Custom home planning resource · San Diego approach
Planning a custom home in San Diego
The City of San Diego asks owners to get parcel information before designing. That report sets the zoning, overlays and other regulations a new single dwelling must meet.
KB Remodeling takes new-home inquiries from owners planning here. Share the lot and the project; KB reviews scope, licensing and location for each inquiry before suggesting a next step.
Planning sequence
01
Request Parcel Information (DS-302)
The Project Submittal Manual says to obtain it before design, by email or through the Zoning and Parcel Information Portal (ZAPP).
Official resource: Project Submittal Manual · Section 1 (Mar 2023)City-wide guidance · Passage checked
02
Work through the City's site checks
The manual's steps include environmentally sensitive lands, historical resources and geologic hazards, which can add a discretionary permit before construction review.
Official resource: Project Submittal Manual · Section 1 (Mar 2023)City-wide guidance · Passage checked
03
Prepare a construction permit submittal
Section 2A lists submittal requirements for new single dwelling units. Construction permit review is ministerial: approved if regulations are met.
Official resource: Project Submittal Manual · Section 2A (Mar 2023)City-wide guidance · Passage checked
04
Select the right permit type
Single dwelling units use the Combination Building permit record type.
Official resource: San Diego · Building PermitCity-wide guidance · Passage checked
Each step links to the official page it comes from. Requirements differ by parcel; confirm with the agency.
Who reviews a new home here
San Diego is an incorporated city in San Diego County.
City of San Diego — Development Services Department.
Local planning journey
Which planning question to resolve first here, and why it shapes the brief. Each answer comes from the cited City page or stays a question for staff.
Question 1
Is the parcel in the City of San Diego or the unincorporated County?
"San Diego" addresses include County areas and other cities. The City's Development Services manuals apply only inside City limits.
source: Project Submittal Manual · Section 1 (Mar 2023)Question 2
What does the parcel information report say?
The City asks owners to get parcel information before designing; zoning and overlays set the rules.
source: Project Submittal Manual · Section 2A (Mar 2023)Question 3
Which permit record type applies?
Building Permit page (read October 13, 2026): single dwellings use the Combination Building record type; check the SDMC §129.0203 exemptions list first.
source: San Diego · Building Permit
Finding the current official checklist
Read Project Submittal Manual sections 1 and 2A, then the Building Permit page for record types.
Owner evidence to gather first
- Jurisdiction confirmation
- Parcel information report
- Overlay list from that report
San Diego: which authority, by parcel result
| Parcel result | Start here |
|---|---|
| Inside City of San Diego | City parcel information, then Combination Building permit |
| Unincorporated County | Ask County planning; City manuals do not apply |
| Another incorporated city | That city's own building department |
Source: San Diego · Building Permit
Local issues and the budget lines they touch
| Local issue | Budget line it affects |
|---|---|
| Overlay zones | Studies the overlay requires |
| Combination permit | Coordinated building/MEP drawings |
No dollar amounts or local premiums are implied.
Cost drivers to confirm before pricing
| Issue | Fact that confirms it | Who answers | What a proposal should list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overlays | Parcel information report | Architect with City staff | Overlay-specific reports as separate lines |
| Jurisdiction | City/County boundary check | City or County staff | A proposal written for the correct agency |
Hypothetical: a buyer's listing reads "San Diego, CA" but the parcel is unincorporated. They set aside City manuals and request County guidance before hiring a designer.
What shapes the budget here
- Discretionary permits where sensitive lands or historic resources are found
- Geotechnical work where geologic hazards are mapped
- Distance: travel, supervision and deliveries from Los Angeles
These items affect cost; none is a price. See how to build a realistic budget: Custom home budget guide
Parcel questions to answer first
- What does the DS-302 parcel information show?
- Does the site contain environmentally sensitive lands or a historical resource?
- Is the parcel inside the City of San Diego or another jurisdiction in the county?
Gather before a first conversation
- Address or APN and recent site photos
- Survey, title report and prior permits if available
- Architect drawings, or a written list of rooms and priorities
- Target timing and how you plan to finance construction
Related guides: Buying land to build · Lot utility due diligence · Choosing a custom-home builder · 2025 Energy Code for new homes · Coastal-zone new-home planning
Official sources
Each source shows what it covers and whether its passage was checked in our review.
- Project Submittal Manual · Section 1 (Mar 2023)
Steps to project approval, including DS-302.
City-wide guidance · Passage checked - Project Submittal Manual · Section 2A (Mar 2023)
Single dwelling unit construction permit submittals.
City-wide guidance · Passage checked - San Diego · Building Permit
Permit record types.
City-wide guidance · Passage checked
3 of 3 official source passages checked (latest October 11, 2026).
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