Permitting rules vary between the City of San Diego, County unincorporated areas and each incorporated city. These are the thresholds that come up most often in residential work.
Commonly permitted work
When in doubt, ask before design is finalized — not after materials arrive.
- Retaining walls over 3 feet, or any height with a surcharge above
- Freestanding walls and fences over allowed height limits
- Patio covers, pergolas and structures over a certain size or attached to the house
- Gas lines, new electrical circuits and low-voltage transformers on new circuits
- Decks above a set height, and any structure with footings near setbacks
- Grading beyond a threshold cubic yardage, or any work on steep slopes and canyon edges
- Work in coastal overlay zones, historic districts and HOA-governed communities
How permits affect timeline
Over-the-counter approvals can happen in a day. Plan check for engineered walls or structures commonly takes three to eight weeks depending on jurisdiction and revision cycles. Coastal Development Permits and historic review can add months.
This is why we start permit conversations during design, not during construction.
The cost of skipping it
Unpermitted structures surface at resale, complicate insurance claims, and can be ordered removed. Retroactive permitting typically costs more than doing it right, because inspectors cannot see covered work and require exposure.
Frequently asked
- Does a paver patio need a permit?
- At grade, usually no. Raised patios, structural work and drainage changes can.
- Who pulls the permit?
- Your licensed contractor should. If they ask you to pull it as an owner-builder, understand that shifts liability to you.
- Do HOAs count as permits?
- Separate track, and both may apply. HOA architectural review commonly takes 30–60 days.