Questions and answers
Purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) helps protect the environment and keeps the public informed and involved in local decisions. CEQA is designed to:
- Share with the public any major environmental impacts of proposed projects
- Reduce harm to the environment by requiring project alternatives, mitigation steps, and monitoring
- Explain how agencies make decisions through public findings and formal statements
- Involve the public through meetings, notices, comment periods, hearings, and court processes
- Improve coordination between agencies through early talks, planning notices, and State Clearinghouse review
Role of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife in CEQA
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) is the state’s Trustee Agency for fish, wildlife, and plant resources.
CDFW works to protect, manage, and conserve fish, wildlife, native plants, and their habitats.
Under CEQA, CDFW provides biological expertise to public agencies during environmental review. This support focuses on projects that could harm fish, wildlife, or their habitats.
Who files CEQA documents
- The lead agency on the project is responsible for filing the CEQA document.
- The lead agency decides when to file the document.
- The lead agency also chooses where to file it.
How and where do I file my CEQA documents?
To file your CEQA documents, please provide the following:
What to bring
- 1 original CEQA document
- 3 additional copies
Fees
- The Fish & Wildlife project fee, based on your project type
- A $50 Marin County Clerk processing fee
- Fees are based on the number of unique CEQA documents submitted
- You can pay by:
- Cash
- Credit card
- Check made payable to "The Marin County Clerk"
For amended CEQA filings (when fees were already paid)
Please include:
- A copy of your previous CEQA filing
- A copy of your Fish & Wildlife receipt
- A transaction receipt showing the CDFW fee has already been paid
Note: The $50 Marin County Clerk processing fee still applies to amended filings.
Where to send documents
You can mail CEQA filings to the Marin County Clerk’s Office:
The Marin County Clerk
PO Box C
San Rafael, CA 94913
List of currently filed CEQA documents
To see a list of all current CEQA documents filed with the Marin County Clerk, use the links below:
Related
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Assessor's Office
The Assessor is responsible for the preparation of the local secured and unsecured Assessment Roll (the official list of all assessable property in the county).
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Recorder's Office
Recorder Division home page - Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk - County of Marin.
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Marin County Clerk's Office
The home page of the Marin County Clerk's office providing information about the services offered by the office.