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Permit Reef · one-page route summary

The California shellfish and seaweed permitting route

The same review steps shown on the Permit Tracker, in the same order. Time and fee ranges are compiled estimates drawn from published agency pages and published reports, not quotes. Nothing here is filed for you, and nothing here is legal advice.

For your own project, answer four questions and print just the steps that apply. The same steps are also published as a read-only feed at /api/public/route-map.json.

This page is a printable summary of the Permit Tracker, compiled from published agency pages. Covers California shellfish and seaweed only. Every outside link on this page was last checked automatically on Sep 18, 2026, and it is re-checked weekly. The agency's own published page and notice remain the legal record.

  1. STEP 1

    Siting & lease

    Who may hold water, and on what terms.

    • CA Fish & Game Commission (CFGC) STATE

      Lease approval and public-interest determination (FGC §15400). CDFW staff administers the four-phase application; the Commission grants the lease.

      Applies to: New lease · renewal · species change · Published time range: 12–36 months · Published fee range: $1.5K–$10K

      https://fgc.ca.gov/Checked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • State Lands Commission STATE

      Tidelands and bottom lease interest where the site sits on state sovereign land.

      Applies to: New lease · renewal · Published time range: 12–24 months · Published fee range: $1K–$8K + rent

      https://www.slc.ca.gov/Agency page link checked Sep 18, 2026

    • Harbor / port district LOCAL

      Where a district holds granted tidelands (Humboldt Bay, San Diego), the district is the leasing and CEQA lead agency.

      Applies to: Pre-permitted footprint · Published time range: 3–9 months · Published fee range: Varies

      https://humboldtbay.org/development-permitsAgency page link checked Sep 18, 2026
  2. STEP 2

    Environmental review

    The analysis that has to exist before a decision can be made.

    • CEQA lead agency STATE

      Initial Study, then a Negative Declaration or EIR. The lead is CFGC for state leases, or the district/county where they hold the approval.

      Applies to: Most new and amended projects · Published time range: 12–48 months · Published fee range: $60K–$250K consultant

      https://opr.ca.gov/ceqa/Agency page link checked Sep 18, 2026

    • California Coastal Commission STATE

      Coastal development permit or federal consistency determination.

      Applies to: Coastal zone projects · Published time range: 12–24 months · Published fee range: $2K–$15K

      https://www.coastal.ca.gov/Checked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • Tribal consultation TRIBAL

      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.

      Applies to: Where triggered by location · Published time range: 3–12 months · Published fee range: —

      https://nahc.ca.gov/Checked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself
  3. STEP 3

    Water & federal

    Water quality, navigation, and protected species.

    • Regional Water Board (RWQCB) STATE

      Section 401 water quality certification; waste discharge requirements for land-based systems.

      Applies to: All in-water and discharging projects · Published time range: 6–18 months · Published fee range: $500–$5K

      https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterboards_map.htmlAgency page link checked Sep 18, 2026

    • USACE FEDERAL

      Section 10 / 404 authorization for structures and work in navigable waters.

      Applies to: All in-water structures · Published time range: 12–36 months · Published fee range: Free–$100

      https://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Checked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) & USFWS FEDERAL

      ESA and MMPA consultation, essential fish habitat review.

      Applies to: Where listed species or habitat occur · Published time range: 6–24 months · Published fee range: Free

      https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/consultations/esa-section-7-consultations-west-coastAgency page link checked Sep 18, 2026
  4. STEP 4

    Food safety & product

    What has to be true before anyone eats it.

    • CDPH — shellfish sanitation STATE

      NSSP growing-area classification, harvest controls, certification, and tagging for bivalves.

      Applies to: All bivalve shellfish · Published time range: 3–9 months · Published fee range: $1K–$5K

      https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/Shellfish/Shellfish-Program.aspxChecked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • CDPH — processed food registration STATE

      Processed Food Registration and HACCP where processing occurs. Seaweed as a food sits on partly unsettled ground — see Known Gaps.

      Applies to: Seaweed and processed product · Published time range: 2–6 months · Published fee range: $500–$2K

      https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/ProcedureObtainingProcessedFoodRegistration.aspxChecked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • County environmental health LOCAL

      Facility, water supply, and handling review for shoreside and upland operations.

      Applies to: Land-based and processing · Published time range: 1–6 months · Published fee range: Varies

      https://www.ccdeh.com/Checked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself
  5. STEP 5

    Operate & keep current

    The part that never ends.

    • CDFW — annual registration STATE

      Aquaculture registration for every facility, every year (FGC §15101, 14 CCR §235, form DFW 750).

      Applies to: Every operation, every year · Published time range: 1–3 months · Published fee range: ~$500 base

      https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/AquacultureChecked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • CDFW — stock movement & health STATE

      Importation, transfer, and disease inspection approvals for seed, spore, and broodstock.

      Applies to: Any stock movement · Published time range: 1–4 months · Published fee range: Varies

      https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/AquacultureChecked Sep 18, 2026 · the page did not answer our automatic check, so open it yourself

    • Local use permit LOCAL

      County or city use permit, plus lease-condition reporting and monitoring obligations.

      Applies to: Most shoreside footprints · Published time range: 3–12 months · Published fee range: Varies widely

      https://opr.ca.gov/planning/general-plan/Agency page link checked Sep 18, 2026

Permit Reef charts the route and gathers what is published. It does not file anything, does not give legal advice, and does not speak for any agency. The agency's own notice remains the legal record. Coverage is California shellfish and seaweed only.