Special Notice / Hearing: 10-day newspaper publication
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Charles Ice, Director, Environmental Health Services
Subject: Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution Establishing a Permit Fee for Farm Labor Housing Water System Permits
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Conduct a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution amending the Environmental Health Services Division’s fee schedule to establish the permit fee for farm labor housing water systems under San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.64:
A) Open public hearing
B) Close public hearing
C) Adoption of a resolution amending the Environmental Health Services Division’s fee schedule to establish the permit fee for farm labor housing water systems under San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.64.
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BACKGROUND:
Section 101325 of the California Health and Safety Code permits recovery of costs incurred enforcing state public health laws and regulations. Pursuant to San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 5.64, Environmental Health Services Division (Division) fees are presently established by ordinance or resolution by this Board and are effective in both cities and unincorporated areas of the County, where applicable.
The Division provides unique, primarily mandated public health protection services, community and business education, and regulatory oversight and enforcement through the technical expertise and consultation of its professional staff. Historically, less than one percent of the total revenue for the Division’s operations has been from the County’s General Funds. The Division’s inspection programs are intended to be fully fee-supported.
On October 6, 2026, this Board introduced two related ordinances: one repealing and replacing San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.64 concerning domestic water systems, and one repealing and replacing San Mateo County Ordinance Code Chapter 4.68 concerning wells. Today, at the October 20, 2026 Board meeting, the Board is considering adoption of these ordinances, which, if adopted, would go into effect in thirty days.
These two ordinances function in tandem and constitute a comprehensive overhaul of both ordinances to align with current State standards and updated regulatory best practices, and for improved implementation and enforcement of both ordinances. Each ordinance establishes a robust permitting scheme that the Division will implement and enforce.
DISCUSSION:
The County’s current Wells Ordinance (Chapter 4.68), which the Board is considering repealing and replacing today, has associated permitting fees sufficient to cover the full administrative costs of implementation and enforcement of the proposed Wells Ordinance the Board may adopt today. The County’s current Domestic Water Systems Ordinance (Chapter 4.64), by contrast, does not have existing permitting fees sufficient to cover the full administrative costs of implementation and enforcement of the proposed Domestic Water Systems Ordinance overhaul, particularly because that ordinance creates a new regulatory system for Farm Labor Housing Water Systems, as described in the memorandum accompanying the proposed Domestic Water Systems Ordinance also on today’s agenda.
To obtain full cost recovery for administration of the annual Farm Labor Housing Water System permit established in the proposed ordinance, the Division requests that this Board adopt a resolution establishing a fee of $1,706 for the associated farm labor housing water system permit.
The amount of the fee was determined based on an analysis of existing fees charged for services associated with the permit and staff time required to provide such services. However, full cost recovery is not required for the first four fiscal years of the program, as the County will provide funding to support the Division’s enforcement of the Domestic Water Systems Ordinance through FY 2029-30.
Therefore, while the fees to administer this program would go into effect immediately, the Division will not charge the full cost for the permit until FY 2030-31. As reflected in the chart below, the Division will offset a gradually reduced percentage of the permit fee each year through June 2030. The proposed offset of fees is 100% in FY 2026-27, 50% in FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29, and 25% in FY 2029-30.
|
Fiscal Year |
Fee Subsidy Percent |
|
FY 2026-27 |
100% |
|
FY 2027-28 |
50% |
|
FY 2028-29 |
50% |
|
FY 2029-30 |
25% |
All public notification requirements have been met for this agenda item, including publication for 10 days in a newspaper regularly published once a week or more often.
It is anticipated that 100% of Farm Labor Housing Water Systems will have a valid permit from the Division.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2026-27 Estimated |
FY 2027-28 Projected |
|
Percentage of Farm Labor Housing Water Systems that have a valid permit from the Division |
100% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This resolution positively impacts the health of San Mateo County residents who are employed in the local agricultural industry through institution of mechanisms for implementing and enforcing strong public health-oriented policies. Implementation of a Farm Labor Housing Water System permitting program and the monitoring of the water supply to residents may help prevent waterborne illnesses, as well as addresses housing inequities in largely immigrant communities. Proactive oversight has the potential for significantly impacting historically underserved residents by providing an additional level of oversight of housing that does not currently fall within an existing regulatory framework.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Notwithstanding the permitting fee subsidies through June 30, 2030 established by this resolution, there is no Net County Cost associated with the proposed fees.