Environmental Planning

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a State law that was enacted in 1970. It requires public agencies to document and consider the environmental implications of proposed projects. CEQA is all about public disclosure: its purpose is to inform decision-makers and the public about potential environmental effects and to help prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage.

Resources for implementing CEQA:

• State CEQA Guidelines – A roadmap for implementing CEQA from the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
• Marin County Environmental Impact Review Guidelines – Local regulations adopted by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1994 to supplement State guidelines.

For projects in Marin County that are exempt from CEQA, you may find recently filed Notices of Exemption on the County Clerk website.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal law that was enacted in 1970. It requires that all federally funded projects go through an environmental review process separate from any state processes. The overall purpose of NEPA is to avoid or mitigate harm to people and the environment when considering proposed projects receiving federal funding.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the County of Marin is responsible for ensuring NEPA compliance for local projects that are awarded federal grant funds from HUD. Refer to the Code of Federal Regulations for more information about Marin County's NEPA responsibilities. We also ensure compliance with Section 106, a provision of NEPA that applies to historic buildings such as Golden Gate Village in Marin City.