The California shellfish and seaweed permitting route

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/Agency page link checked Nov 2, 2026

   • 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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/Agency page link checked Nov 2, 2026

   • 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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 Nov 2, 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/AquacultureAgency page link checked Nov 2, 2026

   • 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/AquacultureAgency page link checked Nov 2, 2026

   • 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 Nov 2, 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.