San Diego County
San Diego County
San Diego County has 19 permit authorities: the City of San Diego, 17 other cities, and the County for the unincorporated areas. Choose where your property is to see which one issues your permit.
Who issues my permit?
Our tools cover all 19 permit authorities: 18 cities and the County.
Every authority, side by side
The official page, pre-approved plans, the rules that differ and coastal land, for all 19.
Twenty-one places in depth
City of San DiegoThe county's largest permit authority, with its own bonus program and coastal rules.Unincorporated San Diego CountyLand outside the 18 cities, where the County issues permits.EscondidoThe City's 2026 ADU article, its four pre-approved plans, its own utility and the Old Escondido rules.CarlsbadThe City's February 2026 ADU ordinance, the minor coastal permit, the beach and hillside overlays and the three water districts.OceansideState law for now while HCD reviews the City's 2026 ordinance, the coastal permit, the 2025 fire map and the flood and soils rules.EncinitasEight free permit-ready plans, the City's waived fees, the coastal permit most ADUs need and the bluff and hillside overlays.Del MarThe coastal program's own ADU chapter, certified in 2025, its tighter limits and the beach, bluff, lagoon and flood overlays.Rancho Santa FeCounty land with two more rulebooks: the fire district's 2025 codes and the Covenant's Art Jury.La JollaThe City's code on a coastal community: which version applies, the coastal permit, the bluffs and the historic screen.San MarcosThe 2024 ADU chapter, ten permit-ready plans with one flat fee, the ridgeline overlay and the fire district's 150 feet.Chula VistaState law as the City's own code since 2025, twelve standard plans with a 14-day review, and the 2025 fire map with 100 feet of defensible space everywhere.VistaA 2024 ADU chapter the state has moved past, four pre-approved plans with no plan check fee, and three creeks added to the fire map.La MesaA 2023 ADU code read with the City's 2026 Matrix of state law, five City plans to request, a standing fee waiver and no very high fire zone.El CajonA code amended through 2026 with two HCD findings still standing, three free standard plans and very high fire zones along the edges.Solana BeachA new ADU section of May 2026, the Coastal Commission's own coastal permit, and view review on anything over 16 feet.SanteeAn ADU code current with the 2025 bills, impact fees by the square foot since the waiver ended, and a fire map over much of the city.National CityA 2021 ADU code the City began rewriting in October 2026, state law ahead of it, and no fire hazard zone.CoronadoAn ADU section updated for November 2026, the points the City kept against HCD, and three pre-approved plans.PowayA 2019 ADU code the state has flagged, a very high fire zone over four fifths of the city, and the interface code.Imperial BeachNo ADU ordinance in force while the 2022 one waits on the Coastal Commission, state law in its place, and a coastal permit first.Lemon GroveA 2022 ADU code the state found out of line on fifteen points, paper permits at the counter, and one pre-approved plan.
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