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Customers with appointments can enter the Development Services Center at the City Operations Building using the third-floor bridge connected to the Evan V. Jones Parkade Terrace Level.

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Development Services

Permit Application Processing Timeline

Stopwatch icon overlayed on blueprints

The City of San Diego Development Services Department is committed to processing applications for permits as expeditiously as possible. However, the actual length of time to process your permit -- from start to finish -- can vary depending on the nature and complexity of a project, the completeness of the documents submitted and the number of applications received.

  • Intake: This is the queue time that it takes to process applications from the first upload to the pre-screen phase. 
  • Review: This is the time from the start to the finish of the project review. 
  • Permit Issuance: This is the queue time after the project has been reviewed, a request to obtain a permit is received and the time it takes for staff to verify that all requirements have been met.  
Permit or Application Type Business Days*
Building Permit Intake 12
Building Permit Rapid Review Intake 11
Building Construction Change Intake 8
Discretionary Projects Intake 7
Grading, Public Improvement, Mapping Intake 7
Sign, Demo, Stand Alone Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Permits  Intake 11
Plan Review (All Application Types) Review Varies based on review type.
Building Permit - Stamp Transfer (Paper) Review 6
Building Permit - (Paper) Permit Issuance 18
Building Permit - (Digital) Permit Issuance 6
Sign, Demo, Stand Alone Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical Permits  Permit Issuance 6

*The average timelines do not including weekends and holidays.
Data Current as of Oct. 15, 2021, at 5:32 p.m.