Planning guide · updated November 2026
Woodside and Portola Valley are neighboring rural towns in the hills above the Peninsula, with large wooded lots, horse properties, creeks, active fault traces and steep ground. Most of the work here is new custom homes on existing estate lots, teardown rebuilds and large remodels. Each town runs its own design review, and both send plans through a Town Geologist, a Town Engineer and the same fire district. Below is how we plan new homes, rebuilds, additions and major remodels in both towns, so the design and the schedule allow for review before the footprint is fixed.
Harrod Built takes on custom homes, estate rebuilds, additions and major remodels on the Peninsula, including Woodside and Portola Valley. Looking at a property or a plan set in either town? Phone 805-712-8993 or use the form at the bottom of this page.
The short answer
In Woodside, building permits come from the Town Building Department, and larger projects first go through design review by staff, the Architectural and Site Review Administrator or the Architectural and Site Review Board (ASRB), with the Planning Commission for setback exceptions and variances. In Portola Valley, new homes and larger additions go to the Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC), usually after a site meeting, before the building permit is filed. In both towns the site plan is driven by slope, geology, significant trees, creeks and septic or sewer, a site development permit covers grading and tree work, and the Woodside Fire Protection District reviews plans through its own portal. (we confirm per lot)
1. Who reviews what
Two towns, two design review bodies, one fire district
Woodside and Portola Valley are separate incorporated towns in San Mateo County, each with its own Planning and Building departments, zoning code and design guidelines. Some nearby neighborhoods that share a Woodside or Portola Valley mailing address, such as Ladera, Los Trancos Woods or parts of the hills, are in unincorporated San Mateo County, where the County issues permits. The Woodside Fire Protection District covers both towns and much of that unincorporated area.
| Office or agency | Woodside | Portola Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Planning staff | Pre-application meetings, zoning checks, staff-level design review and the Architectural and Site Review Administrator for smaller projects. | Required pre-application meeting for a new house, floor area and impervious surface figures, staff review and ASCC scheduling. |
| Design review body | Architectural and Site Review Board (ASRB): conceptual and formal design review, with recommendations to the Planning Director or Planning Commission. | Architectural and Site Control Commission (ASCC): site meeting and public review of new homes, larger additions, mid-size grading and other listed items. |
| Planning Commission | Setback exceptions, variances and other entitlements, plus projects referred up from staff or the ASRB. | Large grading and vegetation removal, deviations from the geologic land use policies, and other referred items. |
| Building, engineering and geology | Building Department plan check and inspections; Town Engineer for site development, drainage and encroachments; Town Geologist for soils and fault review. | Building Department plan check and inspections; Town Engineer for site development, stormwater and encroachments; Town Geologist for geotechnical review. |
| Trees | Planning Department issues tree destruction permits for significant trees. | Significant tree removal runs through a site development permit, with Conservation Committee review and a site visit. |
| Fire | Woodside Fire Protection District, through its own online portal. | Woodside Fire Protection District, the same district and portal. |
| Septic, sewer and utilities | San Mateo County Environmental Health for septic systems, plus the sewer district, water and power providers serving the lot. | San Mateo County Environmental Health for septic, the sanitary district where sewer is available, and the utilities. |
Summarized from Town of Woodside Planning, Building, ASRB and permit pages, Town of Portola Valley Planning and Building pages and FAQs, and the Woodside Fire Protection District submittal pages, read November 1, 2026.
On a first call we check which jurisdiction the lot is in, the zoning district, whether it is on sewer or septic, flood and geologic mapping, recorded easements (trail, open space, conservation, access) and whether a homeowners association has its own design review. Woodside’s Planning Department page and Portola Valley’s Planning and Building Department both encourage an early meeting with a planner, and in Portola Valley it is required for a new house. (we confirm per lot) Our Woodside and Portola Valley page describes the kind of homes we take on in both towns.
2. Design review in Woodside
Staff, the ASRA, the ASRB and the Planning Commission
Woodside reviews new homes against four evaluation criteria in its zoning code: community character, site planning, building design and landscape elements. The Town’s Residential Design Guidelines turn those into illustrated principles: development in keeping with the Town’s rural character and scenic corridors, buildings tailored to the lot’s terrain and vegetation, understated building forms and materials, open fencing, modest entry features, minimal outdoor lighting, fire-safe site and landscape design, and support for the equestrian trail network.
