San Diego Municipal Code Div. 24 Development Services Department

City Planning Department, and Economic Development Department (“Planning Department” added 2–27–1975 by O–11499 N.S.) (Retitled to “Development Services Department” and amended 7–25–1994 by O–18088 N.S.) (Retitled to “Development Services Department and Department of Planning, Neighborhoods, and Economic Development” and amended 2-12-2014 by O-20347 N.S.) (Retitled to “Development Services Department, Planning Department, and Economic Development Department” and amended 6-11-2015 by O-20491 N.S.; effective 7-11-2015.) (Retitled to “Development Services Department, City Planning Department, and Economic Development Department” on 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 ]

Services Director

(a) The Development Services Department is a City department. The department
provides review, permit issuance, inspection, and code enforcement services
for private and public development. The Director is the administrative head of
the department and shall be appointed by and may be removed by the City
Manager.

(b) The Director of the Development Services Department, under the direction of
the City Manager and with policy direction of the City Council and policy
guidance and recommendations of the Planning Commission, shall be
responsible for performing those duties and functions as assigned and directed
by the City Manager. Such activities, as may be assigned, shall be performed
as required by federal, state and local law and regulations as may be
promulgated by the City Manager.

(c) The Development Services Director, under the direction of the City Manager,
shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Land Development
Code (San Diego Municipal Code chapters 10-15).
(Retitled to “Development Services Department — Powers and Duties of the
Development Services Director— Environmental Section” and amended 7–25–1994
by O–18088 N.S.)
(Retitled to “Development Services Department and Department of Planning,
Neighborhoods, and Economic Development“ and amended 2-12-2014 by O-20347
N.S.; effective 3-14-2014.)

Ch. Art. Div.
2 2 24 1

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (4-2025)

(a) The City Planning Department is a City department. The department is responsible for long-range planning of the City’s communities and neighborhoods. The department’s responsibilities also include historic resource analysis, the multiple species conservation program, and environmental policy and analysis. An environmental section responsible for all California Environmental Quality Act policy in the City shall serve as a section of the department. The Planning Director is the administrative head of the department and shall be appointed by and may be removed by the Mayor.

(b) The Planning Director, under the direction of the Mayor or City Manager and
with policy direction of the City Council and policy guidance and
recommendations of the Planning Commission, shall be responsible for
performing those duties and functions as assigned and directed by the Mayor
or City Manager. Such activities, as may be assigned, shall be performed as
required by federal, state and local law and regulations as may be
promulgated by the Mayor or City Manager.

(c) The environmental section of the City Planning Department shall maintain
that degree of independence in the performance of its functions and duties as
will assure the Mayor or City Manager, the City Council, Planning
Commission and the people of the City of San Diego that its review and
analysis of the environmental consequences of projects under its purview,
whether beneficial or detrimental, are independent and wholly objective and
are not prepared for the purpose of either supporting or detracting from any
project, plan or position, whether advanced by the City, any other
governmental agency, a developer, a citizen or a group of citizens.
(“Department of Planning, Neighborhoods, and Economic Development— Powers
and Duties of the Planning Director” added 2-12-2014 by O-20347 N.S.; effective
3-14-2014.)
(Retitled to “Planning Department — Powers and Duties of the Planning Director”
and amended 6-11-2015 by O-20491 N.S.; effective 7-11-2015.)
(Retitled to “City Planning Department — Powers and Duties of the Planning
Director” and 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 ]

Ch. Art. Div. 2 2 24 2

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (4-2025)

Development Director

(a) The Economic Development Department is a City department. The
department is responsible for the implementation of economic development
programs within the City. The Department's mission is to improve the
quality of life in core urban neighborhoods, create opportunities for
unemployed or underemployed residents, provide community development
services to those areas in greatest need, and generate new revenues to fund
essential municipal services. The Economic Development Director is the
administrative head of the department and shall be appointed by and may be
removed by the Mayor.

(b) The Economic Development Director, under the direction of the Mayor or
City Manager, and with policy direction from the City Council, shall be
responsible for performing those duties and functions as assigned and
directed by the Mayor or City Manager, including:

(1) performing administrative functions and duties related to managing the
City’s real estate and airport needs, such as property valuation, leasing
City-owned real property, and acquiring real property interests for the
City;

(2) managing City airports as provided in Chapter 6, Article 8 of the
Municipal Code;

(3) acquiring and managing public rights-of-way and easements;

(4) coordinating with the County Tax Collector regarding property that
may be sold because of delinquent taxes that the City may desire for
public use;

(5) performing administrative functions required for eminent domain
proceedings;

(6) performing administrative functions to manage leases and concessions
at City-owned properties;

(7) inspecting and maintaining City-owned real property;

(8) periodically reviewing City-owned real property to identify
underutilized real properties; and

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (4-2025)

(9) managing and controlling Pueblo Lands and unimproved City properties that are not under the control of a specific City department. (“Economic Development Department – Powers and Duties of the Economic Development Director” added 6-11-2015 by O-20491 N.S.; effective 7-11-2015.) (Amended 3-14-2025 by O-21928 N.S.; effective 4-13-2025.)

Ch. Art. Div. 2 2 24 4

San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (6-2000)

Article 2: Administrative Code