Construction & Demolition

Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste can be generated as a result of new construction, addition, remodel, or demolition projects. To minimize this waste, the County requires that certain projects in unincorporated San Mateo County submit a Waste Management Plan to the Sustainability Department.

If your project is located in an incorporated city within San Mateo County, please refer to pages 2 and 3 of the Construction, Deconstruction, and Demolition Guide for the relevant requirements.

A Waste Management Plan is necessary to demonstrate compliance with County regulations that require covered projects to salvage, reuse, or recycle all inert solids and at least 65% of all of the construction and demolition debris generated by the project.

A Waste Management Plan is required if your project consists of one or more of the following:

• Demolition work only of existing permitted buildings;
• Construction of new permitted buildings;
• Additions and alterations of existing permitted buildings where the addition or alteration increases the building’s conditioned area, volume, or size;
• Alterations to kitchens and/or an existing building where the square footage of the work exceeds 500 square feet;
• All single-family residential whole building demolition projects required to obtain a demolition permit shall complete a deconstruction survey provided by a third party approved by the Building Official, or designee. The survey shall itemize the materials that are reusable and salvageable in the project;
• Single-family residential demolition projects required to get a deconstruction survey shall allow 10 days, once the deconstruction survey is submitted, to recover the maximum feasible amount of salvageable designated recyclable and reusable materials prior to demolition.

The County uses the online system Green Halo to process Waste Management Plans. Through Green Halo, you can submit and receive approval for your plan, upload all supporting documents, and track your submissions—all from the convenience of your home or office, 24/7.

The person who applied for the permit should have received an automatic email from Green Halo with instructions on accessing the system. If you need to assign the project to someone else, please email sustainability@smcgov.org or call 888-442-2666. First-time users will need to register before using the system.

• After you register, go to smcgov.wastetracking.com, log in, and click on the green number in Waste Management Plans in Progress.
• Click start here, enter your information with your best estimates of the debris including mixed C&D (mixed construction and demolition debris) that will be generated and how it will be reused or recycled in compliance with the County’s Building Regulations, and click submit for approval.
• Once you submit your project for approval, staff will be notified and review it.
• Staff will approve it or ask you questions. Staff may have additional recommendations that accompany the approval of your plan, and may request receipts to be submitted during the project.
• You will then get an email from Green Halo saying whether you project was approved or rejected.
• All pictures and receipts relating to recycling and disposal that are generated throughout your project must be saved and turned in at the end for your final inspection.

All single-family residential whole building demolition projects required to obtain a demolition permit shall complete a deconstruction survey provided by a third party approved by the Building Official, or designee. The survey shall itemize the materials that are reusable and salvageable in the project.

Please see page 5 of the Construction, Deconstruction, & Demolition Guide for companies that provide free deconstruction surveys. Upload the survey to your project in Green Halo for approval.

After the survey is uploaded and you plan is approved, allow 10 days to recover the maximum feasible amount of salvageable designated recyclable and reusable materials prior to demolition.

• When your project is completed, you will upload your receipts to your project and click submit for final.
• Section Two, along with all recycling and disposal receipts or equivalent documentation must be submitted and approved by Sustainability Department staff before we issue your Final Project Approval.
• Once you submit your project for final, staff will review and approve it or ask you questions.
• You will then get an email saying whether you project was approved or rejected.
• Projects whose Waste Management Plans are found not in compliance with County’s Building Regulations may be subject to a fine up to $1,000.

Call 888-442-2666 or email sustainability@smcgov.org for assistance.

There is a $95 administrative fee that is added electronically by the Sustainability Department when you file your Section One of the Waste Management Plan. The County’s Building Department collects this fee before you get your permit.

If your project is required to comply with the Building Regulations and you fail to turn in copies of receipts or equivalent documentation as requested, submit an inaccurate or incomplete final Waste Management Plan, or submit a Waste Management Plan that does not show compliance with the Building Regulations, a stop order may be issued on the job, your final approval may be delayed, you may be requested to provide additional information, and in some cases, may be fined up to $1,000.

• Construction, Deconstruction, & Demolition Guide
• Building Regulations
• Deconstruction Survey

Deconstruction is a cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional building demolition, where hazardous materials are removed, reusable appliances, flooring, and other building materials are salvaged and non-reusable materials are recycled.

Watch this video on the benefits of deconstruction!

The County of San Mateo Sustainability Department has contracted with The ReUse Institute to offer deconstruction trainings to teach people how to deconstruct buildings and save valuable materials from being landfilled, ground up into mulch, or used as biofuel.

Visit our Deconstruction Trainings page to see current trainings.

If you would like to be put on a list to be notified of the next job training, please email sustainability@smcgov.org.

Consider deconstruction over demolition! The Sustainability Department  is offering to deconstruct your house and will pay for the training, meaning you will not have to pay for the labor to deconstruct. In addition, you may also receive a tax-deductible donation for the materials salvaged from your project. For more information and to apply, please view the Deconstruction Application.