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Permit Report » Permits by City » San Diego

San Diego Building Permit Search & History Reports

The City of San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) manages all building permits for city properties. The Permit Finder, an interactive GIS tool launched in 2024, now consolidates over 1 million permit records in one place. OpenDSD covers records from 2003–present; Accela handles permits submitted after January 16, 2018. Pre-1990 records require an in-person appointment at the DSD office at 7650 Mission Valley Road — call ahead. San Diego allows 1 ADU + 1 JADU per lot under current state law, and the Professional Certification Program offers same-day permits for qualifying architect/engineer-designed tenant improvements up to 20,000 sq ft.

Live data direct from City of San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) · Results in seconds

Records available

What's included in a San Diego permit search.

All City of San Diego DSD permits: ADU/JADU, coastal development (with California Coastal Commission overlay), solar and battery storage, multifamily, and commercial tenant improvements. Records from Permit Finder, OpenDSD, and Accela.

Source: City of San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services

  • Permit type and scope of work Full description of the work covered by each permit
  • Issue date, final date, current status Track open vs. finaled vs. expired permits
  • Contractor name & license Where recorded — required for CA permits
  • Original PDF document (Premium tier) Certified copy from City of San Diego Development Services Department (DSD)
Coverage limits

What this search does not include.

Pre-1990 records (in-person appointment required); cities outside San Diego (Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido — each has its own planning department); unincorporated San Diego County.

  • Outside San Diego, CA jurisdiction Adjacent counties and municipalities use separate systems
  • Pending / in-review permits Not yet issued — not in the public records database
  • Unpermitted work Not in the records — flagged via history gaps, not direct data
  • Voided / expired (cleared) records San Diego may clear old records from public view after a retention period
Common questions

Frequently asked about San Diego permits.

What is the California Coastal Commission overlay?
Properties west of the coastal bluff or within the Coastal Commission's jurisdiction require a separate Coastal Development Permit (CDP) in addition to the standard DSD building permit. Our report flags CDP requirements by address.
How do ADU and JADU permits work in San Diego?
San Diego allows 1 ADU (up to 800 sq ft) + 1 JADU (up to 500 sq ft) per single-family lot as of 2025. Permits typically go through DSD with separate design review requirements depending on the zone. Our search covers ADU/JADU permit history.
What is Professional Certification?
The Pro Cert program allows architects and engineers to self-certify tenant improvement projects up to 20,000 sq ft — enabling same-day permit issuance. Not all projects qualify; check with DSD first.
Are there fee waivers for flood damage?
DSD has an active fee waiver program for flood damage reconstruction (2025–2026). If the property is in a flood zone with documented damage, the fee waiver may apply — check with DSD directly.
Can I get the actual permit PDF?
DSD provides documents through the Permit Finder portal. Our Premium tier retrieves available permit documents directly.

Get permit data for San Diego, CA.

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