Building permits in San Diego: Process One and plan review
Where a multifamily project meets every regulation of its base zone and overlays and needs no development permit, map or deviation, the City's only decision is the building permit, decided under Process One (SDMC 129.0212).
Process One
A staff decision with no hearing and no appeal (SDMC 112.0502). A ministerial building permit is not a discretionary activity under CEQA (128.0202(b)).
Plan review times
The Development Services Department publishes estimated review times in business days (IB-100, May 2026): for 20 to 100 units, 20 for the first review and 10 for a recheck; for more than 100 units or mixed use over three stories, 40 and 20. These are estimates, not guarantees.
What moves a project to a development permit
A use that needs a Neighborhood Use, Conditional Use, Neighborhood Development, Site Development or Planned Development Permit, a Coastal Development Permit, a variance, a map or a deviation takes the project to Process Two to Five, and a permit consolidated with the building permit takes the highest process level among them.
Questions
- How long is building plan review in San Diego?
- The City estimates 20 business days for a first review of a 20 to 100 unit project and 40 for more than 100 units, with rechecks of 10 and 20 (IB-100, May 2026).
Sources
These guides summarize the code text for general information and are not legal advice. Every site is read under the code, the overlays and the ordinances that apply to it on the day of preparation.
TECTO GROUP takes multifamily sites through these pathways for owners, from the first study through entitlement and design to a permit ready to issue. Send the address of the site under consideration.
Email lucas@tecto.group