§126.0502 When a Site Development Permit is Required

• (a) A Site Development Permit decided in accordance with Process Three is required where environmentally sensitive lands are present for the following types of development , except that if the development is affordable housing, an in-fill project, and/or a sustainable building, as described in Section 143.0915, it shall be processed in accordance with Section 126.0503 and Section 143.0110, Table 143-01A:

  • (1) Single dwelling unit development that involves any of the following:

    • (A) Development on a premises containing sensitive coastal bluffs or coastal beaches , as described in Section 143.0110;

    • (B) Development on lots greater than 15,000 square feet containing sensitive biological resources or steep hillsides as described in Section 143.0110; or

    • (C) Development on lots less than or equal to 15,000 square feet that are joined in ownership to a contiguous lot so that the total area of contiguous ownership exceeds 15,000 square feet where sensitive biological resources or steep hillsides are present, as described in Section 143.0110.

  • (2) Multiple unit residential development on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands , as described in Section 143.0110.

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• (3) Commercial development on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands , as described in Section 143.0110.

• (4) Industrial development on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands , as described in Section 143.0110.

• (b) A Site Development Permit decided in accordance with Process Three is required for residential development that involves any of the following:

  • (1) Development of mobilehome parks within the RS or RX zones, as described in Section 143.0302.

  • (2) Within the Mobilehome Park Overlay Zone, discontinuance of a mobilehome park , as described in Section 143.0630.

  • (3) Multiple unit residential development that varies from minimum parking requirements, as described in Section 142.0525(a).

  • (4) Development of a small lot subdivision in accordance with Section 143.0365.

• (c) A Site Development Permit decided in accordance with Process Three is required for the following types of development.

  • (1) In the Community Plan Implementation Overlay Zone, as described in Section 132.1402, development in the area designated “Type B” or development in the area designated “Type A” that does not comply with the development standards in the applicable community plan, except that if the development is affordable housing, an in-fill project, and/or a sustainable building, as described in Section 143.0915, it shall be processed in accordance with Section 126.0503 and Section 132.1402, Table 132-14B.

  • (2) Development in the Mission Trails Design District, as described in Section 132.1202.

  • (3) Development in the Urban Village Overlay Zone, as described in Section 132.1102.

• (4) Public improvements required in association with private development that involve development of more than 3,000 feet of property frontage, as described in Section 142.0612.

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• (5) Public improvements required in association with private development for which adopted City standards do not apply, as described in Section 142.0612.

• (6) Development of manufactured slopes at a gradient steeper than 25 percent (4 horizontal feet to 1 vertical foot) and a height of 25 feet or more as described in Section 142.0103, except that if the grading is for underground parking, then a Site Development Permit is not required.

• (7) Nonresidential development that varies from the minimum parking requirements by proposing a Transportation Demand Management Plan, as described in Section 142.0540(c).

• (8) Development within the Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone as required for safety compatibility in accordance with Section 132.1515.

• (9) In the Community Enhancement Overlay Zone development in the boundaries shown on a map identified in Section 132.1602 that does not comply with the development standards in the overlay zone, except that if the development is affordable housing, an in-fill project, or a sustainable building, or any combination of the three, as described in Section 143.0915, shall be processed in accordance with Section 126.0503 and Section 132.1602, Table 132-16B.

• (d) A Site Development Permit decided in accordance with Process Four is required for the following types of development .

  • (1) Within historical districts or when designated historical resources are present, unless exempt under Section 143.0220:

    • (A) Subdivisions ;

    • (B) Single or multiple unit residential development ;

    • (C) Commercial or industrial development ;

    • (D) Public works projects; and

    • (E) Development that deviates from the historical resources regulations, as described in Section 143.0210.

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• (2) Where historical resources other than historical districts or designated historical resources are present, unless exempt under Section 143.0220:

  • (A) Subdivisions ;

  • (B) Multiple dwelling unit residential development ;

  • (C) Commercial or industrial development ;

  • (D) Public works construction projects; and

  • (E) Development that deviates from the historical resources regulations, as described in Section 143.0210.

• (3) Subdivision of a premises that contains environmentally sensitive lands , as described in Section 143.0110.

• (4) Development that deviates from any portion of the environmentally sensitive lands regulations, as described in Section 143.0110.

• (5) Development for which the applicant seeks a deviation from the development regulations in Section 144.0507 for condominium conversions .

• (6) Any encroachment or object which is erected, placed, constructed, established or maintained in the public right-of-way when the applicant is not the record owner of the property on which the proposed encroachment will be located in accordance with Section 129.0710(b).

  • (7) Development of a large retail establishment of 100,000 or more square feet gross floor area in all commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones, and in all planned districts.

• (e) A Site Development Permit decided in accordance with Process Five is required for the following types of development .

  • (1) In the Clairemont Mesa Height Limit Overlay Zone, development for which an exception to the height limit is requested, as described in Section 132.1306.

  • (2) Development within the Airport Land Use Compatibility Overlay Zone proposing deviations from the overlay zone requirements.

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• (3) Development in accordance with section 129.0710(c) that includes major underground or overhead structures which extend into the public right-of-way beyond the ultimate curb line or other encroachments which, in the opinion of the City Manager, are of sufficient public interest to warrant City Council approval.

• (f) A Site Development permit in accordance with Process CIP / Public ProjectTwo is required for the following types of development .

  • (1) Capital improvement program projects or public projects on a premises containing environmentally sensitive lands or that deviate from the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Regulations pursuant to Section 143.0110, Table 142-01A.

  • (2) Capital improvement program projects or public projects on a premises containing historical resources where the development complies with the Historical Resources Regulations without deviation, unless exempt under Section 143.0220.

• (g) A Site Development Permit in accordance with Process CIP/Public ProjectFive is required for capital improvement program projects or public projects on a premises containing historical resources that deviate from the Historical Resources Regulations, unless exempt under Section 143.0220.

(Amended 4-22-2002 by O-19051 N.S.; effective 10-8-2002.) (Amended 2-9-2006 by O-19461 N.S.; effective 3-9-2006.) (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 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.) (Amended 10-25-2011 by O-20047 N.S.; effective 1-1-2012.) (Amended 1-23-2013 by O-20235 N.S.; effective 2-22-2013.) (Amended 10-22-2013 by O-20309 N.S.; effective 12-12-2013.) (Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20481 and O-20483 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015.) (Amended 9-15-2017 by O-20856 N.S.; effective 10-20-2017.) (Amended 3-22-2018 by O-20916 N.S.; effective 4-21-2018.) (Amended 3-22-2018 by O-20917 N.S.; effective 4-21-2018.) (Amended 9-12-2019 by O-21118 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 3-7-2023 by O-21618 N.S.; effective 5-6-2023.) (Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

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[Editors Note: Amendments as adopted by O-21836 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-21836-SO.pdf

(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 ]