Depending on size and location, design review is handled by staff, the Architectural and Site Review Administrator (ASRA) for smaller projects, or the ASRB. Projects in the Town’s scenic corridors (land visible from Skyline Boulevard, Interstate 280 and the main scenic roads) and in the Western Hills get closer review, as do larger houses relative to the floor area the lot allows. Anything that needs another entitlement, such as a setback exception or variance, then goes to the Planning Commission.
The Architectural and Site Review Board page explains its role: an advisory board, including a licensed architect and a licensed landscape architect where available, that recommends approval, changes or conditions to the Planning Director or Planning Commission. Larger projects usually go through two stages:
- Conceptual design review, an early read on the project against the General Plan, the evaluation criteria and the guidelines, described in the conceptual design review requirements.
- Formal design review, with a narrative that responds to the board’s conceptual comments, under the formal design review requirements.
Both submittals ask for a title report, an architectural design statement, an adjacent building study showing neighboring houses and their distances, a certified topographic survey, every significant tree with its surveyed dripline, slopes, stream corridors measured from top of bank and centerline, easements and setbacks of every structure and piece of mechanical equipment. The Woodside Fire Protection District wants its own design review submittal, with proof included in the Town package.
Story poles and staking. The Town’s story pole worksheet asks for story poles on second-story additions, new structures and major additions: poles at eave and ridge heights connected with ribbon, plus stakes for new driveway entrances, gates and pools, put up ahead of the meeting and taken down after the appeal period. The Town’s overview of the development review process also points out that most permits do not need ASRB or Planning Commission review at all, and it encourages a pre-application meeting and an early conversation with neighbors.
3. Woodside site standards
Floor area, paved area, height and the natural state rule
Woodside’s zoning districts range from the smaller-lot R-1 areas to the rural residential and hillside districts, and each has its own development standards sheet, such as the R-1 development standards sheet and the RR development standards sheet. The standards that shape most houses:
- Two floor area limits. A total floor area for all structures on the lot, tied to lot size, and a separate cap on the size of the main residence, which can be raised by exception only when the code’s conditions are met. Nonconforming lots in some districts use an adjusted total.
- Paved area and surface coverage. Driveways, patios, sport courts and other hardscape count against a separate limit, which often decides how long the driveway can be and where the motor court goes.
- Height and plate height. Building height and the Town’s own plate height definition are measured from existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, and the plans must call out both the grades and the plate heights.
- Setbacks. Yard setbacks grow with building height, and the Planning Commission can grant setback exceptions for the main residence only, with findings.
- Natural state. On sloped lots, part of the net lot area has to stay in its natural state, and the share rises with the average slope.
- Basements. Basement grading is capped by formula and tied to the site development code, so a large basement on a sloping lot needs early engineering.
- Accessory structures, barns and fencing. Barns, stables, garages and arenas have their own size and height limits, and fences, gates, pylons and berms need a permit and follow the Town’s open, wildlife-friendly fencing rules.
The Town’s Planning requirements for building and site development permits also ask for floor area by structure under Woodside’s own floor area method, total paved area and surface coverage, parking, and areas to be kept in natural state. These are the numbers we check first when a client is weighing a Woodside lot.
4. Design review in Portola Valley
The ASCC, site meetings and story poles
Portola Valley’s Architectural and Site Control Commission page explains that the five-member commission, made up of volunteer residents, reviews how proposed plans fit the site and the neighborhood, guided by the Town’s Design Guidelines and based on the zoning and site development ordinances. Its stated purpose includes protecting the visual character of the Town and preventing indiscriminate clearing, excessive grading and loss of trees.
| Review level | What usually triggers it | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Staff level | Smaller additions and remodels below the ASCC thresholds, and small grading jobs under a site development permit. | Planning staff, Town Engineer and Town Geologist |
| ASCC | New houses, larger or two-story additions, building permits on lots along arterial roads, rebuilding a nonconforming house, historic resources, sport courts and mid-size grading. | Architectural and Site Control Commission, after a site meeting and a public hearing |
| Planning Commission | Large grading, large vegetation removal, conditional use permits, variances and deviations from the Town’s geologic land use policies. | Planning Commission, often after ASCC review |
Simplified from the Town of Portola Valley Planning FAQs, ASCC application checklist and site development permit application, read November 1, 2026.
