County Building Permits

San Diego County Building Permit Guide

Building permit information for unincorporated San Diego County and all incorporated cities. Find your jurisdiction's permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Important: San Diego County issues building permits only for properties in unincorporated areas of the county. If your property is inside an incorporated city, select your city below — that city's building department handles your permits, not the county.

Unincorporated San Diego County

Permit authority
Building Services Division, Planning & Development Services (PDS), County of San Diego
Online portal
Accela Citizen Access
Online services
PDS Online Services
Application summary
Permit application summary
Governing body
County of San Diego

Cities in San Diego County

Select your city for local permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Carlsbad Permit guide → Chula Vista Permit guide → Coronado Permit guide → Del Mar Permit guide → El Cajon Permit guide → Encinitas Permit guide → Escondido Permit guide → Imperial Beach Permit guide → La Mesa Permit guide → Lemon Grove Permit guide → National City Permit guide → Oceanside Permit guide → Poway Permit guide → San Marcos Permit guide → Santee Permit guide → Solana Beach Permit guide → Vista Permit guide → San Diego Permit guide →

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the relevant city or county department before applying.

Related California Resources

License Requirements Verify your contractor's CSLB license → Contract Template Free homeowner-contractor agreement →

Need help with your project?

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authorities listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.