Codes, Regulations, Requirements

• As-Built Plan Standard: Removal of Temporary Traffic Control Plans from As-Built

• City of San Diego Municipal Code

• Land Development Code (LDC)
  Includes chapters of the Municipal Code, new regulations in effect, pending amendments and amendment projects in early stages.

• Building Code Information
  • California Codes (for purchase through the International Code Council)
  • 2010 Construction Codes
  • 2007 Construction Codes
  • 2008 Energy Efficiency Standards
  • Accessibility Requirements
  • Design Guidelines and Templates
  • Fire Safety Codes, Regulations and Information
  • Requests for Alternate Materials and Methods
  • Stormwater Polution Prevention Requirements
  • Technical Policies
  • Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Buildings

• Development Processes and Procedures
  • Land Development Manual
    Provides information to assist in the processing and review of applications.
  • Project Submittal Manual
    Ensures that all submitted projects contain sufficient information to allow a quality City staff review of the project for conformance with the Land Development Code, City policies, and with state and federal regulations.
  • Development Process Step-by-Step
    An online guide to help you navigate the process for developing property from concept to completion for your project.
• More Useful Regulations, Processes and Procedures

2010 Construction Codes

• 2010 New Building Construction Code: Construction permit applications submitted and deemed complete on or after January 1, 2011, will have to comply with the new construction codes.
• Construction permit applications that are closed when a permit is not issued within one year of the initial application file date must be resubmitted, as required in Section §129.0211 "Closing of Building Permit Application"; of the San Diego Municipal Code, or
• If the project is eligible for extensions under recently adopted permit extension and permit application extension requirements in effect through 2011. For more information see "State and Local Changes for Development Approvals".
• The department will determine the applicable codes based on the acceptance date of the submitted permit application and associated plans and documents. Permit applications submitted prior to the effective date of the new construction codes will be processed under the existing 2007 codes.

Local amendments to the 2010 editions of the California Building Code, the California Fire Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Residential Code and the California Green Building Code have been developed and will be adopted and implemented upon approval by the City Council in February 2011.

For a list of proposed local amendments to the 2010 codes see Board of Appeals and the City Council Docket. Once docketed this page will be updated..

These regulations are codified into Chapter 12 and Chapter 14 of the San Diego Municipal Code.

2007 Construction Codes

• 2007 New Building Construction Code: Construction permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2008, will have to comply with the new construction codes. Construction permit applications that are closed when a permit is not issued within one year of the initial application file date must be resubmitted as required in Section §129.0211 "Closing of Building Permit Application" of the San Diego Municipal Code. The department will determine the applicable codes based on the acceptance date of the submitted permit application and associated plans and documents. Permit applications submitted prior to the effective date of the new construction codes will be processed under the existing codes.
  
  • 2007 IBC Q & A (PDF)
  • Permit Press Article (PDF)
  • Significant Changes/Issues 2007 California codes (PDF)

Local amendments to the 2007 editions of the California Building Code, the California Fire Code, California Electrical Code, California Plumbing Code and the California Mechanical Code were approved by the San Diego City Council and the date of final passage of the adoptive ordinances was April 8, 2008.

Construction permit applications submitted on or after May 8, 2008, shall comply with the adopted local amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code. Construction permit applications that are closed when a permit is not issued within one year of the initial application file date must be resubmitted as required in Section §129.0211 "Closing of Building Permit Application" of the San Diego Municipal Code. The department will determine the applicable codes based on the acceptance date of the submitted permit application and associated plans and documents. Permit applications submitted prior to the effective date of the new construction codes will be processed under the existing codes.

• Ordinance # O-19726 N.S., adoption of local amendments to the 2007 California Building Code. (PDF)
• Ordinance # O-19727 N.S., adoption of local amendments to the 2007 California Electrical Code. (PDF)
• Ordinance # O-19728 N.S., adoption of local amendments to the 2007 California Fire Code. (PDF)
• Ordinance # O-19729 N.S., adoption of local amendments to the 2007 California Mechanical Code. (PDF)
• Ordinance # O-19730 N.S., adoption of local amendments to the 2007 California Plumbing Code. (PDF)

These regulations are codified into Chapter 12 and Chapter 14 of the San Diego Municipal Code.

2008 Energy Efficiency Standards

• California Climate Zones Map for City of San Diego (Revised November 2005) (PDF)
  Compliance with Title 24 is dependant on climate zones. This map shows the California Climate Zones within the City of San Diego. Only Climate Zones 7 and 10, which are referenced in the California energy manual, are within the City of San Diego limits. This map clarifies the borders between these two climate zones.

Requests for the use of Alternate Materials, Design, or Construction Methods, and Board of Building Appeals and Advisors

• Request for the Use of Alternate Methods and Materials Filable Form DS-104 (PDF)
• Board of Building Appeals Form DS-104A (PDF)
• BNL1-4A - Submitting Requests for Alternate Methods, Designs and Materials (PDF), Revised: May 2005
• BNL1-4B - Submitting Appeals to the Board of Appeals and Advisors (PDF), Revised: May 2004
• List of Board of Appeals Cases
  • Sorted by Address (PDF)
  • Sorted by Case Number (PDF)
  • Sorted by Case Topic (PDF)
  • Sorted by Project Name (PDF)
• Information on Board of Building Appeals and Advisor

Land Development Manual

Provides information to assist in the processing and review of applications. Volume I establishes requirements for the submittal of applications, including the identification of required fees and deposits. Volume II establishes development standards and guidelines used in the review of applications.

Land Development Code Chapters

Chapters 11-15 of the Municipal Code are referred to as the Land Development Code. These chapters contain the city's planning, zoning, subdivision, and building regulations.

• Land Development Code and Review Process Overview
  from Community Orientation Workshop (COW) Handbook
• Chapter 11 - Land Development Procedures
• Chapter 12 - Land Development Reviews
• Chapter 13 - Zones
• Chapter 14 - General Regulations
• Chapter 15 Planned District Ordinances
• Search the Municipal Code

Project Submittal Manual

These requirements are provided to insure that all submitted projects contain sufficient information to allow a quality City staff review of the project for conformance with the Land Development Code, City policies, and with state and federal regulations. All approvals and permits granted by the City of San Diego for the development of land are covered by these requirements.

Revised Version Effective June 1, 2010.