The Road Operations unit manages the Public Right-of-Way. Our Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operation team maintain and operate traffic signals, signs, and other roadway infrastructure in unincorporated areas.Our Permit team reviews development plans and issues encroachment permits for any work within the County’s public right-of-way to ensure public safety and compliance. Our Environmental Compliance team supports maintenance operations with regulatory permits and to ensure compliance.

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Performance Analytics

Encroachment Permits

Any proposed improvements within the County Public Right-of-Way requires an encroachment permit. Whether it is a storage bin being place in front of your property, a gas line replacement, a new driveway, etc. These are just a few examples of the types of encroachment permits that are issued by Road Operations, Public Works.

Permit Construction Inspectors

Our permit construction inspectors inspect a variety of construction projects associated with the building, repair and alteration of roads and streets, associated curbs, gutters, sidewalks & drainage structures being carried out by private contractors to assure conformance of project specifications and County regulations. In 2025, our inspectors performed 2,480 inspections on active and inactive construction projects. Our inspectors also investigate complaints regarding roads and associated structures, and unpermitted encroachments.

Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations

Part of our Traffic Engineering and Traffic Operations team’s duties include reviewing plans for proposed improvements within the Public Right-of-Way. The team also review Planning and Building applications to ensure new additions, removal, or improved work within the Public Right-of-Way comply with County regulation standards. In 2025, our team reviewed 62 Planning Cases and 273 Building cases.

The County receives a variety of traffic calming requests from the general public. These traffic calming measures are modifications on the road, typically in residential areas to slow down vehicle speeds and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Common types of traffic calming requests include parking restrictions, stop signs, and residential speed control devices. In 2025, the County received 46 traffic calming requests. 46 out of the 46 requested were reviewed. 8 out of the 46 reviewed requests were approved for installation thus far.  

The County updates and maintains Engineering and Traffic Surveys for streets that have a designated speed zone. These studies help determine speed limits throughout the County. New surveys are developed if a speed study is needed. These surveys enable California Highway Patrol and County of San Mateo Sheriff's Office to enforce speed limits within the unincorporated County.