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Forms and Development Information

Codes, Regulations, Requirements

2010 California Building Standards

T The 2010 edition of the California Building Standards Code were adopted by the California Building Standards Commission at their January 12-13, 2010 meeting. The State regulations are in effect at the local level and are enforced by the City of San Diego for projects whose construction permit applications are deemed completed on or after January 1, 2011.

  • 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 Land Development 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 2007 edition of the codes.

Online access to all parts of the 2010 California Building Standards Code and errata and supplements can be found at California Building Standards Commission.

Local Amendments to the 2010 Codes

Local amendments to the 2010 editions of the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, California Fire Code and the California Green Building Standards Code were approved by the San Diego City Council, and the date of final passage of the adoptive ordinances was July 31, 2012. The regulations go into effect 30 days after final passage and are in effect for construction permit applications submitted and deemed complete on or after August 31, 2012,

The State of California has adopted and amended the new codes into the 2010 edition and the City of San Diego has adopted local amendments as follows:

  1. 2010 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE (Part 2 of Title 24) based on the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) published by the International Code Council.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego did not adopt Chapter 1 Division II of the 2010 CBC and codifies administrative regulations for construction permits in Chapter 11 and 12 of the Municipal Code. The Building Regulations are published in Chapter 14 Article 5 of the Land Development Code.
  2. 2010 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE (Part 2.5 of Title 24) based on the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) published by the International Code Council.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego did not adopt Chapter 1 Division II of the 2010 CRC and codifies administrative regulations for construction permits in Chapter 11 and 12 of the Municipal Code. The Residential Building Regulations are published in Chapter 14 Article 9 of the Land Development Code.
  3. 2010 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE (Part 3 of Title 24) based on the 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) published by the National Fire Protection Association.
    • Local Amendments. T he City of San Diego codifies administrative regulations for construction permits in Chapter 11 and 12 of the Municipal Code. The Electrical Regulations are published in Chapter 14 Article 6 Land Development Code.
  4. 2010 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE (Part 4 of Title 24) based on the 2009 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego did not adopt Appendix Chapter 1 of the 2010 CMC and codifies administrative regulations for construction permits in Chapter 11 and 12 of the Municipal Code. The Mechanical Regulations are published in Chapter 14 Article 8 Land Development Code.
  5. 2010 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (Part 5 of Title 24) based on the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego did not adopt Appendix Chapter 1 of the 2010 CPC and codifies administrative regulations for construction permits in Chapter 11 and 12 of the Municipal Code. The Plumbing Regulations are published in Chapter 14 Article 7.
  6. 2010 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE (Part 6 of Title 24) No changes were proposed for the 2010 California Energy Code. The 2008 California Energy Code will be republished with all previously approved errata and supplements included.
  7. CALIFORNIA ELEVATOR SAFETY CODE (Part 7 of Title 24) Building Standards within the Elevator Safety Code (Part 7) will no longer be published in Title 24. These provisions will be published solely in the California Code of Regulations, Title 8. This Part of Title 24 will be vacant.
  8. 2010 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE Building (Part 8 of Title 24) Standards approved by the Commission for the 2010 California Historical Building Code.
  9. 2010 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE (Part 9 of Title 24) Based on the 2006 International Fire Code (IFC) published by the International Code Council.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego has adopted amendments to the CFC in Chapter 5 Article 5 of the Municipal Code.
  10. 2010 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE (Part 10 of Title 24) Appendix Chapter A1 Seismic Strengthening Provisions for Unreinforced Masonry Bearing Wall Buildings, Based on the 2009 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) International Code Council.
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego enforces the CEBC as published and without change.  The standards are referenced in Chapter 14 Article 5 Division 37 of the Land Development Code.
  11. 2010 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (Part 12 of Title 24) Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Referenced Standards Code
    • Local Amendments. The City of San Diego enforces applicable parts of the CGBSC as applicable at the local level pursuant to State law. Local amendments are published in Chapter 14 Article 10 of the Land Development Code.
    • Local amendments to the outdoor lighting requirements can be found in Section §142.0740 and Section 1410.401 of the Land Development Code.
  12. 2010 CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE (Part 12 of Title 24) Building Standards adopted by the Commission for the 2010 California Referenced Standards Code.
    • The City of San Diego enforces applicable parts of the CRSC as applicable at the local level pursuant to State law.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 September 1, 2012.

Section Description Revision Date File Type
Section 1 Guide to the Project Submittal Process September 2012 PDF
Section 2 Construction Permits - Structures September 2012 PDF
Section 2A Single Dwelling Unit/Duplex and Accessory Structures September 2012 PDF
Section 3 Construction Permits - Grading and Public Right-of-Way September 2012 PDF
Section 4 Development Permits/Approvals September 2012 PDF
Section 5 Subdivision Approvals September 2012 PDF
Section 6 Policy Approvals September 2012 PDF