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HARBORS · SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Pillar Point Harbor & Oyster Point Marina: rules for vendors and boat owners

What Pillar Point Harbor & Oyster Point Marina publishes for marine service providers and for boat owners, quoted from the operator's own pages and documents. Each rule shows its source and the date we last read it.

By the DockDash teamLast reviewed How we research
Sailboats and powerboats tied up in a row of slips, their masts reflected in calm water

Photo: David Klein on Unsplash

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Illustrative photo; it may not show this harbor.

At a glance

Run by
San Mateo County Harbor District (harbor district)
Region
San Francisco Bay Area
Vendor permit
Commercial Services Activity Permit: $68 per year; a percent-of-sales fee may also apply. (The broader Commercial Activity Permit is $334/yr at Pillar Point or $336/yr at Oyster Point, +$100/yr per extra harbor, possible $500 deposit.)[San Mateo County Harbor District][San Mateo County Harbor District][San Mateo County Harbor District]
Liability minimum
$1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate[San Mateo County Harbor District]
Rules last checked
Last verified

Rules for service providers

Before your first job here, line up:

  1. Business license: A San Mateo County Fictitious Business Name statement or a City of South San Francisco business license, and a seller's permit if applicable.
  2. Insurance: general liability $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate; an additional-insured endorsement naming “District, its directors, officers, agents and employees”.
  3. Commercial Services Activity Permit: $68 per year; a percent-of-sales fee may also apply. (The broader Commercial Activity Permit is $334/yr at Pillar Point or $336/yr at Oyster Point, +$100/yr per extra harbor, possible $500 deposit.).
  4. Apply: Submit the application with insurance and business documents. The District's web page says permits must be approved by the Board of Commissioners before business activity starts (the application PDF refers to General Manager approval).
Permit or registration

Commercial Services Activity Permit: $68 per year; a percent-of-sales fee may also apply. (The broader Commercial Activity Permit is $334/yr at Pillar Point or $336/yr at Oyster Point, +$100/yr per extra harbor, possible $500 deposit.)

Renewal: Calendar year (January 1 – December 31)

Staff: Only the applicant or employees named in advance may do the work.

[1][2][3]

Neither application names hull cleaning or mobile mechanics; the $68 services permit (“sales or services to the general public”) looks like the fit, but confirm which permit the District wants for your work.

Last verified

Insurance

General liability: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate

Additional insured: District, its directors, officers, agents and employees

  • Comprehensive general liability with a Broad Form endorsement
  • At least 30 days' written notice of cancellation
  • If you operate a vessel under the permit: hull, machinery and P&I, including towing
[1]

Last verified

Business license

A San Mateo County Fictitious Business Name statement or a City of South San Francisco business license, and a seller's permit if applicable.

[1]

Last verified

On site
  • Work only within the facility's operating hours.
  • Work only in areas designated by District staff.
[1]

Last verified

How to apply

Submit the application with insurance and business documents. The District's web page says permits must be approved by the Board of Commissioners before business activity starts (the application PDF refers to General Manager approval).

[3][2]

Last verified

Rules for boat owners

Slip fees

Monthly, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (up 2.2%): Pillar Point 30 ft $365–$394, 40 ft $480–$506 depending on dock; Oyster Point 30 ft $313–$324, 40 ft $432–$444 (single vs double finger).

[4][5]

Last verified

Living aboard

Live Aboard Permit $484/month plus a $484 security deposit; limited to 10% of slips.

[4][5]

Last verified

Hiring someone to work on your boat here

Based on what the harbor requires of vendors, ask your provider for:

  • Their Commercial Services Activity Permit (current, not expired).
  • A certificate of insurance with the additional-insured endorsement naming “District, its directors, officers, agents and employees”.
  • Their local business license number.

Marinas these rules cover

Private marinas and yacht clubs inside a public harbor can add their own vendor rules on top of the harbor's. Ask the marina office too.

What we looked for and didn't find

  • Pump-out and copper rules (not in the fee schedules).

“Not found” means it isn't in the public pages we read, not that no rule exists.

Next steps

Sources

  1. San Mateo County Harbor District. Commercial Services Activity Permit application (Rev. July 2026) (July 2026). Accessed November 11, 2026
  2. San Mateo County Harbor District. Commercial Activity Permit application (Rev. 7/1/2026) (July 1, 2026). Accessed November 11, 2026
  3. San Mateo County Harbor District. Commercial Activity Permits. Accessed November 11, 2026
  4. San Mateo County Harbor District. Pillar Point Harbor rates and fees, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (July 1, 2026). Accessed November 11, 2026
  5. San Mateo County Harbor District. Oyster Point Marina rates and fees, July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 (July 1, 2026). Accessed November 11, 2026