Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
§113.0237 Determining a Lot
San Diego Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Diego
(a) A lot is legal for purposes of development if it meets any one of the following criteria:
(1) The lot is an individual parcel designated with a number or letter on a final map or parcel map recorded with the County Recorder, a record of survey map approved by resolution of the City Council and recorded with the County Recorder after December 5, 1954, or a division plat approved by and filed with the Development Services Department; or
(2) The lot has been officially determined as a suitable building site or approved for development under the Land Development Code; or
(3) The lot was created before March 4, 1972 as a result of a boundary adjustment between two adjoining lot owners wherein the land was taken from one parcel and added to the adjoining parcel and no new lots were thereby created; or
(4) The lot was created before March 4, 1972, held as a separate parcel by a subsequent purchaser, and has at least 15 feet of street frontage or other legal access to a dedicated street as approved by the City Engineer; or
(5) The lot was held as a separate legal parcel upon annexation to the City of San Diego; or
(6) The lot consists of two or more parcels held by the same record owner that otherwise meet the requirements of Section 113.0237(a)(1), that are tied together through a recorded Lot Tie Agreement between the record owner and the City in accordance with Section 129.0120.
(b) Any lot or parcel that does not comply with the minimum lot area or required lot dimensions may nevertheless be used in compliance with the applicable zone if the lot is a legal lot as determined by Section 113.0237(a).
(c) A Certificate of Compliance may be requested in accordance with Section 125.0210 to certify that a lot is legal for development .
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-13-2008 by O-19801 N.S.; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.)
Ch. Art. Div. 11 3 2 23
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 11: Land Development Procedures
(10-2024)
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- Chapter 9
- Division 2 — House Numbers
- Division 3 — Advertising Displays Adjacent to Scenic Freeways,…
- Division 1 — General Provisions and Definitions
- Division 2 — Financing Facilities
- Division 3 — Bonds
- Division 1 — Housing Code
- Division 2 — Mobilehome Parks and Special Occupancy Parks
- Division 3 — San Diego Housing Commission
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- Division 7 — Residential Tenant Protections
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- Division 9 — Notice of Tenant’s Right to Operate a Daycare Home
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- Division 12 — Residential Tenant Utility Fees
- Division 1 — In General
- Division 2 — Responsibilities of City Council
- Division 3 — Administration of Program
- Division 5 — Designation of Residential Rehabilitation Areas a…
- Division 6 — Limitations on Amount of Loan
- Division 7 — Terms of Conventional RAP Loans
- Division 9 — Miscellaneous Provisions
- Division 19.7 — The Centre City Planned District
- Division 19.8 — The Centre City Planned District
- Division 2 — Land Development Authorities and Advisory Boards
- Division 2 — Fees and Deposits
- Division 3 — Notice
- Division 4 — Public Hearings
- Division 5 — Decision Process
- Division 1 — Definitions
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▸ Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
Overview- §113.0201 Purpose of Rules for Calculation and Measurement
- §113.0202 When Rules for Calculation and Measurement Apply
- §113.0213 Determining Building Envelope
- §113.0216 Determining Building Facade
- §113.0219 Determining Coastal Bluff Edge
- §113.0222 Calculating Maximum Permitted Density
- §113.0225 Measuring Distance Between Uses
- §113.0228 Determining Existing Grade
- §113.0234 Calculating Gross Floor Area
- §113.0237 Determining a Lot
- §113.0240 Calculating Lot Coverage
- §113.0243 Measuring Lot Depth and Lot Width
- §113.0246 Determining Property Lines
- §113.0249 Determining Setback Line
- §113.0252 Measuring Setbacks
- §113.0255 Calculating Sign Copy Area
- §113.0258 Calculating Sign Face
- §113.0261 Determining a Story
- §113.0264 Determining Street Wall
- §113.0267 Determining Street Wall Line
- §113.0270 Measuring Structure Height
- §113.0273 Measuring Visibility Area
- §113.0276 Determining Yards
- Chapter 12 — Land Development Reviews
- Division 2 — Enforcement Authorities For the Land Development …
- Division 4 — Procedures For Abatement of Unsafe, Dangerous,
- Division 1 — Adoption And Amendment Procedures for Land Use Pl…
- Division 1 — Zoning and Rezoning Procedures
- Division 3 — Zoning Use Certificate Procedures
- Division 5 — Residential High Occupancy Permit
- Division 6 — Mobile Food Truck Permit
- Division 1 — General Subdivision Procedures
- Division 2 — Certificate of Compliance
- Division 4 — Tentative Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)
- Division 5 — Parcel Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; eff…
- Division 6 — Final Maps
- Division 7 — Merger of Parcels (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S…
- Division 8 — Reversion to Acreage
- Division 9 — Public Right-of-Way Vacations
- Division 10 — Easement Vacations
- Division 3 — Conditional Use Permit Procedures
- Division 4 — Neighborhood Development Permit Procedures (Added…
- Division 5 — Site Development Permit Procedures
- Division 6 — Planned Development Permit Procedures (Added 12-9…
- Division 8 — Variance Procedures
- Division 1 — General Review Procedures for Previously Conformi…
- Division 2 — Review Procedures for Previously Conforming Signs
- Division 1 — General Procedures and Authorities for Implementa…
- Division 2 — Procedures for Determination of
- Division 3 — Procedures for Preparation and Review of Environm…
- Division 1 — General Construction Permit Authority and Procedu…
- Division 2 — Building Permit Procedures
- Division 3 — Electrical Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by …
- Division 4 — Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Procedures
- Division 6 — Grading Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-1…
- Division 7 — Public Right-of-Way Permits
- Division 9 — Fire Permit Procedures
- Division 4 — Residential Base Zones
- Division 5 — Commercial Base Zones
- Division 6 — Industrial Base Zones
- Division 7 — Mixed-Use Base Zones
- Division 2 — Airport Approach Overlay Zone
- Division 3 — Airport Environs Overlay Zone
- Division 6 — Sensitive Coastal Overlay Zone
- Division 7 — Mobilehome Park Overlay Zone (Added 12-9-1997 by …
- Division 8 — Parking Impact Overlay Zone
- Division 9 — Residential Tandem Parking Overlay Zone
- Division 10 — Transit Area Overlay Zone
- Division 11 — Urban Village Overlay Zone
- Division 12 — Mission Trails Design District
- Division 13 — Clairemont Height Limit Overlay Zone
- Division 15 — Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone
- Division 16 — Community Enhancement Overlay Zone