πŸ“‹ San Diego County Permit Helper

Understand Your Building Permit Requirements β€” Step by Step

Answer a few questions and get a personalized checklist for your San Diego County project β€” required forms, fees, documents, and the most common rejection reasons to avoid.

⏱️ ~15 min vs. 60+ min solo
πŸ†“ Completely free
βœ… Saves as you go
πŸ“„ Downloadable summary
Step 1 of 7
14%
1

Tell us about your project

We'll use this to generate your personalized permit requirements checklist and pull up zoning information for your property.

Please enter your name.
Please enter the property address.
Please select a project type.
Saved
2

Contact & project timeline

We'll send your completed permit summary to this email. No spam β€” just your application data.

Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter your phone number.

I agree to be contacted by Summit Channel Partners and/or its licensed partners regarding my project.

Please select your budget range.
Please select your timeline.
Saved
3

Describe your project

This goes directly into Section 4 of your PDS 291. Be as specific as you can β€” vague descriptions are a common rejection trigger.

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Good example: "Demolish existing 450 sq ft single-story addition and rebuild as 600 sq ft master suite addition with attached bathroom, including new foundation, framing, electrical, and plumbing."

Avoid: "Home improvement" or "Renovation"
Please describe your project scope.
ℹ️
The county uses your estimated project value to calculate permit fees. Typical ranges: Remodel $50–100/sq ft Β· Addition $100–150/sq ft Β· New build $150–200/sq ft.
Saved
4

Contractor information

If you've chosen a contractor, enter their info here. This goes into Section 6 of your PDS 291. You can skip if you haven't selected one yet.

Saved
5

Construction details

These fill Section 5 of your application. We've pre-set the most common choices for San Diego County β€” update if your project is different.

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San Diego County defaults: slab-on-grade foundation + wood frame + tile roof cover ~80% of residential permits. If unsure, leave as-is and confirm with your contractor.
Saved
6

Architect & engineer information

Required for new construction and major structural work. If you haven't hired professionals yet, we'll flag what's needed for your project type.

Saved
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Your application is ready!

Here's a summary of what we've captured. Download your pre-filled summary to use when submitting to San Diego County PDS.

Application Summary

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Your Permit Requirements Summary

Print this and use it as your checklist when filing PDS 291 at the County permit portal (ACCELA). All your project details are organized for you.

βœ… Required Documents for Your Project

πŸ“‹ What Happens Next

1
Sign PDS 291 β€” Owner wet-ink signature required on Sections 9 & 10. Print the form, sign, then scan back to a PDF.
2
Upload to ACCELA β€” Submit at aca-prod.accela.com/SANDIEGO (open 24/7). Have all PDFs ready β€” no ZIP files.
3
Pay screening fee β€” $87 non-refundable intake fee paid by credit card during submission.
4
Plan check timeline β€” Typical 2–4 weeks for remodels/additions; 4–6 weeks for new construction. Track in your ACCELA account.
5
Permit center β€” Need to go in person? 5510 Overland Ave, Kearny Mesa. Mon–Fri 8am–11:45am, 12:30pm–4pm. Call (858) 694-2055 with questions.

πŸ”¨ Need Help Finding a Licensed Contractor?

We've helped hundreds of San Diego homeowners connect with vetted, licensed contractors for their specific project type β€” no cold calls, no bidding wars.