The Planning FAQs and the ASCC application checklist set out what a new house needs:
- A pre-application meeting with planning staff for any new residence or project that changes the site significantly, covering soils and grading, creeks and flood zones, easements and setbacks, and septic or sewer.
- A full application: a project narrative, topographic survey, title report, neighbor notification certification, stormwater and CALGreen checklists, an arborist report where significant trees are affected, landscape water-efficiency forms if planting is proposed, and an elevation certificate in a flood zone.
- A colors and materials board meeting the Town’s light reflectivity limits for siding, roofing and trim, and exterior lighting cut sheets consistent with the Town’s lighting rules.
- Story poles, with a letter from the architect, engineer or surveyor confirming they were installed correctly; the commission uses them, along with a site visit, to judge bulk and views.
- Neighbor notice: the Town mails a notice to nearby owners before the project is scheduled.
The Town also offers an ASCC opt-in early review: two commissioners visit the site and review early sketches before the owner commits to full design, which makes sense on complex topography, multiple easements, heavy grading or a new multi-story house. After ASCC approval there is an appeal period before a building permit application can be filed, and the approval expires if a permit isn’t issued within the Town’s time limit. Several subdivisions, including Westridge, Blue Oaks and Oak Hills, have homeowners association design review that has to be completed before the building permit.
5. Portola Valley floor area and site rules
Allowed floor area, impervious surface and height
In Portola Valley, the allowed maximum floor area and allowed impervious surface are calculated for each parcel from its acreage, average slope, geologic and flood zone areas and zoning district, and Town staff can supply both figures. A few points that shape most designs:
- Main house mass. A separate limit caps how much of the allowed floor area can go into the main house and its required garage or carport, so the rest is left for accessory buildings or not used.
- Impervious surface includes concrete, asphalt, pavers, pools, compacted gravel and corrals, so driveways, terraces and arenas compete for the same allowance.
- Basements that meet the zoning definition don’t count toward floor area.
- Height is measured from the lower of natural grade or the excavated building pad, with a basic limit and a separate overall maximum.
- Fences within setbacks, on a property line or next to a trail easement need a fence permit regardless of height, and style and opacity rules vary by zone.
The Town’s ordinances and regulations page also link the lighting ordinance, noise ordinance, fence ordinance, stormwater requirements and the story pole policy. Running the floor area and impervious numbers before the architect starts keeps the first ASCC meeting about design rather than about square footage.
6. Geology, faults and soils
Why the Town Geologist is involved early in both towns
Woodside. The Town’s geotechnical reports page explains why soils review is taken seriously: two active fault traces, the San Andreas and the Cañada, run through the middle of the Town, and some of the most expansive soils in the region are found here, along with landslide areas. A geotechnical report reviewed by the Town is typically required for a new home, accessory living space, additions that add bedrooms or occupiable space, pools, larger grading and some septic systems on slopes, and review can happen at both the planning (feasibility) and building permit (design-level) stages. The Town recommends consulting the Town Geologist before hiring a consultant, so the investigation is scoped right the first time.
Portola Valley. The Planning FAQs list what is referred to the Town Geologist: every site development permit, larger foundation repair or replacement, swimming pools, projects subject to the state Alquist-Priolo fault zoning act or in the Town’s fault setback zones, projects in a flood zone, and new houses and larger additions. The Town’s geologic and ground movement potential maps are adopted as land use policy, and building outside what they allow takes a deviation approved by the Planning Commission after the Town Geologist recommends it. The geotechnical report minimum standards describe what the Town expects in a soils report, including subsurface exploration, depth to bedrock on hillsides, swell testing for expansive soils and groundwater effects on pools.
On a hillside lot in either town, the geotechnical engineer’s piers, retaining walls, subdrains and pool design often decide the foundation scope, so our estimates build that scope from the soils report and the civil plans rather than a square-foot guess.
7. Grading, drainage and site development
Permits for earthwork, driveways and stormwater
Woodside. A site development permit, applied for together with the building permit, covers grading beyond the code’s thresholds, deep cuts and fills, new driveways, large pools and septic systems, basement excavations above a set share of the allowed basement grading, and work that alters drainage patterns. The site development permit checklist notes that plans may also go to PG&E, Cal Water, the sewer district and state and federal wildlife and water agencies, and that the fire district reviews new or changed driveways. Woodside has no storm drain system of its own and relies on natural creeks and earthen channels, so the Town’s drainage requirements call for drainage calculations stamped by a civil engineer, detention sized to the Town’s standard, and post-development flows that don’t exceed existing flows for the site and each discharge point.
