How to apply for a regionwide permit

The BCDC regionwide permit is available only for certain routine construction, reconstruction, replacement, and maintenance projects.  

Timeline: Typically 1 to 3 months. The BCDC permit is issued within 10 days of the time we receive a full and complete application.

Cost: $200

  1. Confirm your project qualifies for a regionwide permit
    Start by confirming there is a regionwide permit that covers your project. Regionwide permits are available for:

    • Regionwide Permit 1: 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
    • Regionwide Permit 2: Temporary installations in the Bay, certain waterway, managed wetland and shoreline band
    • Regionwide Permit 3: Reconstruction, replacement, and maintenance of bulkheads and seawalls in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands, and shoreline band
    • Regionwide Permit 4: Reconstruction, replacement, incidental additions, and maintenance of service lines, utilities, utility cables, pipelines, and outfalls in the Bay, certain waterways, managed wetlands, and shoreline band; and installation of new pipelines where the majority of work would occur below the ground surface and Bay bottom
    • Regionwide Permit 5: 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 6: Small additions to single-family and two-family residences within the shoreline band
    • Regionwide Permit 7: Seismic retrofit and repairs of state bridges
    • Regionwide Permit 8: Repair and maintenance of pile-supported residential structures in the Bay or certain waterway
    • Regionwide Permit 9: Routine maintenance dredging of existing navigation channels and berthing areas of no more than 100,000 cubic yards with disposal at approved disposal sites
  2. Confirm your project is not disqualified from receiving a regionwide permit
    Your project likely won’t qualify for a regionwide permit if it:

    • could adversely affect the Bay
    • is located within an environmentally sensitive area, like a tidal marsh or eelgrass bed
    • would block important views of the Bay
    • could limit public access to the Bay
    • is located within or adjacent to Suisun Marsh
  3. Prepare your application
    Make sure your application is complete before it is submitted. Your application can be processed far more quickly and efficiently if it is complete and includes all required attachments.
  4. Submit your application and pay application fee
    Send the application to info@bcdc.ca.gov with the subject line “Permit Application: PROJECT NAME.”

    The $200 application fee can be paid online or you can mail a check payable to “San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission” to our office.
  5. Work with your BCDC contact
    A staff member will be assigned to review your application. They will inform you within 30 days if any necessary information is missing. If your BCDC contact informs you that the application is missing any required information or exhibits, you must submit these materials before we can begin our review process.

    Each time you resubmit missing or incomplete application materials, the staff person requires up to 30 days to review them, so it is in your interest to make sure your materials are thorough and accurate.

    Once your BCDC contact determines that the application is complete, your regionwide permit will be issued within 10 days.

For detailed and official instructions about this process, see Chapter 17 of BCDC’s administrative regulations.