Life in Burlingame

The City of Burlingame is not only a great place to live, it is also a great place to own and operate your own business.

The City of Burlingame is a suburban city of approximately 30,118 people in San Mateo County, California, and is often referred to as the City of Trees. It is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and has a significant shoreline on San Francisco Bay. The city is named after Anson Burlingame who was an attorney and a diplomat. Burlingame was settled by wealthy San Franciscans looking for a better climate.

The City of Burlingame celebrates its centennial on June 6, 2008, and is a council-manager form of government. Our elected officials serve staggered 4-year terms. The city has six commissions: Beautification, Civil Service, Library Board, Parks & Recreation, Planning, and Traffic, Safety & Parking.

Burlingame is known for its high residential quality of life. Industrial growth was spurred in the 1960s and 1970s by proximity to the San Francisco International Airport. The City of Burlingame has many beautiful hotels along the San Francisco Bayfront and is a significant vacation spot for people wishing to visit the San Francisco Bay Area. Burlingame offers some of the finest dining in the Bay Area, as well as first-class shopping.

The City of Burlingame is not only a great place to live, it is also a great place to own and operate your own business. From its shopping districts around Broadway and Burlingame Avenue and Burlingame Plaza on the north end, to the industrial areas along Rollins Road, office complexes on the east side and Burlingame’s Auto Row, the opportunities for business owners abound. The City Council’s commitment to business is exemplified by the creation of a new Economic Development Specialist position to help support new and existing businesses.

The Community Development Department is responsible for conducting both long-range and current planning, plan checking, building permit issuance and field inspections of all buildings and structures in the City of Burlingame.

The Planning Division’s scope includes preparing and implementing the General Plan, administering the Zoning Code (Title 25), providing staff support for the Planning Commission, and relaying planning information to the public.

The Building Division enforces the minimum requirements of the State Building Codes, State and Federal Laws, and Local Ordinances.

The City and Chamber of Commerce will be happy to provide all the information you need to start your own business in Burlingame.