Woodside also has an annual grading moratorium: through the rainy season, most grading stops, exposed graded areas have to be winterized before the season starts, and only a narrow exception is available from the Town Engineer. A foundation dig that slips into the fall can push site work to spring, so we schedule grading around it from the start.
Portola Valley. The Town’s site development permit application and checklist sets three review levels by the volume of grading, from staff review to the ASCC to the Planning Commission, plus triggers for deep cuts and fills, large disturbed areas, vegetation removal and significant trees. Surveys and plans have to use the Town’s monuments as benchmarks, the work follows the Public Works standard guidelines, and the stormwater management page links the stormwater checklist, hydromodification rules and construction pollution-control practices for the San Francisquito watershed.
8. Significant trees
How each town protects its oaks, redwoods and madrones
Woodside defines significant trees by species group and trunk size measured at chest height, with smaller thresholds for slow-growing natives such as blue oak, madrone, buckeye and big leaf maple, a middle threshold for faster-growing natives such as coast live oak, valley oak, redwood, Douglas fir and bay laurel, and a larger one for all other trees. The list of trees that require a permit and the tree destruction permit application explain that removing one takes a tree destruction permit, filed through eTRAKiT or at the counter, with a site sketch, a description of each tree, photos with the trees flagged in orange ribbon, and an arborist report if the Planning Director asks for one. Every site plan in a design review or building submittal has to show each significant tree whose dripline reaches the proposed work, from the house and driveway to trenches, septic fields and drainage swales.
Portola Valley lists its own significant trees by species and size, including the native oaks, redwood, Douglas fir, bay, big leaf maple and madrone. According to the Town’s tree removal page, removing one requires a site development permit for tree removal with an arborist’s report, even if the tree appears dead; the Conservation Committee reviews the request, usually with a site inspection, and reports its findings to staff. The ASCC checklist also asks for every existing tree of a modest trunk size in or next to construction, staging and access areas, plus construction staging, access and tree protection plans.
On a wooded lot, the trees, the creek setback and the slope usually decide where the house can go before the architecture does. Our landscape company, Paso Robles Landscaping, plans native planting, irrigation and hardscape that fit the Towns’ preference for informal, native landscapes.
9. The Woodside Fire Protection District
Fire review, sprinklers and wildfire rules
The Woodside Fire Protection District submittal requirements explain that most construction in both towns needs both building and fire review, submitted separately: plans go to the Town and, in parallel, to the fire district through its online Citizen Access Portal. The district’s Bureau of Fire Prevention and Life Safety reviews development plans as an outside referral agency to make sure sites are serviceable, with access, water supply and hydrants that meet the fire code, and it inspects new homes, remodels, additions and some landscape renovations.
- Deferred submittals. The deferred submittals page sets the order: new hydrants and fire lines before foundation work, fire sprinkler and alarm plans approved before the rough hydro inspection, and a vegetation management plan before construction in a very high fire hazard severity zone or when major landscaping is proposed. Water supply and access have to be maintained during demolition.
- Sprinklers. Woodside’s fire sprinkler page notes that new homes need automatic sprinklers under the state residential code, the Town requires them in new structures above a modest size, and additions and remodels are checked with the Town’s building alteration calculation form.
- Wildfire construction. Portola Valley’s wildland urban interface construction FAQs explain that the Town applies the state wildland urban interface building rules to buildings and accessory structures town-wide, and that a remodel plus addition affecting a large enough share of the existing floor area or wall surface brings the whole house into compliance. In Woodside, check the address on the State Fire Marshal’s fire hazard severity zone maps; a mapped lot brings in the state wildfire chapter, which our fire hazard severity zone guide explains.
- Defensible space. The district runs annual wildland urban interface inspections and a home assessment program under its fuel mitigation ordinance, so the landscape plan has to meet defensible space rules as well as the Towns’ design guidelines.
Long private driveways, gates and turnarounds are often the hardest fire items on a hillside estate lot. Our hillside lot guide covers grading, retaining and foundations on that kind of site.
