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Development Services

About Us

The Development Services Department (DSD) comprises nine divisions that provide review, permit, inspection and code enforcement services for private and public development projects throughout the City of San Diego. Whether it's construction, renovation or changing the use of a building in part or in its entirety, DSD assists customers with development projects promptly to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, ensuring all City neighborhoods continue to be healthy, safe and livable for all residents, visitors and businesses.

Elyse Lowe
Elyse Lowe
Director

Elyse Lowe

Elyse Lowe

Director

Elyse Lowe is the Development Services Department (DSD) Department Director. She directs, manages and oversees all department activities, operations and services. This includes all review, permit, inspection and code enforcement services for private and public development projects throughout the City of San Diego, enhancing the quality of life while ensuring vibrant, healthy, safe and livable neighborhoods.

Gary Geiler
Gary Geiler
Assistant Director

Gary Geiler

Gary Geiler

Assistant Director

Gary Geiler is responsible for the overall permit process and land use policies. In addition, Geiler's responsibilities include ministerial and discretionary review, permit streamlining strategies, and serving as a liaison to the Office of the Mayor and the City Council.

Keely Halsey
Keely Halsey
Assistant Director

Keely Halsey

Keely Halsey

Assistant Director

Keely Halsey is responsible for new housing strategies. Keely's responsibilities include research and development of housing policy solutions, stakeholder engagement, housing data management, legislative services and interdepartmental and agency coordination.

Rimah Khouri-Velez
Rimah Khouri-Velez
Assistant Director

Rimah Khouri-Velez

Rimah Khouri-Velez

Assistant Director

Rimah Khouri-Velez is responsible for the overall fiscal and procurement support, grant management, human resources, payroll, accounting, cashier services and records management. In addition, Khouri-Velez is responsible for process improvement initiatives that help optimize service delivery and modernize and manage DSD's information and data services. The division serves as the technology liaison between DSD, the Department of Information Technology, other City departments and City information technology vendors. Working with these sources, it implements, monitors and manages automation solutions for the department's daily business needs.

J.C. Thomas
J.C. Thomas
Assistant Director

J.C. Thomas

J.C. Thomas

Assistant Director

J.C. Thomas is responsible for the digital transformation, innovation initiatives and operations support. In addition, he is responsible for online permitting, customer service, project submittal and issuance, business operations support and building records.

Department Divisions

Building & Land Use Enforcement Division

Leslie Sennett
Leslie Sennett
Deputy Director
619-533-5278
Send Leslie Sennett an email

This division investigates and enforces code violations related to land use, development regulations, building and housing codes, abandoned properties, disabled access and noise regulations. It works in partnership with the people of San Diego to promote and maintain a safe and desirable living and working environment; improve the quality of San Diego's neighborhoods through education, enforcement and abatement; respond to community concerns and attain code compliance while maintaining high professional standards and continually seeking improvements and innovations.

Building Construction and Safety Division

Kelly Charles
Kelly Charles, P.E.
Chief Building Official, Deputy Director
619-557-7998
Send Kelly Charles an email

This division is comprised of building project plan review and inspection sections.

  • The plan review section reviews proposed construction projects for compliance with the adopted City and State codes and standards, including accessibility, electrical, fire protection systems, hazardous materials, life safety, mechanical, noise, plumbing, smoke control,  structural and sustainability.
  • The inspection section inspects construction projects on private property for compliance with the adopted City and State codes and standards, including accessibility, electrical, fire protection systems, hazardous materials, life safety, mechanical, plumbing, smoke control, structural, sustainability and construction stormwater best management practices. It also provides inspection of the Utilities Undergrounding Program and issues permits, and inspects mobile home parks.

Business Operations Support Services Division

Alfred Bajet
Alfred Bajet
Deputy Director
619-533-3796
Send Alfred Bajet an email

This division provides overall administrative support to the department, the public and other City departments. Its core responsibilities include fiscal and procurement support, grant management, human resources, payroll, accounting and cashier services. The division is also responsible for maintaining records of construction plans and permits on City property dating back to 1955.

The division is also responsible for leading process improvement initiatives that help optimize service delivery and modernize and manage DSD's information and data services. The division serves as the technology liaison between DSD, the Department of Information Technology, other City departments and City information technology vendors. Working with these sources, it implements, monitors and manages automation solutions for the department's daily business needs.

