Responsible for education, city code enforcement, flood plan management and an apartment inspection program, the San Carlos Building Division Planning and Zoning Department is located at 600 Elm St., inside the City Hall building.
The building division is made up of a building official, Christopher Valley, a plan check engineer, five building inspectors and a senior administrative clerk.
San Carlos was recently awarded an Insurance Service Office rating of three out of 10, with one being the best.
According to the government Web site, here is a list of adopted codes:
- 2007 California Building Code
- 2007 California Electrical Code
- 2007 California Mechanical Code
- 2007 California Plumbing Code
- 2007 California Fire Code
- 2007 California Administrative Code
- 2007 California Energy Code
- 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
- 1997 Uniform Housing Code
- 1997 Uniform Security Code
- Climate Zone: 3
- Seismic Zone: E
- Basic Wind Speed: 85 mph
- Soils Hazard Zones: A and B (B most restrictive)
- Building Exposure: B, C, and D (D most severe)
- Soil Bearing Value: 1000 psf (Higher values require soils report)
- Wildland Urban Interface Zone: South of San Carlos Avenue and West of Alameda de las Pulgas
- Hours: New Counter Hours Effective July 1st, 2010, service counter hours for Building, Planning, and Public Works will be 9am to 12pm and by special appointment. Building Division field inspection hours will remain 9am to noon and 1pm to 5pm.
The San Mateo County Transit District provides public transportation for San Carlos. These services include Sam Trans bus, Redi-Wheels paratransit and CalTrain. For more than 27 years, the organization has operated 54 routes throughout the peninsula.
Also offered by the the district are CalTrain and BART shuttles, the closest of which is in East Palo Alto.
The office is located off of San Carlos Avenue.
Established in 1946, San Mateo County Veterans Services is provided by County of San Mateo Human Services. Services include helping veteran's with employment. Also offered are help with alcoholism, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and other psychiatric issues.
Medical and dental services are also included for eligible veteran's. Carious activities are also offered.
San Carlos Building Division issues permits, insures all new developments in San Carlos are constructed according to standards and makes sure all existing structures are maintained safely. The Building Division, led by city official Christopher Valley, is also responsible for education, city-wide code enforcement, floodplain management and the Apartment Inspection Program.
The San Mateo County Human Services Agency, located at 550 Quarry Street, is responsible for assisting families achieve financial independence, self-sufficience and employment. The agency provides families with welfare, job training and classes, in addition to protection from familial abuse and neglect.
According to their website, as of March 2005, the average cost of a two-bedroom, one bath apartment rental is about $1,427 per month and the cost of child care can easily exceed $1,663 per month for two children. Thus, they work hard to find solutions for families who need additional support sustaining the high cost of living in the San Francisco Bay area.