10. The building permit
What goes into the package in each town
Woodside. The Building Department page takes building permit submittals by email, with some permits available through eTRAKiT, and the permits page and submittal requirements, checklists and forms list the applications. The building submittal checklist asks for a complete scope of work, true building areas, valuation by structure with remodel and addition separated, a fire sprinkler determination and the building alteration calculation form, and it lists the related permits that may be needed: site development, encroachment, fence and gate, and septic. Planning’s own building permit requirements add will-serve letters from every utility for a new main house, County Environmental Health approval for septic, the floor area worksheet and the trees, setbacks, grades and plate heights on every site plan.
During construction, the Town’s after-permit guidance requires its “Building in Horse Country” posters on site in English and Spanish, and every department listed on the permit card (Building, Planning, Geology, Engineering, the fire district, the sewer district and County Environmental Health, as applicable) has to final before the Building Department final. A subcontractor list form confirming every subcontractor’s Town business license is required before final. Work hours are limited to weekdays and Saturday mornings, with no work on Sundays or Town holidays.
Portola Valley. The building applications page and Building Permit FAQs explain that applications are emailed to the building department with wet-signed and stamped plans, structural calculations and Title 24 calculations. The building permit application checklist adds the geotechnical report and a plan review letter, the wildland urban interface checklist and the calculation showing whether the whole-house rule is triggered, the indoor water use checklist, a homeowners association letter where one applies, dark-sky exterior lighting cut sheets, the ASCC conditions of approval printed on the plans, the fire district submittal, County forms for septic, and the school district receipt for larger additions. The demolition permit requirements for a teardown ask for the air district number, tree protection certified by the arborist, a sewer disconnection letter where needed, the PCB screening form and a construction and demolition waste plan, and the Town encourages deconstruction and salvage over demolition.
Energy. The state’s 2025 Energy Code applies to projects whose permit applications are filed on or after January 1, 2026. Some posted Town handouts still cite earlier code editions, so we confirm the codes and local amendments in force at submittal. Our Title 24 overview covers heat pumps, solar and insulation under that code.
11. Remodels and additions
What changes when the existing house stays
Remodels and additions follow the same review paths, scaled to the size of the work. The points that come up most often:
- Design review thresholds. In Portola Valley, larger additions and any second story go to the ASCC; smaller ones stay at staff level. In Woodside, review depends on the size of the work relative to the allowed floor area and on whether the lot is in a scenic corridor or the Western Hills, and a second-story addition calls for story poles.
- Nonconforming houses. Restoring or rebuilding a nonconforming house goes to the ASCC in Portola Valley, and Woodside sets adjusted floor area totals for nonconforming lots in some districts. Plans need to show clearly which walls and floor area stay.
- Geology. Additions that add bedrooms or occupiable space in Woodside, and larger additions or foundation replacement in Portola Valley, bring in geotechnical review.
- Fire and wildfire rules. A large enough remodel can trigger sprinklers in Woodside and whole-house wildfire construction in Portola Valley, which is worth knowing before scoping.
- Trees, septic and drainage. New foundations and trenches near significant trees, more bathrooms on a septic system, and new roof or paved area that changes drainage each add a review.
Older houses also hide structural and system surprises; our older-home remodeling guide covers the usual ones, and our whole-home remodels and home additions pages describe how we scope this work.
12. Order of steps
How we usually sequence a Woodside or Portola Valley project
| Stage | What it involves | What tends to drive timing |
|---|---|---|
| Town, zoning and records | Confirm which town (or unincorporated San Mateo County) the lot is in, the zoning district, sewer or septic, flood and geologic mapping, easements and any homeowners association. | Quick once the address is known. |
| Survey, arborist and geology | Certified topographic survey with trees, driplines, slopes, creeks and easements; arborist report; early call with the Town Geologist about the scope of the soils work. | Surveyor, arborist and geotechnical calendars. |
| Pre-application meeting | Floor area, impervious surface or paved area, height, setbacks, review level and the submittal list for the specific lot. | Planner availability. |
| Design review | Woodside: ASRA or ASRB conceptual and formal review, story poles and staking. Portola Valley: optional early ASCC review, then the ASCC site meeting and hearing, story poles and neighbor notice. Planning Commission if entitlements are needed. | Meeting calendars and any redesign the boards ask for. |
| Appeal period | Approval becomes final after the appeal window closes; conditions of approval carry into the building plans. | Fixed by each Town’s code. |
| Building and site development permits | Construction drawings, geotechnical report and plan review letter, grading and drainage, stormwater, energy and green building documents, fire district submittal and septic or sewer approvals. | Correction rounds across departments and the fire district. |
| Demolition and site setup | Air district number, utility and sewer disconnections, tree protection certified by the arborist, erosion control and staging per the approved plans. | Air district and utility timing; the winter grading season in Woodside. |
| Construction and final | Inspections by each reviewing department, deferred fire submittals, subcontractor licensing and every department’s sign-off before the building final. | Construction, weather and inspection scheduling. |
A typical sequence in either town; slope, trees, geology and septic can each change it.
