Landlord and Tenant Resources

These resources are available to both landlords and tenants and focus on both parties understanding their rights and responsibilities.

• Project Sentinel: Provides resources to Tenants and Landlord for housing discrimination, Tenant-Landlord dispute resolution, and housing counseling programs throughout San Mateo County. To contact Project Sentinel, please call (650) 321-6043, info@housin.org, https://www.smcgov.org/housing/project-sentinel-landlordtenant-questions-county-san-mateo 
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo: Provides Tenant and Landlords with legal assistance to address civil issues, including lease agreements and rent payment or fees.  To contact Legal Aid (650) 558-0915 

Mediation Services

Mediation is a process that is used to help address conflicts and settle differences with the assistance of a neutral third party using a mediation. Using a mediation service can often help prevent resorting to expensive legal actions to reach an amicable agreement between parties.

Examples of issues that are not enforced by Code Enforcement, which may benefit from the help of a third-party mediation service: 

• Private property fences between properties,
• Trees/branches on private properties that don’t endanger the street or sidewalk

PCRC - Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center 

Other Resources

Abandoned Vehicles: Responds to and addresses inoperable vehicles or vehicles that have been sitting for more than 72 hours without significant movement on the public property (street). You will need to report the complaint online at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/685/Abandoned-Vehicles or you may contact them at (650) 522-7766

Bay Area Air Quality Control: Responds to and investigates all air pollution complaints including odor, wood smoke, and smoking vehicles. You may contact or submit complaints online at https://www.baaqmd.gov/online-services/air-pollution-complaints

CalTrans: Responds to and addresses overgrown weeds, trash, or graffiti on S. El Camino Real and the freeway on or offramp. To report a request, please visit https://csr.dot.ca.gov/index.php/Msrsubmit

External Graffiti Enforcement: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/2156/External-Graffiti-Enforcement

Housing Rehabilitation Loans: The City of San Mateo Housing Division provides a Housing Rehabilitation Loan program and grants to non-profit service agencies for provision of Minor Home Repairs to income qualified homeowners. This resource can be used to address code enforcement violations.

Parking Enforcement (Laz Parking): Responds to and addresses vehicles parked on the public street illegally They can be reached at (650) 398-3082 or by email at SMEnforcement@lazparking.com

San Mateo County Code Enforcement: Addresses all properties in the unincorporated San Mateo County. They may be reached at (650) 363-4825 or you can complete their code violation form San Mateo County Complaint Form) and email to codecomplaint@smcgov.org