{
  "name": "Permit Reef — California shellfish and seaweed permitting route",
  "scope": "Permit Reef covers California shellfish and seaweed only, from public agency sources. It charts the route and files nothing. A private working desk exists, and access to it is by invitation.",
  "notice": "Permit Reef charts the route and files nothing. It does not give legal advice and does not speak for any agency. The agency's own published page and notice remain the legal record.",
  "coverage": {
    "state": "California",
    "sectors": [
      "shellfish",
      "seaweed"
    ]
  },
  "figureBasisNote": "Time and fee ranges are compiled estimates drawn from published agency pages and published reports, not quotes and not agency commitments. Where nothing is published, the field is left blank rather than filled in.",
  "generatedAt": "2026-09-22T23:07:29.646Z",
  "humanPage": "https://permitreef.org/tracker",
  "printableSummary": "https://permitreef.org/tracker/summary",
  "steps": [
    {
      "stepNumber": 1,
      "stepGroup": "Siting & lease",
      "orderInGroup": 1,
      "agency": "CA Fish & Game Commission (CFGC)",
      "agencyAbbr": "CFGC",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Lease approval and public-interest determination (FGC §15400). CDFW staff administers the four-phase application; the Commission grants the lease.",
      "appliesTo": "New lease · renewal · species change",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to a new lease, a renewal, and a species change alike.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "12–36",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$1.5K–$10K",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://fgc.ca.gov/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 1,
      "stepGroup": "Siting & lease",
      "orderInGroup": 2,
      "agency": "State Lands Commission",
      "agencyAbbr": "SLC",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Tidelands and bottom lease interest where the site sits on state sovereign land.",
      "appliesTo": "New lease · renewal",
      "appliesNote": "An existing lease holder usually meets this at renewal rather than for a species change.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "12–24",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$1K–$8K + rent",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.slc.ca.gov/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 1,
      "stepGroup": "Siting & lease",
      "orderInGroup": 3,
      "agency": "Harbor / port district",
      "agencyAbbr": "HBHRCD",
      "jurisdiction": "local",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Local",
      "whatItIsFor": "Where a district holds granted tidelands (Humboldt Bay, San Diego), the district is the leasing and CEQA lead agency.",
      "appliesTo": "Pre-permitted footprint",
      "appliesNote": "Only where a harbor or port district holds the granted tidelands at your site.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "3–9",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Varies",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://humboldtbay.org/development-permits",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 2,
      "stepGroup": "Environmental review",
      "orderInGroup": 1,
      "agency": "CEQA lead agency",
      "agencyAbbr": "CEQA",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Initial Study, then a Negative Declaration or EIR. The lead is CFGC for state leases, or the district/county where they hold the approval.",
      "appliesTo": "Most new and amended projects",
      "appliesNote": "A change on an existing lease can still need review; the extent is decided case by case.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "12–48",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$60K–$250K consultant",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://opr.ca.gov/ceqa/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 2,
      "stepGroup": "Environmental review",
      "orderInGroup": 2,
      "agency": "California Coastal Commission",
      "agencyAbbr": "CCC",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Coastal development permit or federal consistency determination.",
      "appliesTo": "Coastal zone projects",
      "appliesNote": "Applies inside the coastal zone. Whether a permit or a consistency determination is the right path is decided by the Commission.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "12–24",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$2K–$15K",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.coastal.ca.gov/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 2,
      "stepGroup": "Environmental review",
      "orderInGroup": 3,
      "agency": "Tribal consultation",
      "agencyAbbr": "NAHC",
      "jurisdiction": "tribal",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Tribal",
      "whatItIsFor": "AB 52 and SB 18 where triggered; in the Chumash Heritage NMS zone, ONMS §304(d) co-stewardship applies. Permit Reef treats this as partnership, not a checkbox.",
      "appliesTo": "Where triggered by location",
      "appliesNote": "Triggered by location and by the approval being sought.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "3–12",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": null,
      "typicalCostBasis": "not-published",
      "sourceUrl": "https://nahc.ca.gov/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:22.175+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 3,
      "stepGroup": "Water & federal",
      "orderInGroup": 1,
      "agency": "Regional Water Board (RWQCB)",
      "agencyAbbr": "RWQCB",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Section 401 water quality certification; waste discharge requirements for land-based systems.",
      "appliesTo": "All in-water and discharging projects",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to in-water work and to anything that discharges.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "6–18",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$500–$5K",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterboards_map.html",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 3,
