Division 2 — House Numbers

Buildings in the City of San Diego shall be numbered in the following manner.

Buildings on all streets running in a general North and South direction lying between “N” street and the San Diego River and the United States Military Reservation and the San Diego River shall be given numbers starting with one at “N” street or the United States Military Reservation line, as the case may be, and increasing Northward.

Numbers on streets running in a general North and South direction lying south of “N” street shall start with 100 at “n” street and increase southward and such numbers shall be assigned and used with the prefix “South” before the street name.

(“Numbering System — North — South” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S. contained in O–5416 O.S. adopted 1–12–1914.)

On all streets running in a general east and west direction lying east of First street and south of the San Diego River, numbers shall start with 100 at First street and increase eastward.

On all streets running in a general east and west direction lying west of First street and south of the San Diego River, numbers shall start with 100 at First street and increase westward, and such numbers shall be assigned and used with the prefix “West” before the street name.

(“Numbering System — East — West” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S. contained in O–5416 O.S. adopted 1–12–1914.)

On all streets running in a general north and south direction lying north of the San Diego River, numbers shall start with 100 at the San Diego River and increase northward, and such numbers shall be used with no prefix except in cases where streets running approximately north and south shall extend across the river, in which event the numbers on that portion of the street lying north of the river shall be assigned and used with the prefix “North” before the street name.

(“Same — North of San Diego River” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S. contained in O–5416 O.S. adopted 1–12–1914.)

San Diego Municipal Code (4-2018)

Chapter 2: Government

Numbers shall be assigned on the general plan of 100 to each block; but where adjacent blocks are irregular in length, the numbers in these blocks or adjacent blocks may be varied to meet the conditions as determined by the Building Official, Development Services Department of The City of San Diego.

(Amended 7–25–1994 by O–18088 N.S.)

One number shall be assigned to each twelve and one–half (12 1/2) feet of street frontage, except in that portion of the city bounded by Upas street on the north, “N” street on the south, the Bay on the west and the Park on Twenty–Third street on the east, in which district three numbers shall be assigned to each twenty– five feet of frontage.

(“One Number for Each Twelve and One–Half Feet of Frontage” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S. contained in O–5416 O.S. adopted 1–12–1914.)

Even numbers shall be allotted to the north and west sides of streets and the odd numbers to the south and east sides.

(“Even and Odd Numbers” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S. contained in O–2959 N.S. adopted 3–20–1945.)

Before any permit shall be issued for building construction or any application for water filed with the Development Services Department the applicant for such permit or water connection shall obtain from the Building Official, Development Services Department, the proper house number for the lot for which such permit or water is desired.

(Amended 7–25–1994 by O–18088 N.S.)

All numbers shall be allocated by the Building Official, Development Services Department, who shall determine the proper number in each case from maps to be numbered and maintained on file in the office of the Development Services Department

(Amended 7–25–1994 by O–18088 N.S.)

Ch. Art. Div. 9 5 2 2

San Diego Municipal Code (4-2018)

Chapter 9: Building, Housing and Sign Regulations

• (a) Address numbers allotted by the Building Official, Development Services Department, shall be placed on buildings on the transom over the principal entrance or on some other place on the front of the building where the number may be visible from the street. When required by the Fire Chief, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals and numbers shall not be spelled out.

  • (1) For buildings used exclusively for residential purposes, such numbers shall be at least four (4) inches in height with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch.

  • (2) For buildings used exclusively or in part for commercial, industrial or institutional purposes, such numbers shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in height with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch.

• (b) In addition to address numbers required in Section 95.0209(a), address numbers complying with the California Residential Code that identify residential buildings shall be permanently added to the side of the curb or on a public sidewalk located immediately in front of the main building on a site. The address number shall be placed in a manner to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

• (c) Where access is by means of a private road and the building address cannot be viewed from the public right-of-way, a monument, pole or other approved sign or means of identification shall be used to identify the structure.

• (d) It shall be the duty of the lessee, occupant or owner, of any building to obtain the proper house number from the Building Official, Development Services Department, to place such number on the building in question as required by this Division, and to maintain the number. It shall be a violation of this Division to fail to so obtain, place, and maintain the proper number.

(Amended 7–25–1994 by O–18088 N.S.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)

Ch. Art. Div. 9 5 2 3

San Diego Municipal Code (4-2018)

Chapter 2: Government

If the Building Inspector shall find any building upon which the proper number has not been properly placed as required by this Division he is hereby given authority to order the occupant, lessee or owner to obtain and properly place such number within five (5) days. The posting of a notice upon the entrance door of such building shall meet the requirements of this Division for legal service of such notice or order.

(“Notice of Noncompliance” incorp. 1–22–1952 by O–5046 N.S.)

Ch. Art. Div. 9 5 2 4

San Diego Municipal Code

Chapter 9: Building, Housing and Sign Regulations

(6-2000)