Public Notice

To ensure the health, safety and well-being of customers and its staff, the Development Services Department (DSD) is responding to the latest directives from Mayor Todd Gloria and state, federal, and local authorities to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic while providing essential City services. Visit this page for the latest information about DSD's programs and services, which are subject to immediate change.

Facility Closures

**Updated March 10, 2021**

• Each of the DSD physical offices is temporarily closed to the general public but open to employees.
• All walk-in and over-the-counter services are suspended. Virtual Counter appointments to meet online with DSD staff are available. 
• No Mask, No Service. Customers must wear a mask or a face covering over their nose and mouth and maintain required social distancing at all times when conducting business at the Development Services Center. Face coverings include fabric coverings, such as scarves, neck gaiters and bandana coverings. DSD staff will not serve customers that are not wearing a mask or face covering.

Quick Permit Drop-offs

**Updated Sept. 11, 2020**

•   All new applications for permits, approvals and construction changes are required to submit applications online. Applications received before July 1, 2020, can continue to be processed in paper form.
• For project applications started prior to July 1, 2020, customers may submit resubmittals and documents in the first-floor lobby of the Development Services Center, located at 1222 First Ave. The Project Submittal Manual and  Information Bulletin #153, respectively, outline submittal and permit issuance requirements. 
• This is an unstaffed location for document drop-off only. Read the posted instructions carefully and place your goldenrod-colored Form DS-3500 and corresponding documents on the cart. Physical distancing is in place, so a maximum of eight customers at a time will be allowed into the first-floor lobby to drop project plans and applications. No payments are allowed here. Items left without the completed goldenrod Form DS-3500 will be discarded.
• The drop-off service is available at the downtown Development Services Center Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. While DSD is closed for business between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., during weekdays, the first floor will remain open during this time to allow for document and payment drop-off. 
• Stamp Transfer in a similar manner; however, a different form is needed; submit all required plans with a completed pink-colored Form DS-4000. 

• Project Status Help: Operational modifications to facilitate continued operations in response to the COVID-19 emergency have resulted in an increase in questions and duplicative requests, with most inquiring about the status of applications submitted on paper. To help address these questions more expeditiously, DSD created an electronic Project Status Request form. Information requested in this electronic form is needed to search for the documents and obtain the status. Please use this process to submit your request so that we can more efficiently and quickly provide assistance.  Before submitting requests, please check OpenDSD for the status; your information may already be posted here.

Payment Options

**Updated Dec. 11, 2020**

• Payment drop-off can be made in the first-floor lobby of the Development Services Center, located at 1222 First Ave. This payment service is available at the downtown Development Services Center Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. While DSD is closed for business between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during weekdays, the first floor will remain open during this time to allow for payment and document drop-off.
• A touchless drop safe has been installed to drop your payment into the slot of the safe. The safe will be checked daily, and payments process the following business day. Water and sewer fees can be dropped off at this location. All payments must be made out to "City Treasurer." Please include in the memo of the check the invoice # or Project # or attach the invoice to the check. This is an unstaffed location for document drop-off only. Read the posted instructions carefully. Please email DSDCashiers@sandiego.gov for questions.

Appointments, Questions and Review Comments/Requirements

**Updated March 10, 2021*  

• Virtual Counter appointment requests are now available online. Book a 30-minute appointment with DSD staff. If the Virtual Counter service you are looking for is not available, visit the Contact Us page to find the contact information for a program, section or division. 
• Project review comments and next time document requirements can now be viewed on OpenDSD. Here is how:
  1. Go to OpenDSD
  2. Enter Project #
  3. Click on Project ID
  4. Click the Review Cycles Tabs
  • Click on the Cycle you wish to view.  Note that only “Closed” cycles will have comments to view.*
  • To view reviewer comments in Closed cycles, click on the “Review ID” number in the box.* Reviewer comments will immediately open for viewing.
  • Next time document requirements will be listed in the area marked “Submittal” below the review information. These are items that will be needed with resubmittals 

*There will be a pop-up, and you will have to enter the phone number of the application’s designated Project Contact as identified and set up in the Project Tracking System (PTS).

