruction, replacement, and maintenance of: (1) new docks, piers, boat hoists, associated pilings and mooring buoys of less than 1,000 square feet; (2) wildlife habitat improvement structures; and (3) other pile-supported, water-oriented uses in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands and shoreline band.
Regionwide Permit No. 4 (PDF) - New ancillary facilities (e.g., retaining walls, stairs, patios, driveways, etc.) and small additions to and the remodeling, replacement, repair and maintenance of single-family and two-family residences within the shoreline band.
Regionwide Permit No 5 (PDF) - Repairs, reconstruction, replacement, removal and maintenance of multi-family residential and non-residential structures and paved areas within the shoreline band.
Regionwide Permit No. 6 (PDF) - Seismic retrofit and repairs of state bridges.
Regionwide Permit No. 7 (PDF) - Repair and maintenance of pile-supported residential structures in the Bay or certain waterway.
Regionwide Permit No. 8 (PDF) - Routine maintenance dredging of existing navigation channels and berthing areas of no more than 100,000 cubic yards with disposal at approved disposal sites.
Regionwide Permit No. 9 (PDF) - Temporary live-aboard limit increases for Richardson Bay and Tiburon Peninsula Marinas to provide affordable slips for boats illegally anchored in Richardson Bay on or before August 2019.
Permit Amendments
After issuance, permits can be amended to address project changes. To amend an existing BCDC permit, submit a request either by letter (for simple project changes) or by submitting a new permit application (for larger, more complex changes). If you have questions regarding whether an amendment is needed for a project change, please contact the permitting staff.
Amendments which materially change a project require full Commission consideration and a public hearing. Non-material amendments can be approved by the Commission's executive director. [California Code of Regulations, section 10800 et seq].