San Diego Permitting Note: Fences up to 6 feet tall are generally exempt from building permits, but structures 45 years or older always require a historic review before any permit is issued.
About Building Permits in San Diego
Building permits in San Diego are issued by the San Diego Development Services Department. Most residential permit applications are submitted online through the OpenDSD portal at sandiego.gov/development-services. Processing times for standard residential projects typically run 5–15 business days; same-day via "No Plan" permits.
2022 California Building Code with San Diego local amendments. Structures 45 years or older always trigger a historic review in San Diego — even for simple reroofs or fences.
Inspections are scheduled through the OpenDSD portal; most can be booked within 1–2 business days.