CEQA Filing Process

The Santa Cruz County Clerk of the Board receives CEQA filings and remits CDFW fees to the State of California as required. The COB does not file with the State Clearinghouse. Please see the relevant Lead Agency for your project for questions about filing with the State Clearinghouse.

How to File a CEQA document:

CEQA documents can be filed in person or by mail. The Clerk of the Board must receive a complete packet and full payment at the time of filing to process the filing. Incomplete packets will be returned to the sender or filer if appearing in person.

To file in person, please visit the Clerk of the Board during our office's open counter hours:

Clerk of the Board
County Government Center
701 Ocean Street, Room 520
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Our office is currently open to the public:
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

To file by mail, please send your complete packet to the Clerk of the Board at:

Clerk of the Board
c/o CEQA Clerk
701 Ocean Street, Room 520
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

What to Include in your CEQA Packet:

  • Complete CEQA Document
    • Include any attachments you wish to have posted with the Notice. Any attachments brought to the Clerk after initial filing will be subject to an additional Documentary Handling Fee (i.e. an addendum to a NOD filed 2 years ago)
  • Clerk’s Processing Fee - $50 Documentary Handling Fee:
    • Charged per CEQA document
    • Due at the time of filing
    • Exact change preferred
    • Accepted Payment Forms - Bills larger than $50 will not be accepted
      • Cash
      • Check (can be made out to County of Santa Cruz)
      • Money Order (can be made out to County of Santa Cruz)
  • California Dep’t of Fish & Wildlife Fees:
    • Fees established annually by CDFW: to view current fees, click here
    • Charged per CEQA document
    • Due at the time of filing
    • If CDFW fee has already been paid for the subject project, filer must provide proof of payment with notice.
      • Payment of CDFW fee elsewhere does not qualify for exemption from the Documentary Handling Fee

What to Know About Filing Your CEQA Document:

  • Santa Cruz County’s standard posting period is 35 days unless otherwise instructed by the filer at time of filing:
    • Requests for additional posting days must be in accordance with CEQA filing period regulations.
  • For more information about the CDFW CEQA process, click here.
  • For more information about the Santa Cruz County CEQA process or to confirm our current open counter hours, please visit our website, email us at COBStaff@santacruzcountyca.gov, or call us at (831) 454-2323 (M-F, 8AM to 5PM).
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