      "stepGroup": "Water & federal",
      "orderInGroup": 2,
      "agency": "USACE",
      "agencyAbbr": "USACE",
      "jurisdiction": "federal",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Federal",
      "whatItIsFor": "Section 10 / 404 authorization for structures and work in navigable waters.",
      "appliesTo": "All in-water structures",
      "appliesNote": "Applies where structures or work sit in navigable waters.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "12–36",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Free–$100",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 3,
      "stepGroup": "Water & federal",
      "orderInGroup": 3,
      "agency": "NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) & USFWS",
      "agencyAbbr": "NMFS",
      "jurisdiction": "federal",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Federal",
      "whatItIsFor": "ESA and MMPA consultation, essential fish habitat review.",
      "appliesTo": "Where listed species or habitat occur",
      "appliesNote": "Applies where listed species or their habitat occur at the site.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "6–24",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Free",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/consultations/esa-section-7-consultations-west-coast",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 4,
      "stepGroup": "Food safety & product",
      "orderInGroup": 1,
      "agency": "CDPH — shellfish sanitation",
      "agencyAbbr": "CDPH",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "NSSP growing-area classification, harvest controls, certification, and tagging for bivalves.",
      "appliesTo": "All bivalve shellfish",
      "appliesNote": "Bivalve shellfish only.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "3–9",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$1K–$5K",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/Shellfish/Shellfish-Program.aspx",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 4,
      "stepGroup": "Food safety & product",
      "orderInGroup": 2,
      "agency": "CDPH — processed food registration",
      "agencyAbbr": "CDPH-PFR",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Processed Food Registration and HACCP where processing occurs. Seaweed as a food sits on partly unsettled ground — see Known Gaps.",
      "appliesTo": "Seaweed and processed product",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to seaweed as a food and to any processed product. What applies to a given seaweed product is an open question — see Known Gaps.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "2–6",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "$500–$2K",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/ProcedureObtainingProcessedFoodRegistration.aspx",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 4,
      "stepGroup": "Food safety & product",
      "orderInGroup": 3,
      "agency": "County environmental health",
      "agencyAbbr": "CCDEH",
      "jurisdiction": "local",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Local",
      "whatItIsFor": "Facility, water supply, and handling review for shoreside and upland operations.",
      "appliesTo": "Land-based and processing",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to shoreside, upland, and processing space.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "1–6",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Varies",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.ccdeh.com/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:25.671+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 5,
      "stepGroup": "Operate & keep current",
      "orderInGroup": 1,
      "agency": "CDFW — annual registration",
      "agencyAbbr": "CDFW",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Aquaculture registration for every facility, every year (FGC §15101, 14 CCR §235, form DFW 750).",
      "appliesTo": "Every operation, every year",
      "appliesNote": "Every registered operation, every year.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "1–3",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "~$500 base",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Aquaculture",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:46.662+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 5,
      "stepGroup": "Operate & keep current",
      "orderInGroup": 2,
      "agency": "CDFW — stock movement & health",
      "agencyAbbr": "CDFW-IMP",
      "jurisdiction": "state",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "State",
      "whatItIsFor": "Importation, transfer, and disease inspection approvals for seed, spore, and broodstock.",
      "appliesTo": "Any stock movement",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to any movement of seed, spore, or broodstock.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "1–4",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Varies",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Aquaculture",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:46.662+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": false
    },
    {
      "stepNumber": 5,
      "stepGroup": "Operate & keep current",
      "orderInGroup": 3,
      "agency": "Local use permit",
      "agencyAbbr": "COUNTY",
      "jurisdiction": "local",
      "jurisdictionLabel": "Local",
      "whatItIsFor": "County or city use permit, plus lease-condition reporting and monitoring obligations.",
      "appliesTo": "Most shoreside footprints",
      "appliesNote": "Applies to most shoreside footprints.",
      "typicalTimelineMonths": "3–12",
      "typicalTimelineBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "typicalCost": "Varies widely",
      "typicalCostBasis": "compiled-estimate",
      "sourceUrl": "https://opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/",
      "sourceLastCheckedAt": "2026-09-18T20:13:46.662+00:00",
      "sourceLastAnswered": true
    }
  ]
}