Building Permit Fees in San Diego, CA (2026)

The official low fee is $0 and the official typical fee is $0 because a typical residential reroof is an official exemption for like-for-like covering replacement with no roof-structure/diaphragm alteration under SDMC §129.0203(a)(16) and IB 123; no permit fee applies, and a permit is not required on that path. The source named on this row is DSD IB 123 + SDMC §129.0203 + When is a Permit Required, retrieved Sep 1, 2026.

The official typical project value is $12,000, and the assumed valuations are $8,000 low, $12,000 typical, and $22,000 high; the $0 low fee is listed with the $8,000 assumed valuation, and the $0 typical fee is listed with the $12,000 assumed valuation, and both stay $0 because of that like-for-like covering exemption. A permit is needed for historic sites, for coverings over 6 psf, or for structural framing/sheathing beyond the 25% in-kind allowance.

Two extras are listed for work that needs a permit, and neither extra is included in any total: Roof re-sheathing SDU inspection is $264.25 when a permit is required for structure/diaphragm work, plan check for that re-sheathing extra is hourly per IB 123, and the $264.25 is not in the totals; Roof structure replacement plan check + inspection per 2,000 sf is $2,206.38, which equals $1,942.13 plus $264.25, and that $2,206.38 is not in the totals. No high fee is shown because hourly plan check hours are unpublished; the assumed high valuation of $22,000 is listed on the row, and no high fee dollar is filled in.

City of San Diego Development Services Department Information Bulletin 103, Table 1B, plus the What Permits Do I Need guidance (DSD IB 103 Table 1B + What Permits Do I Need; source retrieved Sep 1, 2026). These fees are for the City of San Diego, not San Diego County, and not other cities in the county such as Chula Vista or El Cajon.

The schedule uses flat per-item fees, and a permit is required. The official fee band is $131.52 low, $308.09 typical, and $484.66 high.

The official typical project value is $7,500. Listed job values are $5,000 low, $7,500 typical, and $16,000 high.

Those job values do not change the fee. Valuation is unused.

The fee is per piece of equipment. It follows the equipment count, not the job price or the home size.

Walk the typical path in three steps.

1. Step 1: installing or replacing HVAC equipment is Simple MEP work, not the repair-only exemption, so a permit is required.
2. Step 2: the furnace / forced-air unit line, Furnace / FAU (IB 103 Table 1B), is $176.57 and is included in the typical.
3. Step 3: the condensing unit line, Condensing unit (HVAC), is $131.52 and is included in the typical. $176.57 + $131.52 = $308.09.

That sum is the official typical total for a furnace plus a condensing unit, and those two lines are not added again. The low path is a condenser-only swap.

Condensing unit (HVAC) is $131.52 by itself, so the official low total is $131.52. The furnace line is not on that low path.

The $131.52 low is not added on top of the $308.09 typical. The high path is a furnace plus a condensing unit plus an air handler or mini-split.

Furnace / FAU (IB 103 Table 1B) is $176.57, Condensing unit (HVAC) is $131.52, and Air handler / mini-split is $176.57. $176.57 + $131.52 + $176.57 = $484.66. That $484.66 high is the official total for those three pieces and is not added on top of the $308.09 typical.

Simple MEP has no plans, so no General Plan Maintenance Fee is added. Electrical or gas line work beyond the equipment swap is not part of the official lines, and this note does not price that work.

This note does not invent a fee beyond the official $131.52, $308.09, and $484.66 totals.

Typical ≤500 sf: $1,677.99+$264.25+$737+$12.16+$1.56+$1+$17.11=$2,711.07. Pre-approved low at $8k=$2,180.85. >500 sf high at $19.20k=$3,860.19.

Typical = $440.82.

• Low $0 = cabinets-only.

High = $3,512.92+$2,228.29+$737+$12.16+$4.55+$1+$17.11=$6,510.43.