Our custom home timeline guide lays design, approvals and construction out on one calendar, and our owner-builder comparison is worth a read for anyone considering running the job themselves. Neighboring towns work differently: Atherton handles zoning inside the building permit, Palo Alto uses Individual Review for second stories, and Los Gatos and Saratoga have their own hillside rules, covered in our Atherton permit guide, Palo Alto guide, Los Gatos guide and Saratoga design review guide.
13. Before you design
Questions to answer about your property
- Is the lot in the Town of Woodside, the Town of Portola Valley or unincorporated San Mateo County?
- What is the zoning district, and what floor area, main house size and paved or impervious area does the lot allow?
- Which design review level applies: staff, ASRA, ASRB or ASCC, and is a Planning Commission entitlement likely?
- Is the lot in a Woodside scenic corridor or the Western Hills, or within a Portola Valley homeowners association with its own review?
- What do the geologic maps and the Town Geologist say about faults, landslides and expansive soils on the site?
- Which significant trees, creeks and stream corridors limit where the house, driveway and septic field can go?
- How much grading does the plan need, and does that trigger a site development permit or a higher review level?
- Is the lot on sewer or septic, and what will County Environmental Health require?
- Can fire trucks reach the house, and where will the hydrant, water supply, gate and turnaround go?
- Is the lot in a very high fire hazard severity zone, and does the remodel trigger whole-house wildfire construction or sprinklers?
- Will story poles and site meetings fit the design schedule?
- In Woodside, can grading start before the winter moratorium?
Owners who already have an architect send us the drawings and we estimate and build from them; owners starting from scratch can have Harrod Drafting & Design, our sister studio, draw the house or addition and the permit set.
How we help
What Harrod Built brings to a Woodside or Portola Valley project
Harrod Built (CSLB #986950) is a family-run general contractor building on the Peninsula, in the South Bay and on the Central Coast. On a project in either town, our role usually covers:
- Lot review first. Jurisdiction, zoning, floor area and paved or impervious limits, the review level, slope, geology, trees, septic or sewer and fire access, all mapped before we write an estimate.
- Pricing between design review stages. We estimate the design after the conceptual or early ASCC review, while changes are still easy to draw, and again on any board-requested revision.
- Site work estimated from real plans. Grading, retaining walls, piers, drainage and detention estimated from the civil and geotechnical documents, not allowances.
- A calendar that respects the seasons. Grading and foundations planned around Woodside’s winter moratorium and the wet months in both towns.
- Fire items coordinated. Driveway, hydrant, sprinkler, alarm and vegetation management submittals lined up with the fire district in the right order.
- Trees and habitat protected. Tree protection, staging and access laid out with the arborist and kept in place through construction.
- Design support. Harrod Drafting & Design can draw the house and the permit set, or we build from the plans of your own architect.
- Landscape. Paso Robles Landscaping, our landscape company, handles native planting, irrigation, defensible space and hardscape within the Towns’ rules.
- On site. Our project manager and site lead keep erosion control and tree fencing intact, book inspections with every department, collect subcontractor licenses for final and update the owner week by week.
Before hiring any builder, look up the license on the state license lookup; the CSLB’s advice on hiring a contractor and our article on how to check a CSLB license explain what to look for. Nearby we also work in Atherton, Palo Alto, Los Gatos and Saratoga as well as Woodside and Portola Valley, and farther south in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, through general contracting or design-build. Our process page shows the steps from estimate to move-in, and our contract type comparison explains fixed-sum and cost-plus agreements. For the local market, read our page on building a high-end home in Woodside or Portola Valley.
Weighing a lot, a teardown or a plan set in Woodside or Portola Valley? Send us the address and whatever drawings exist. We look at the review path, slope and geology, trees, septic or sewer and access, then send back a written estimate. Phone 805-712-8993 or reach us here.