Engineering Division

Samir Hajjiri
Samir Hajjiri
Deputy Director
619-446-5325
Send Samir Hajjiri an email

The division comprises 10 sections that review discretionary and ministerial review projects. These sections are engineering review, transportation review, drainage and grades, traffic safety, water and sewer, stormwater, geology, mapping (including addressing and street naming), permitting and project management. The division's primary function is to review permitting, engineering and mapping-related approvals at both the discretionary and ministerial levels for compliance with federal, state and local regulations. The division also provides utility permitting and stormwater compliance oversight.

The division works within the public right of way to ensure conformance with City, state and federal regulations regarding traffic flow, pedestrian access, street lights, and traffic signals. It also administers and issues traffic control plans/permits. The division also reviews mapping projects, building, grading, and public improvement plans, Over-The-Counter permits, traffic control plans, reports and other approval types for compliance with:

Land Development Review Division

Raynard Abalos
Raynard Abalos
Deputy Director
619-446-5366
Send Raynard Abalos an email

The Land Development Review Division includes the planning, zoning, landscaping, environmental, mitigation monitoring and historic disciplines. It reviews ministerial and discretionary projects for compliance with the Land Development Code, community plans, and the General Plan, as well as compliance with other City, state and federal regulations.

Project Submittal, Customer Care and Employee Services Division

Leslie Gallagher
Leslie Gallagher
Deputy Director
619-557-7995
Send email

This newly formed, customer service focused division is dedicated to creating seamless customer interactions throughout all of DSD.  This division includes four sections: Records, Project Submittal and Issuance, Talent Development and the Customer Care Center.  

The Records team maintains and manages all of the division records on a variety of media, and works with both internal and external customers to provide reviews or copies of those records. 

The Project Submittal and Issuance team set up and issue the majority of the 72,000 private ministerial permits processed by the City each year. 

Our newly-formed Safety and Training Team is focused on ensuring all employees receive the highest quality training and support to perform their jobs to the fullest and ensure their safety while doing so.  

The Customer Care Team handles our call center, oversight of our self-help options and virtual appointments to assist customers with any questions related to DSD services. 

Project Management Division

Lara Gates
Lara Gates
Deputy Director
619-446-5107
Send email

The Development Services Department is proud to launch a dedicated Project Management Division tailored to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of permitting in the City of San Diego. 

The Division brings together development project managers from the ministerial and discretionary permitting areas along with legislative noticing staff. The Project Management Division is responsible for processing permits, including those related to Complete Communities Now, Affordable Housing Permit Now, cannabis conditional use, life sciences and complicated infrastructure projects. 

The establishment of the Project Management Division represents a strategic investment in enhancing the permitting capabilities of DSD.  Through its multifaceted approach to project management, legislative support and permitting oversight the division will give staff the ability to operate with greater agility, transparency and accountability. Its goal is to ultimately advance public interest and drive positive change within the permitting process to provide exceptional customer service.

Telecom and Utility Division

Manjit Singh
Manjit Singh
Deputy Director
619-446-5314
Send email

This division is responsible for streamlining wireless communications (4G/5G/Fiber/Utility) deployment in the City of San Diego by:

  • Partnering with the telecommunications industry, primarily consisting of cable companies, internet service providers, and telephone and satellite companies.
  • Speeding up the process so that citizens of San Diego can always enjoy the benefits of instant/fast connectivity without disturbing the aesthetics of the City.
  • Preparing the City for the future of the Internet of Things (IoT), drones and autonomous driving.

This division is end-to-end, handling applications from submission to the issuance of wireless communication facilities.

Urban Innovation Division

Brian Schoenfisch
Brian Schoenfisch
Deputy Director
619-533-6457
Send Brian Schoenfisch an email

This division conducts long-range planning and development review functions, working to implement the vision of the Downtown Community Plan. This plan aims to create and develop a dynamic Downtown that accommodates growth as a regional employment center and residential neighborhood. The division is responsible for Downtown Development, including:

  • Planning review of private development proposals.
  • Development project management.
  • Updates to the Downtown Community Plan and planned district ordinances.
  • Public park planning.
  • Enhanced public infrastructure planning.
  • Special studies.

This division also coordinates the implementation of local and state legislation and provides data analytics and business intelligence for the Department.