Ventura County Qualified California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Consultant Program
On November 18, 2025, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors directed the Planning Division to support discretionary permit streamlining by establishing the Ventura County Qualified CEQA Consultant Program. This initiative creates a pool of prequalified CEQA consultants, operating under a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”), whom applicants may hire to prepare CEQA documents and provide subject‑matter expert consultation.
Under this framework, applicants may select and independently contract with one of the County’s pre-qualified CEQA consultants. Work proceeds under a County‑approved MOU that provides for County-initiated third‑party review of environmental documents and clarifies roles of the County, applicant, and CEQA consultants. This approach helps ensure that environmental documents prepared by applicant‑selected consultants comply with CEQA and meet County requirements, while also ensuring the County maintains its independent lead agency authority.
Applicants should first confer with their assigned case planner before selecting a consultant or initiating work under this program, as the case planner can discuss the anticipated CEQA pathway, identify project‑specific technical studies that may be required, and help applicants avoid delays in the environmental review process.
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Document Tasks
Pre-qualified consultants (subject to an MOU) may conduct environmental analysis and prepare CEQA documents that the Ventura County Planning Division will use in its role as the County’s CEQA lead agency. Approved services include:
- Preparation of CEQA compliance documentation, including, but not limited to, Notices of Intent, Notices of Preparation, Notices of Determination, Notices of Exemption, Categorical and Statutory Exemptions, Initial Studies, Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports, and Addendums to any CEQA document as appropriate. Responsibilities include conducting scoping meetings; performing necessary research and environmental analyses for preparing and drafting on behalf of all County agencies all sections of the Initial Study following the Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines; preparing supporting technical studies; assisting with Planning Division consultations; integrating other County agency staff comments; integrating public comments; and performing all other tasks required to ensure compliance with CEQA.
- For CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 exemptions, the CEQA consultant should consider appropriateness utilizing the Section 15183 exemption process in coordination with Planning Division staff.
- Required consultations with the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) for compliance with Senate Bill 18 and/or Assembly Bill 52, as applicable.
- Prepare applicable supporting technical studies utilizing subject matter experts in air quality, archaeological resources, biological assessments, coastal resources (including beaches and sand dunes), cultural resources, noise, paleontological resources, traffic, water, and other resources.
- The Ventura County Initial Study Assessment Guidelines contain minimum qualifications for a variety of technical experts that must be adhered to.
Qualified CEQA Consultant List
The County of Ventura’s current list of Qualified CEQA Consultants can be found at the following link:
Becoming a Qualified CEQA Consultant
To be considered for placement on the Planning Division’s List of Qualified CEQA Consultants, a firm must demonstrate that it meets the minimum qualifications required to perform CEQA work. Prospective consultants should submit the following to the County’s Qualified CEQA Consultant Program coordinator, Dillan Murray, at Dillan.Murray@venturacounty.gov:
- Letter of Interest
- Statement of Qualifications
Consultant qualifications will then be reviewed by County staff to determine whether the consultant meets the required qualifications. County staff may request additional information in order to fully evaluate a consultant’s qualifications.
More Information
For questions about the Qualified CEQA Consultant Program, please contact Dillan Murray, Senior Planner, at Dillan.Murray@venturacounty.gov or (805) 654-5042.
For questions related to permitting requirements and processes for discretionary permit applications, please contact Jennifer Trunk, Planning Counter Manager, at Jennifer.Trunk@venturacounty.gov or (805) 654-2465.