Sources: Town of Woodside Architectural and Site Review Board page, Planning and Building Department pages, permits page, submittal requirements page, fire sprinkler page, annual grading moratorium, geotechnical reports page, after-permit guidance and subcontractor list form; Residential Design Guidelines; conceptual and formal design review requirements; Planning requirements for building and site development permits; building submittal checklist; site development permit checklist; drainage requirements; R-1 and RR development standards; story pole worksheet; tree destruction permit application and significant tree list; and the overview of the development review process. Town of Portola Valley Architectural and Site Control Commission page, Planning and Building Permit FAQs, planning and building applications pages, ordinances and regulations, Design Guidelines, geologic and ground movement potential maps, tree removal and stormwater pages, ASCC application checklist, ASCC opt-in early review, site development permit application, building permit checklist, demolition requirements, wildland urban interface FAQs and geotechnical report minimum standards. Woodside Fire Protection District submittal requirements, deferred submittals, fire prevention bureau and home assessment pages. State sources: OSFM fire hazard severity zone maps, the CEC’s 2025 energy standards and the CSLB, all reviewed November 1, 2026. This page is a general overview, not legal or code advice; what applies to a given lot is decided by the Town of Woodside or the Town of Portola Valley and the other agencies involved.
Who issues building permits in Woodside and Portola Valley?
Each town has its own Building Department: the Town of Woodside for lots inside Woodside and the Town of Portola Valley for lots inside Portola Valley. Nearby unincorporated areas such as Ladera and Los Trancos Woods are permitted by San Mateo County. In all three, the Woodside Fire Protection District reviews fire items through its own portal.
Does a new house in Woodside need ASRB review?
Larger houses usually do, especially in the Town’s scenic corridors and the Western Hills, typically with conceptual and then formal design review and story poles. Smaller projects can be reviewed by staff or the Architectural and Site Review Administrator, and setback exceptions or variances go on to the Planning Commission.
What does the Portola Valley ASCC review?
New houses, larger or two-story additions, building permits on lots along arterial roads, rebuilding a nonconforming house, historic resources, sport courts and mid-size grading. The commission usually meets the applicant at the site, looks at story poles and reviews colors, materials, lighting, grading and landscaping against the Town’s Design Guidelines.
Why is the Town Geologist involved?
Both towns sit on active fault traces, landslide-prone hillsides and expansive soils. Woodside requires a Town-reviewed geotechnical report for new homes, many additions and pools, and Portola Valley refers new homes, larger additions, pools, foundation replacement and every site development permit to its Town Geologist, using its adopted geologic maps.
Can I remove a tree to build in Woodside or Portola Valley?
Significant trees, defined in each town by species and trunk size, need a permit to remove: a tree destruction permit in Woodside and a site development permit for tree removal in Portola Valley, with an arborist report and Conservation Committee review there. Site plans in both towns have to show the significant trees and driplines near the work.
When can grading happen in Woodside?
Woodside has an annual winter grading moratorium: most grading stops through the rainy season and exposed graded areas must be winterized beforehand, with only a narrow exception from the Town Engineer. Excavation within a building footprint on a flat lot is typically not affected, but hillside site work should be scheduled for the dry season.
Planning guides
Budget and planning guides
Building or remodeling in Atherton
Zoning clearance, special structures permits, heritage trees, basements, drainage and construction rules.
Building or remodeling in Palo Alto
Individual Review for two-story homes, protected trees, flood zones, basements and deconstruction.
Building or remodeling in Saratoga
Saratoga’s design review paths, hillside rules, protected trees and County Fire.
Building or remodeling in Los Gatos
Architecture and Site review, hillside standards and story poles in the Town.
Building on a hillside lot
Grading, retaining walls, drainage and foundations on sloping ground.
Building in a fire hazard severity zone
Roofs, vents, siding, decks and defensible space under the state wildfire chapter.
Remodeling an older home in California
What tends to turn up once walls open, and how to plan around it.
How long a custom home takes
Design, approvals, permits and construction laid end to end.
Building or remodeling in Los Altos
Design review, the Zoning Administrator, daylight plane, protected trees and the City permit path.
Building a new home in Los Altos Hills
Site development review, Fast Track, floor area by slope, story poles, oaks and the Town permit path.
Start your project
Planning a home, remodel or addition in Woodside or Portola Valley? Tell us about your property.
A few details help us call you back with useful answers about budget, schedule and permits.
805.712.8993michael@harrodbuilt.com
1345 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
CSLB License #986950
