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Hearing Officer
COVID-19 Update: Until further notice, Hearing Officer meetings will be conducted under the provisions of
California Executive Order 29-20, which suspends specific requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
During the current State of Emergency and in the interest of public health and safety, the Hearing Officer meetings will be conducted by teleconference. Per the Executive Order, there will be no members of the public in attendance at these meetings. In lieu of in-person attendance, members of the public may submit their comments online. Learn more about submitting public comments.
In lieu of in-person attendance, members of the public may participate and provide comment via a virtual meeting, telephone, using the Hearing Officer webform, email submission or via U.S. mail of written materials, as follows:
Phone-In Testimony
Sign up online via webform no later that 8am on the day of the hearing in order to participate via phone during the Hearing Officer public hearing. *** See instructions on how to comment by phone
Agenda Public Comments
Comment on Agenda Items may be submitted using the webform indicating the agenda item number for which you wish to submit your comment. Comments received by the start of the meeting will be distributed to the Hearing Officer. All webform comments are limited to 200 words. Comments received after the start of the meeting but before the item is called will be submitted into the written record for the relevant item.
Non-Agenda Public Comments
Comments may be submitted using the webform, checking the appropriate box. Comments received by the start of the meeting will be distributed to the Hearing Officer. All webform comments are limited to 200 words. Comments received after the start of the meeting but before Non-agenda comment is called will be submitted into the written record for the meeting.
Written Materials
If you wish to submit written materials for submission into the record or have an attachment to your comment, you may email it to hearingofficer@sandiego.gov or submit via U.S. Mail to 1222 First Avenue, MS501 San Diego, CA 92101. Materials submitted via e-mail will be distributed to the Hearing Officer in accordance with the deadlines described above. Materials submitted via U.S. Mail will need to be received the business day prior in order for it to be distributed to the Hearing Officer.
Watch the Meeting
The public may view the meetings at their scheduled time on YouTube.
For Discretionary Land Use-Related Projects
The City of San Diego's Hearing Officers are designated by the City Manager and continues under the new Strong Mayor form of government. The Hearing Officers preside over public hearings and act on items such as permits, maps, variances and other matters in accordance with the San Diego Municipal Code.
Hearing Officers are subject to the California Political Reform Act and the City's Ethics Ordinance and are required to file Statements of Economic Interest. They must disclose any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from the Hearing if necessary.
Hearing Officers are also subject to due process requirements and must conduct hearings in an impartial manner. Therefore, it is inappropriate to contact Hearing Officers to discuss any item that will come before them in a hearing. If such contact occurs, Hearing Officers may be subject to recusal from that item.
Hearing Information
When
Hearings are typically conducted the first and third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m.
Where
Unless noted in the agenda, meetings are held at:
City Administration Building
City Council Chambers, 12th floor
202 C Street, in downtown San Diego
Submitting Project Information
All project information and material for Hearing Officer consideration must be submitted to the Recording Secretary seven calendar days prior to a hearing. You can submit information via:
- Mail or Delivery: Hearing Officer, Development Services Department, 1222 First Ave, MS 501, San Diego, CA 92101. Must include five copies of the material;
- Email: hearingofficer@sandiego.gov. Material limited to five pages in length;
- At the Public Hearing: Must include five copies of the material.
If your project information is received at the hearing, the Hearing Officer may not be able to review and consider your information thoroughly.
Public Comment
COVID-19 Update: Until further notice, Hearing Officer meetings will be conducted under the provisions of California Executive Order 29-20, which suspends specific requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act. During the current State of Emergency and in the interest of public health and safety, the Hearing Officer meetings will be conducted by teleconference. Per the Executive Order, there will be no members of the public in attendance at these meetings. In lieu of in-person attendance, members of the public may submit their comments online.
Comments on Agenda and Non-Agenda Public Items
If you would like to comment on an agenda or non-agenda item, comments may be submitted using this webform. Only comments submitted before 5 p.m. the day before the meeting will be eligible to be read into the record. All other filed comments, including those received after 5 p.m. the day prior and before 8:45 a.m. on the day of the meeting, will be provided to the Hearing Officer; the Hearing Officer may not be able to review and consider this information thoroughly. All comments are limited to 200 words.
Persons may address the Hearing Officer during the public comment section of the agenda on topics not listed on the agenda or may address the Hearing Officer during public testimony on each agenda action item. Speakers will usually have three minutes. Times may be altered by the Hearing Officer.