San Diego Municipal Code Div. 1 Applications

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

Before submitting an application for a permit, map, or other matter, a prospective applicant may request a preapplication conference to discuss the proposed development with City staff. The person requesting the preapplication conference may be required to pay a fee that has been established by City Council resolution. Based upon the information provided by the applicant at the preapplication conference, the City shall inform the applicant of the general policies and regulations in effect at the time of the conference. The City may examine possible alternatives or modifications relating to the proposed permit, map, or other matter.

The applicant is responsible for knowing and understanding the governing policies and regulations applicable to the proposed development, and the City is not liable for any damages or loss resulting from any actual or alleged failure to inform the applicant of any laws or regulations that may be applicable to a development. Nothing stated in this meeting shall be construed as actual or implied approval of a proposed development. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

An application for a permit, map, or other matter shall be filed with the City Manager in accordance with the following requirements:

(a) Authority to File an Application. The following persons are deemed to have
the authority to file an application:

(1) The record owner of the real property that is the subject of the permit,
map, or other matter;

(2) The property owner’s authorized agent; or

(3) Any other person who can demonstrate a legal right, interest, or
entitlement to the use of the real property subject to the application.

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(4) Any person who has an approved and executed Disposition and
Development Agreement with the Redevelopment Agency of the City
of San Diego

(b) Submittal Requirements. The application shall be made on a form provided by
the City Manager and shall be accompanied by the materials, information,
fees, and deposits that are required on the date the application is filed, unless
otherwise specified by the Land Development Code. The application shall be
deemed complete when the department processing the application has
determined that the application includes all of the information, materials, fees,
and deposits required by this section and Section 112.0202. After the
application has been deemed complete, the City Manager may not request any
new or additional materials, information, fees, or deposits that were not
specified at the time of application, except as provided by state law. The City
may, however, in the course of processing the application, request that the
applicant clarify, simplify, or provide in alternate format or medium, the
information required for the application.

(c) Materials and Information. The City Manager shall maintain a list specifying
the materials and information to be submitted with each application for a
permit, map, or other matter filed in accordance with the Land Development
Code. The list may be revised on a quarterly basis or as needed to comply
with revisions to local, state, or federal law, regulation, or policy. The revised
list shall be posted at the City, shall become effective on the 30th calendar day
after posting, and shall apply to all applications submitted after that date. The
City Manager shall provide a copy of the list to all applicants and to any
person who requests a copy.

(d) Expiration of Application.

(1) Applications for construction permits and Process One map approvals
expire 2 years from the date the application is deemed complete, unless
otherwise stated in the Land Development Code.

(2) Extensions.

(A) An application for a Demolition/Removal Permit, Grading
Permit, Public Right-of-Way Permit, Sign Permit, or a Process
One map may be extended for a period not exceeding
180 calendar days, if the City Manager determines that
circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented
issuance of the Demolition/Removal Permit, Grading Permit,
Public Right-of-Way Permit, Sign Permit or approval of the
Process One map. In such cases, the existing application shall
be automatically extended until a decision is made regarding
the request for extension.

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(B) The City Engineer may extend a Grading Permit application or
a Public Right-of-Way Permit application for one additional
period not exceeding 180 calendar days from the expiration
date.

(C) The Building Official may extend an application for a Building Permit, Electrical Permit, Plumbing/Mechanical Permit, and Fire Permit in accordance with Sections 129.0211, 129.0309, 129.0410 and 129.0907.

(3) An application related to a premises for which a civil penalty Notice
and Order establishes a future date for corrective action of a code
violation shall be automatically extended 180 calendar days from the
date for corrective action. If the date for corrective action is less than
two years from the date the application is deemed complete, the
application may be extended in accordance with
Section 112.0102(d)(2).

(4) Once expired, the application, plans, and other data submitted for
review may be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the City
Manager.

(5) To reapply, the applicant shall submit a new application with required
submittal materials and shall be subject to all applicable fees and
regulations in effect on the date the new application is deemed
complete.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 2-28-2005 by O-19360 N.S.)
(Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)
(Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20481 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015.)
(Amended 8-5-2024 by O-21859 N.S.; effective 9-4-2024.)

(a) When an applicant applies for more than one permit, map, or other approval for a single development, the applications shall be consolidated for processing and shall be reviewed by a single decision maker as follows, except as provided in Sections 112.0103(b) through (d).

(1) The decision maker shall act on the consolidated application at the
highest level of authority for that development as set forth in
Section 111.0105.

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(2) The findings required for approval of each permit shall be considered
individually, consistent with Section 126.0105.

(3) Where the consolidation of processing combines Process Two, Process
Three, Process Four, or Process Five with Process CIP-Two or Process
CIP-Five, the consolidation shall be made as follows:

(A) Consolidation of Process Two and Process CIP-Two shall be
consolidated into Process CIP-Two.

(B) Consolidation of Process Three, Process Four, or Process Five
with Process CIP-Five shall be consolidated into Process
CIP-Five, except that any consolidation with a Process Five for
rezoning shall be consolidated into Process Five.

(b) When the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California
Water Code require that the City prepare a Water Supply Assessment (WSA),
the WSA shall be considered by the City Council. The associated development
permit applications shall not be required to be consolidated for processing
with approval of the WSA, as further described below:

(1) When the development permit is subject to Process Two, Three, or
Four, the City Council must consider and approve the WSA prior to
the lower decision maker's consideration and approval of the
development permit.

(2) When the development permit is subject to Process Five, the City Council must consider and approve the WSA at a hearing that occurs prior to or at the same time as the hearing at which it grants approval of the development permit. A City Council action to adopt or certify an environmental document that incorporates a WSA constitutes approval of the WSA.

(c) An application for an approval required to comply with a civil penalty Notice
and Order related to a code violation shall not be required to be consolidated
for processing with any other application, but may be consolidated at the
applicant’s request.

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(d) An application for a public right-of-way vacation in accordance with
Chapter 12, Article 5, Division 9, or a public service easement vacation in
accordance with Chapter 12, Article 5, Division 10, shall not be required to be
consolidated for processing with any other approval associated with the
development, but may be consolidated for processing at the applicant’s
request. The public right-of-way vacation or the public service easement
vacation must be recorded prior to the approval of any other associated
construction permits or building permits in accordance with
Sections 125.0950 or 125.1050.

(1) Although an application for a public right-of-way vacation or public
service easement vacation is not required to be consolidated for
processing with any other approval associated with the development,
the whole of the action and the development’s potential environmental
impacts shall be analyzed in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 10-19-1999 by O-18691 N.S.; effective
1-1-2000.)
(Amended 10-22-2013 by O-20309 N.S.; effective 12-12-2013.)
(Amended 5-5-2015 by O-20481 N.S.; effective 6-4-2015.)
(Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)

[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 ]

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Article 2: Required Steps in Processing