Plan Pick Up

**Updated April 2, 2021**

These in-person appointments are only for customers that have received an email notification that their submitted plans are ready for pick-up.

• Do not come to pick up documents unless you have received a customer notification that your item is ready for pick up.

• Once you receive the email confirmation schedule an appointment to pick up your plans curbside at the Development Services Department parking lot on the corner of West A Street and 1st Ave.

• On the date and time of your appointment, park your vehicle at 1222 1st Ave. parking lot (corner of West A Street and 1st Ave.) and follow the directional signage. Remain in your car and City staff will deliver your plans to you.

• DSD will hold the plans for 15 calendar days from the notification date and recycle unclaimed plans. 

Will Call

**Updated April 2, 2021**

• Will Call items can be picked up on the first-floor lobby of the Development Services Center, located at 1222 First Ave. This service is available at the downtown Development Services Center Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Inspection Services

**Updated April 8, 2021**

• Virtual Inspections are available for select inspection types.
• During inspections, follow these required construction site COVID-19 safety protocols:
  COVID-19 Safety Protocols
  for Construction Sites Protocolos de Seguridad COVID-19
   para Obras en Construcción
• Since July 1, 2020, all construction changes are processed electronically. 
• Field Inspections are ongoing. These new field Inspection protocols must be followed for your safety and the safety of inspectors. You may be asked to provide photos instead of an in-person residential interior inspection. Inspectors will also ask you questions about your health, including if you are in COVID-19 isolation or are experiencing any symptoms. Your inspection may be performed at a later date if deemed necessary.
• Call 858-492-5070 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday with requests for and questions about: 
  1. Emergency gas leak or electrical restoration inspections;
  2. Mobile home permits; 
  3. Registration and renewal of Special Inspectors; and
  4. Construction Material Testing Laboratories and Agencies.

Permit and Application Extensions

**Updated March 15, 2021** 

The San Diego City Council approved an interim urgency ordinance that provides extensions for various Development Services permits, as outlined below.  

• Development permits that have not expired before March 12, 2020, will be granted a 365-day extension of the Development Permit expiration date in addition to any extensions already permitted by the San Diego Municipal Code unless the State dictates otherwise. However, this extension shall not be granted for permits that have been issued pursuant to San Diego Municipal Code Sections  141.0504 and  141.1004, which have been utilized by the effective date of Ordinance No. O-21216.
• Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, grading and public right-of-way permit applications that have not expired before March 12, 2020, are granted an additional 365-day extension of their utilization or expiration dates in addition to any extensions already permitted by the San Diego Municipal Code and  Executive Order 2020-2. These projects shall comply with state building standards in effect at the time of permit issuance.
• Development Permit applications will receive an additional 60 days to the time provided in Municipal Code section 126.0115 to submit or resubmit requested materials, information, fees, or deposits before the Development Permit application file will be closed by the City. 

Rapid Review

**Updated March 10, 2021** 

Formerly known as Over-the-Counter, Rapid Review is now available for some minor projects to reduce the time it takes customers to obtain a permit for minor projects. Eligibility for Rapid Review is determined by DSD staff at submittal based on the project's proposed scope. If eligible, DSD staff will automatically place the project into Rapid Review. Note that specific disciplines may not be able to perform a Rapid Review based on the project scope in some cases.

Express Plan Check

**Updated Sept. 11, 2020** 

Express Plan Check for new applications is now reinstated. Submit your requests here. Learn about quicker processing opportunities.  

COVID-19 Information

Stay informed about COVID-19 by visiting the City's COVID-19 Information page, the Center for Disease Control website and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services website.

Email Updates

Visit sandiego.gov/dsd-email to subscribe to receive up-to-date information from DSD via email.