Housing

Overview April 10, 2017

Property Owners and Managers – Prevent Housing Violations

Multi-family dwellings are inspected periodically for health and safety violations by Environmental Health Services (EHS). If you own or manage a multi-family dwelling in San Mateo County, use the information below to ensure your property is safe, healthy, and ready for inspection. To avoid violations, correct any potential issues before your inspection.

Address common housing violations before your next inspection.

Renters – How to File a Complaint

To file a complaint about:

Leaking roofs
Faulty plumbing
Inadequate heating
Substandard electrical problems
Pests (including rodents and cockroaches)
Mold
Lead

In these places:

Rental properties (apartment buildings of 4 units or more)
Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts
Mobile home parks (within unincorporated San Mateo County)
Detention facilities
Organized camps
- Notice of Intent to Operate an Organized Camp
- Organized Camps Laws and Regulations
Employee/Farm Worker Housing
- Employee Housing Regulations
- Useful link: hcd.ca.gov

Complaints

Call (650) 599-1112 or use the Online Complaint Form. Environmental Health Services can only respond to complaints made about rental properties (apartment buildings of 4 units or more), hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, mobile home parks (within unincorporated San Mateo County), detention facilities, and organized camps.

For employee housing/farm worker complaints, call (650) 363-4404 or use the Online Complaint Form. For additional questions, contact FarmworkerHousingSupport@smcgov.org.

Environmental Health Services does not handle housing complaints in the City of San Mateo, City of San Carlos, or single-family homes, duplexes, or triplexes. If your complaint involves one of these areas or property types, please contact your local Code Enforcement Department directly. For contact information by city, click here .

Complaints concerning asbestos should be reported to Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). You can file a complaint by calling 1-800-334-6367 or online by clicking here.

Complaints concerning Housing Authority, HUD, or Section 8 should be directed to the San Mateo County Department of Housing at (650) 802-3300.

If you’d like to file a complaint about a townhome or condominium, contact the owner, HOA, or obtain legal advice.

Employee Housing Operations

Program Overview

The Employee Housing Act and the adopted regulations govern the standards for the construction, maintenance, use, and occupancy of living quarters, called “employee housing,” provided for five or more employees under specified circumstances. Employee housing subject to the Act is privately-operated and does not include government-owned and -operated migrant worker facilities.

In general, employee housing is privately-owned housing that houses five or more employees and meets the following criteria:

Living quarters are provided in connection with any work, whether or not rent is involved.
Housing is located in a rural area that is:
- Provided by someone who is not an agricultural employer, and
- Provided for agricultural workers employed by any agricultural employer.

Employee Housing Permit Application

Inspection

The inspection responsibilities of San Mateo County include the following activities:

Inspecting employee housing: Inspections are completed prior to and during occupancy to assure compliance with the use, maintenance, and occupancy requirements established by the laws and regulations, as well as applicable sections of Title 24, California Building Standards Code.

Investigation of complaints of violations of the Employee Housing Act and the regulations.

Laws

The State Law governing employee housing is entitled the “Employee Housing Act” and may be found in Division 13, Part 1 of the California Health and Safety Code, commencing with Section 17000. This Act establishes requirements for permits, fees, and responsibilities of employee housing operators and enforcement agencies, including the Department.

Regulations

Title 25, California Code of Regulations, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3 includes specific requirements for the construction of housing, maintenance of grounds and buildings, minimum allowable sleeping space and facilities, sanitation, and heating. The provisions of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) govern the construction of permanent buildings used for employee housing. (See also State Housing Law for appropriate building standards.) The construction of mobilehome and recreational vehicle lots within an employee housing facility is subject to provisions in the Mobilehome Parks Act and regulations adopted by the Department for such facilities.

Employee Housing Resources

Employee Housing Building Standards – CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development

Employee Housing Facility Inspection Information Booklet for Owners, Operators, and Residents

Resources from CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development

View the 2023 Certificate of Non-Operation here

Contact Information

For employee housing/farm worker complaints, call Aris Veloso, EHS IV Housing Program, work cell: (650) 463-6925, use the Online Complaint Form, or email FarmworkerHousingSupport@smcgov.org.

Healthy Home Resources

Pests need water, food, and shelter to live, just like you. Explore what you can do to get rid of them and prevent them from invading your home.

Reducing moisture prevents and reduces mold growth. Your first action is to address the source of the moisture, which causes mold.