§126.0402 When a Neighborhood Development Permit Is Required
San Diego Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Diego
(a) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for the following types of development on sites with previously conforming premises or uses:
(1) Maintenance, repair, or alteration of a previously conforming structure that incorporates previously conforming uses or density if costs would exceed 50 percent of market value as described in Section 127.0104;
(2) Reconstruction of a structure with previously conforming nonresidential uses if costs would exceed 50 percent of market value as described in Section 127.0105;
(3) Expansion or enlargement of a previously conforming structural envelope where the existing previously conforming structure does not conform with current zoning regulations for density or use as described in Section 127.0106;
(4) Expansion or enlargement of a previously conforming structure where the new construction proposes up to 20 percent reduction in the required setback as described in Section 127.0106; and
Ch. Art. Div. 12 6 4 1
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews
(3-2026)
(5) Maintenance, repair, rebuilding, or alteration of a previously conforming advertising display sign where the costs of new construction would exceed 50 percent of the assessed value of the existing advertising display sign , but would not expand beyond the existing structural envelope as provided in Section 127.0303.
(b) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for single dwelling unit development on an individual lot that is less than or equal to 15,000 square feet and contains steep hillsides , Special Flood Hazard Areas , or sensitive biological resources as described in Section 143.0110.
(c) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for single dwelling unit development on a lot containing historical resources other than designated historical resources and historical districts as described in Section 143.0210 unless exempted in accordance with Section 143.0220.
(d) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for commercial development proposing tandem parking as described in Section 142.0555(b).
(e) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for mobilehome parks in any RM zone, as described in Section 143.0302, regardless of the unit number requirements in Table 126-05A.
(f) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for relocating a building to a premises where an existing building is to remain as described in Section 143.0302.
(g) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development proposing fences , walls, or retaining walls that exceed the height permitted in Chapter14, Article 2, Division 3, by 20 percent or less as described in Section 142.0350.
(h) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for nonresidential development exceeding the maximum permitted parking as described in Section 142.0540(b).
(i) A Neighborhood Development is required for development providing shared parking for uses not specified in Section 142.0545(c) as described in Section 142.0545(b)(7).
(j) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for construction of a privately owned structure proposed in the public right-of-way dedicated for a street or an alley , where the applicant is the record owner of the underlying fee title as described in Section 129.0710(a).
Ch. Art. Div. 12 6 4 2
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews
(3-2026)
(k) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development of a large retail establishment of 50,000 or more square feet gross floor area in all commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones, and in all planned districts, except the Centre City Planned District.
(l) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for the following types of development within the Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone:
(1) Non-residential development where alternative compliance is requested to demonstrate safety compatibility in accordance with Section 132.1515(d) using an equivalent calculation of intensity (people per acre).
(2) Non-residential development within the Brown Field or Montgomery Field airport influence areas where additional intensity (people per acre) is requested for a building designed to minimize risk and increase the safety of building occupants beyond the minimum requirements of the California Building Code in accordance with Section 132.1515(g)(2).
(m) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development of a wireless communication facility with an equipment enclosure that exceeds 250 square feet as described in Section 141.0420(e)(3), or that includes equipment enclosures not placed underground as described in Section 141.0420(g)(2).
(n) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development of a college, university, vocational, or trade school on a premises identified as Prime Industrial Land in a land use plan as described in Section 141.0407(e)(2).
(o) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development on a site that contains a designated historical resource , traditional cultural property , important archaeological site , or a designated contributing resource to a historical district and includes a specific historic preservation development incentive as described in Section 143.0240.
(p) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development that proposes deviations to the development regulations within the mixed-use zones. A Neighborhood Development Permit may not be used to request deviations listed in Section 131.0710(c).
Ch. Art. Div. 12 6 4 3
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews
(3-2026)
(q) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development that provides affordable housing, in-fill projects, and/or sustainable buildings identified in Section 143.0915, where a Site Development Permit or Planned Development Permit would otherwise be required.
(r) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for a Lot Line Adjustment on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands as described in Section 143.0110.
(s) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development that deviates from the Climate Action Plan Consistency Regulations as described in Section 143.1403(c).
(t) A Neighborhood Development Permit is required for development that deviates from the required area for public spaces as described in Section 132.1615(b)(1).
(Amended 4-22-2002 by O-19051 N.S.; effective 10-8-2002.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 6-15-2007 by O-19624 N.S.; effective 7-15-2007.) (Amended 11-13-08 by O-19803 N.S; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 10-25-2011 by O-20047 N.S.; effective 1-1-2012.) (Amended 6-18-2013 by O-20261 N.S.; effective 7-19-2013.) (Amended 4-5-2016 by O-20634 N.S.; effective 5-5-2016.) (Amended 9-15-2017 by O-20856 N.S.; effective 10-20-2017.) (Amended 3-22-2018 by O-20920 N.S.; effective 4-21-2018.) (Amended 8-9-2019 by O-21117 N.S.; effective 9-8-2019.) (Amended 9-12-2019 by O21118 N.S.; effective 10-12-2019.) (Amended 1-8-2020 by O-21164 N.S.; effective 2-9-2020.) (Amended 10-30-2020 by O-21254 N.S.; effective 11-29-2020.) (Amended 1-27-2022 by O-21416 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 9-21-2022 by O-21528 N.S; effective 10-23-2022.) (Amended 1-21-2026 by O-22050 N.S.; effective 3-22-2026.)
[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-22050 N.S. will not apply within the Coastal Overlay Zone until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment.
Click the link to view the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes to prior language http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode_strikeout_ord/O-22050-SO.pdf ]
Ch. Art. Div. 12 6 4 4
San Diego Municipal Code
Chapter 12: Land Development Reviews
(3-2026)
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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
- Division 4 — Interim School Facilities Financing Ordinance
- Division 6 — Housing Impact Fees On Commercial Development
- Division 7 — Residential Tenant Protections
- Division 8 — Prohibition of Discrimination Based on a Tenant’s…
- Division 9 — Notice of Tenant’s Right to Operate a Daycare Home
- Division 10 — Affordable Housing Preservation
- Division 11 — Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Automated Rent P…
- 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
- Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
- 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…
Overview- §126.0401 Purpose of The Neighborhood Development Permit Proce…
- §126.0402 When a Neighborhood Development Permit Is Required
- §126.0403 Decision Process for a Neighborhood Development Permit
- §126.0404 Findings for a Neighborhood Development Permit Appro…
- §126.0405 Violations of a Neighborhood Development Permit
- §126.0406 Judicial Review
- 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