Agriculture in San Mateo County has a rich and diverse history that includes the cultivation and sale of indoor and outdoor floral and nursery crops; vegetables; fruit and nut crops; livestock and apiary products; and field crops, among others. Farm laborers have historically been and continue to be an integral part of San Mateo County’s agricultural community and its success.
The County has prioritized and placed an emphasis on supporting agriculture and the agricultural community through adoption of land use regulations preserving and encouraging agriculture, community agricultural workshops, continued participation in the California Land Conservation (Williamson) Act, and adoption of a revised Farm Labor Housing policy that eliminated Planning and Building Department fees, removed redundant requirements, and extended permit renewal time frames.
The purpose of this guidebook is to provide an outline of permit requirements, time frames, and contact information in order to assist landowners considering farm labor housing development.