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Division 4 — Neighborhood Development Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

§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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Contents — San Diego Zoning Code
San Diego Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 9
  2. Division 2 — House Numbers
  3. Division 3 — Advertising Displays Adjacent to Scenic Freeways,…
  4. Division 1 — General Provisions and Definitions
  5. Division 2 — Financing Facilities
  6. Division 3 — Bonds
  7. Division 1 — Housing Code
  8. Division 2 — Mobilehome Parks and Special Occupancy Parks
  9. Division 3 — San Diego Housing Commission
  10. Division 4 — Interim School Facilities Financing Ordinance
  11. Division 6 — Housing Impact Fees On Commercial Development
  12. Division 7 — Residential Tenant Protections
  13. Division 8 — Prohibition of Discrimination Based on a Tenant’s…
  14. Division 9 — Notice of Tenant’s Right to Operate a Daycare Home
  15. Division 10 — Affordable Housing Preservation
  16. Division 11 — Prohibition of Anti-Competitive Automated Rent P…
  17. Division 12 — Residential Tenant Utility Fees
  18. Division 1 — In General
  19. Division 2 — Responsibilities of City Council
  20. Division 3 — Administration of Program
  21. Division 5 — Designation of Residential Rehabilitation Areas a…
  22. Division 6 — Limitations on Amount of Loan
  23. Division 7 — Terms of Conventional RAP Loans
  24. Division 9 — Miscellaneous Provisions
  25. Division 19.7 — The Centre City Planned District
  26. Division 19.8 — The Centre City Planned District
  27. Division 2 — Land Development Authorities and Advisory Boards
  28. Division 2 — Fees and Deposits
  29. Division 3 — Notice
  30. Division 4 — Public Hearings
  31. Division 5 — Decision Process
  32. Division 1 — Definitions
  33. Division 2 — Rules for Calculation and Measurement
  34. Division 2 — Enforcement Authorities For the Land Development …
  35. Division 4 — Procedures For Abatement of Unsafe, Dangerous,
  36. Division 1 — Adoption And Amendment Procedures for Land Use Pl…
  37. Division 1 — Zoning and Rezoning Procedures
  38. Division 3 — Zoning Use Certificate Procedures
  39. Division 5 — Residential High Occupancy Permit
  40. Division 6 — Mobile Food Truck Permit
  41. Division 1 — General Subdivision Procedures
  42. Division 2 — Certificate of Compliance
  43. Division 4 — Tentative Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.)
  44. Division 5 — Parcel Maps (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; eff…
  45. Division 6 — Final Maps
  46. Division 7 — Merger of Parcels (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S…
  47. Division 8 — Reversion to Acreage
  48. Division 9 — Public Right-of-Way Vacations
  49. Division 10 — Easement Vacations
  50. Division 3 — Conditional Use Permit Procedures
  51. Division 4 — Neighborhood Development Permit Procedures (Added…
  52. Division 5 — Site Development Permit Procedures
  53. Division 6 — Planned Development Permit Procedures (Added 12-9…
  54. Division 8 — Variance Procedures
  55. Division 1 — General Review Procedures for Previously Conformi…
  56. Division 2 — Review Procedures for Previously Conforming Signs
  57. Division 1 — General Procedures and Authorities for Implementa…
  58. Division 2 — Procedures for Determination of
  59. Division 3 — Procedures for Preparation and Review of Environm…
  60. Division 1 — General Construction Permit Authority and Procedu…
  61. Division 2 — Building Permit Procedures
  62. Division 3 — Electrical Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by …
  63. Division 4 — Plumbing/Mechanical Permit Procedures
  64. Division 6 — Grading Permit Procedures (Added 12-9-1997 by O-1…
  65. Division 7 — Public Right-of-Way Permits
  66. Division 9 — Fire Permit Procedures
  67. Division 4 — Residential Base Zones
  68. Division 5 — Commercial Base Zones
  69. Division 6 — Industrial Base Zones
  70. Division 7 — Mixed-Use Base Zones
  71. Division 2 — Airport Approach Overlay Zone
  72. Division 3 — Airport Environs Overlay Zone
  73. Division 6 — Sensitive Coastal Overlay Zone
  74. Division 7 — Mobilehome Park Overlay Zone (Added 12-9-1997 by …
  75. Division 8 — Parking Impact Overlay Zone
  76. Division 9 — Residential Tandem Parking Overlay Zone
  77. Division 10 — Transit Area Overlay Zone
  78. Division 11 — Urban Village Overlay Zone
  79. Division 12 — Mission Trails Design District
  80. Division 13 — Clairemont Height Limit Overlay Zone
  81. Division 15 — Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone
  82. Division 16 — Community Enhancement Overlay Zone

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