Neighborhood Improvement & Housing

Special Notice Regarding Limited Services Due to COVID-19

Due to the Shelter-in-Place order related to COVID-19, the Community Development Department (CDD) will be closed to the public.

During this time CDD’s internal operations will continue on a limited basis. Information on what services are available is posted on www.cityofsanmateo.org/coronavirus.

Contact information is posted on the right column of this page. Staff in non-essential functions will be working remotely to the extent possible, so please expect some delay in responses.

Housing Projects and Events

SAN MATEO ENACTS TENANT PROTECTIONS

The passage of Assembly Bill 1482 caps rent increases to 5% plus CPI, as well as provides just cause eviction protections statewide starting on January 1, 2020.

On November 4, 2019, the City Council unanimously approved an urgency ordinance to provide San Mateo renters just cause eviction protections in the interim until these statewide tenant protection laws go into effect. San Mateo’s local urgency ordinance prohibits evictions without cause, and retroactively applies starting October 1, 2019. Certain limits apply based on building type and term of occupancy.

See flyer for more information.

A copy of the ordinance is here.

Updates to Below Market Program

February 3, 2020-City Council approved new affordable requirements of 15% for the Below Market Rate program. Staff report is here.

October 9, 2019 - Below-Market Rate Program Roundtable was held as directed in the study session on July 15. Here you can find meeting materials and a summary of comments.
July 15, 2019 - At the City Council Study Session, changes to the Below-Market Rate Program were discussed

Events

June 17, 2019 - City Council passed an Ordinance to provide rental assistance to tenants displaced due to unsafe or substandard housing units.
May 18, 2019 -The second Community Conversation on Housing was held at Hillsdale High School. More information can be found at the event page.

For more information on the City’s requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units, please visit the Planning Division’s resource page.

General Plan workshops and meetings are ongoing. For more information visit Strive San Mateo .