Planning
Planning Division Services
The Permit Center at City Hall is open Monday through Thursdays
- Planning and Zoning Questions: Visit us in-person at the Permit Center or contact the Planner-On-Duty at (510) 577-3325 or [email protected].
- Planning Applications: Get answers to your questions or file a planning application at the Permit Center. Please see below for updates or visit our updated Planning Applications webpage.
- Public Hearings: Regularly scheduled meetings of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments are held at 7pm on the first Thursday of every month. Administrative hearings of the Zoning Enforcement Official (ZEO) are held at 9am on the third Tuesday of every month. Please visit the Public Hearings page for information on how to participate in the hearings.
- Zoning Verification Letters: If you are seeking property information from the City regarding zoning and land use, a Zoning Verification Letter may be requested. Please see below for details. We recommend patrons seeking immediate assistance utilize our available online services when researching property information. You can access the City's interactive zoning map, public records, archival records search (Laserfiche) and check the status of a permit (Accela Citizen Access portal ) online through our self-service features. Entitlement agreements are recorded with the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder.
- Building Permits are through the Building Division: If you need a building permit for solar, electrical, meter upgrades, accessory dwelling units (ADU)s, construction, and demolition, please contact the Building Division. For building permit status, visit the online Accela Citizen Access Portal or contact the building permit tech or clerk or clerk who accepted your application for Building permits / plan review.
- Projects Near You: To see if a permit has been issued or if there is project in progress near you, use CityDash.
Assistance at the Permit Center
Walk-ins are always welcome but customers with an appointment will be given preference.
Upon arrival to City Hall, visitors will be asked to follow health protocols to help keep everyone safe and healthy. We encourage everyone to access City services online, by email and by phone. The Permit Center is closed on Fridays and at lunchtime daily from 12 pm to 1 pm.
Permit Center address, hours, agencies
Business Resources
For questions or concerns about limitations on business or construction activities, please review the current Alameda County Health Order and Workplace Guidance. The Temporary Outdoor Facilities Registration program is available for outdoor dining, retail and other outdoor service activities. Email the COVID-19 Business team for more information.
About the Planning Division
San Leandro's Planning Division regulates land use by directing the City's current and long-range planning activities, including:
- Interpreting and implementing the various state and city codes and ordinances as they relate to property and land use (like the Zoning Code) and answering customer questions about Planning and the Zoning Code;
- Processing and reviewing planning permit applications for entitlements and development proposals for residential, commercial, office and industrial projects;
- Coordinating environmental review and disclosure in accord with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
- Presenting development proposals at public hearings and providing support to the City's Planning-related advisory bodies, such as the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Zoning Enforcement Official regarding land use matters;
- Completing planning studies and preparing amendments to the General Plan, Zoning Code, and Zoning Map; and
- Coordinating with local, regional and state agencies.
Planning Division staff directory
Celebrating 150 Years
San Leandro is celebrating its 150th anniversary. On March 21, 1872, San Leandro was the 39th City to be incorporated in California. The City was an early adopter of zoning regulations. In honor of the City's 150th anniversary, here is a copy of the City's zoning map as it was on March 16, 1925 and January 31, 1936.
Planning Division Services
Planner-On-Duty
If you have Planning or Zoning Code questions or wish to discuss a project, please contact the Planner-On-Duty. Please provide your name, contact information, and the property address, if it is available. When you email, it is especially helpful, if you are able to provide a digital copy of your proposed plans (sketch or drafted plans, depending on project complexity).
If have questions for your plan checker regarding the building code or any building permit plan check comments, their contact info is in the consolidated comments you received. Planners answer questions about the Zoning Code only and do not have access to plan check comments. Visit the Building Division's website to better understand their process.
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Email: [email protected]
Phone: 510-577-3325
In-Person Appointments- Please leave a voicemail and a planner will reach out to you as soon as possible; provide a property address.
- Am I in San Leandro? | Permit Status via the Accela Citizen Access Portal
- For inquires about Alameda County Fire in San Leandro, please email: [email protected].
- For questions about building permits, forms, fees, status, visit the Building Division's website.
- The Planner On Duty answers questions about the Zoning Code and Planning Permits only, they are not Building Code plan checkers.
Planning Permit Applications
- For residential uses, planning permits are required for new dwelling units and some additions, like additions in the RS-VP zoning district, and major additions (doubling the square footage), 2nd-story additions, and 3rd-story additions in other residential districts. Minor residential additions are permitted by the Building Division. See the Residential Use Regulations for details. See also: What is the difference between a Major and Minor Residential SPR? (PDF)
- For commercial and industrial uses, as well as uses in the Bayfair Mall area (B-TOD zoning district) planning permit applications are required based on the Zoning Code Use Regulations for each zoning district. Commercial Use Regulations, Industrial Use Regulations, B-TOD Use Regulations.
- New Planning Permit Applications: Visit the updated Planning Applications webpage for information on how to apply, planning fees, and application checklists.
- Application Resubmittals: Contact your assigned project planner.
- Planning Application Status: Visit the online Accela Citizen Access Portal.
Upcoming Public Hearings
- City Council, PC-BZA: For agendas and staff reports regarding any upcoming public hearings scheduled before the City Council, Planning Commission (PC) or Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA), visit the City's Meeting Central. Please visit the Public Hearings page for information on meeting dates and times and how to participate in the hearings.
- ZEO: For agendas and staff reports regarding any upcoming public hearings scheduled before the Zoning Enforcement Official (ZEO), visit the Public Hearings webpage, which also contains information on meeting dates and times.
Other Planning Services
Zoning Verification Letters
Send your request and payment (PDF) by mail or drop them off in-person at the Permit Center. All details are in our Zoning Verification Letter application checklist (PDF). Depending on the complexity of research, the City's typical timeframe for processing a Zoning Verification Letter is two to three weeks. If records need to be retrieved from off-site storage, a response could take longer. We recommend patrons seeking immediate assistance utilize our available online services when researching property information.
Zoning Conformance for Business Licenses
Apply for your business license first. Business License staff and HDL (3rd-party vendor) will inform you if you need to fill out and submit a Zoning Conformance Form and will provide details about how to submit the form to HDL.
Zoning Conformance for ABC and DMV Licenses
Send your forms to the Planner-On-Duty.
- Business Licenses (Finance & HDL)
- Building Permits (Building Division)
- Cannabis Regulations (City Manager)
- Public Records Requests (City Clerk)
- Resolutions or Development Agreements (City Clerk)
- Permit Research (City Clerk)
- Short-Term Rentals (City Manager)
- Tree Maintenance or Removal (Public Works)
- Am I in San Leandro? (Check your property address)