This Information Bulletin describes rules for the closing of Building Permit applications and establishes requirements for Permit application extensions as authorized in the San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC) §129.0211.

A Building Permit application is considered closed when a Building Permit has not been approved and issued following receipt of all required project sign-offs and payment of the required issuance fees. 

Closing of a Building Permit Application

A building permit shall be considered closed if two years (one year for applications created before June 1, 2024) have elapsed since the date the application was deemed complete, and the applicant has not requested a Building Permit be issued. 

Extension of Time for Closed Building Permit Applications

The Municipal Code allows extensions of closed applications per Section §129.0211  of the Municipal Code. 

The application close date shall be extended from the last application close date. 

In-process Building Permit applications deemed complete on or after June 1, 2023, which have not received an application extension, will be automatically extended 360 days if the application closes on or after June 1, 2024. 

New applications created on or after Sept. 4, 2024, the effective date for Ordinance O-21859 N.S. 

In-process Building Permit applications deemed complete prior to June 1, 2023, and which have not received one or more application extensions may apply for additional application extensions available if the application closes on or after June 1, 2024. 

New applications created on or after Sept. 4, 2024, the effective date for Ordinance O-21859 N. S. §129.0211 (c) of the Municipal code, authorizes the Building Official to extend the Building Permit applications for a time period not exceeding 180 days from the date the application was closed if a determination is made that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented the issuance of a Building Permit. All circumstances that are reasonable will be considered. 

Final Extension of Time for Closed Building Permit Applications 

For projects that were submitted on or after June 7, 2022, a Building Permit application can be extended for one additional period not exceeding 180 calendar days if the Building Official determines that: 

1. The building standards effective at the time that the Building Permit application was submitted are sufficient to protect public health and safety; or
2. The Project complies with significant life and safety building standards effective at the time that the Building Permit application was submitted; and either
   • The additional application extension is in the public interest; or
   • Circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented the issuance of the Building Permit. 

Determining what constitutes standards "sufficient to protect public health and safety" or "significant life and safety building standards" varies by code cycle. To receive the final 180-day extension for an expired Building Permit application, the following additional requirements shall be met, depending on the code edition with which the project was designed when the Building Permit application was deemed complete.

For projects originally designed based on the 2019 California Building Standards Code, the following code requirements are necessary to protect health and safety due to fire hazards and seismic concerns. The final application extension will be approved provided that the project complies with these standards. 

1. Fire sprinkler requirements for open parking garages. (2025  CBC, Title 24, Part 2-Section 903.2.10)
2. Energy Storage Systems (ESS), when applicable.  (2025 California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5-Section R330)
3. Energy Storage Systems (ESS), when applicable.  (2025 California Fire Code, Title 24, Part 9 – Section 1207.)
4. Projects located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone delineated in the current LRA 2025 FHSZ Map [FA1] [CK2]  shall comply with the ignition resistance construction standards published in the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Part 7, Title 24.
5. 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code as amended by the SDMC
6. ASCE 7-22 as adopted and amended by the 2025 California Building Code
7. Requirements in standard ACI 318-19 for concrete Special Structural Walls. 

For projects originally designed based on the 2022 California Building Standards Code, the following code requirements are in place to protect health and safety due to fire hazards and seismic concerns. The final application extension will be approved provided that the project complies with these standards. 

1. Projects located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone delineated in the current LRA 2025 FHSZ Map shall comply with the ignition resistance construction standards published in the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Title 24.
2. 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code as amended by the SDMC
3. ASCE 7-22 as adopted and amended by the 2025 California Building Code

Summary of Permit Application Timeframes 

Extension Request Process

An application to request an extension of time may be submitted at any time, but no more than 180 days prior to the application close date. To apply for an extension, complete form DS-4102. 

 Fees

A nonrefundable processing fee will be assessed for all requests at the time of submittal. For processing fees, refer to Information Bulletin 501, “Construction Permits—Structures.” An invoice will be sent to the requester, and payment is due upon receipt of the invoice. Any additional and/or unpaid plan check fees will be invoiced and must be paid prior to the processing of an application extension.  The extension request will be evaluated upon receipt of payment.

Closed Building Permit Applications 

If a Building Permit application has been closed and the Permit Applicant decides to proceed with the same project, a new application will be required, and the project will be subject to the new fees and regulations that are in effect when the new application is submitted. 

Exceptions:

1. Closed building permit applications may qualify for application extensions to the extent permitted in the Municipal Code, as discussed below.
2. Replacement projects whose applications have been closed and where all review comments have been satisfied are eligible for streamlined processing. Hourly review fees will be charged for reviewing compliance with current building and land use standards.
3. Closed applications in the issued status that are only pending payment of the invoice may be issued on a case-by-case basis if issuance is requested within 6 months after the application close date. 

Building Permit applications that are not closed can be divided into partial permits in accordance with Information Bulletin 189 to allow the first partial permits to establish the edition of the building standards applicable to subsequent partial permits associated with the same project. Subsequent partial permits, for example, the partial frame or complete building submitted subsequent to a foundation only, are allowed to comply with the building standards applicable to the initial partial regardless of when the separate application is filed.

Previous Versions of this Information Bulletin

This section contains previous versions of this Information Bulletin by the last day they were effective. 

• 2026-02-24|IB-119