Determining Property Lines
San Diego Municipal Code § 113.0246
in effect§113.0246 Determining Property Lines
The property lines define the perimeter of a lot or premises and separate one lot or premises from any other lot or premises or from the public right-of-way. These rules for determining property lines are for purposes of applying and interpreting development regulations only and are not intended to affect ownership rights or responsibilities. These rules apply regardless of ownership of property extending into the public right-of-way. Where dedications for streets or alleys are required in accordance with Section 142.0610, the property lines used to calculate lot area for the purpose of calculating the maximum permitted density and maximum permitted gross floor area shall be based on the property lines prior to the dedication. Where dedications for streets or alleys are required in accordance with Section 142.0610, the property lines used to calculate front of street side setbacks shall be based on the property lines prior to the dedication.
(a) Front Property Line. The front property line separates a lot from the public right-of-way or private street. On corner lots, the front property line lies along the narrowest street frontage, as shown in Diagram 113-02Z.
Diagram 113-02Z
Front Property Line for Corner Lots
Front Property Line Street (Narrower frontage) CL
Street Side 50' Property Line
25' CL Rear Property Line
(b) Front Property Line for Double-Fronted Lots. When a lot extends from one street to another street, the front property line lies along both frontages, as shown in Diagram 113-02AA, unless the right of vehicular access has been waived to one of the streets as required by a governmental agency. In this case, the line separating the lot from the street where access is waived becomes the rear property line.
Diagram 113-02AA
Front Property Line for Double-Fronted Lots
STREET
Front property lines
STREET
(c) Rear Property Line. The rear property line is the property line opposite and most distant from the front property line, as shown in Diagram 113-02Z. For a triangular lot, the rear property line is a line 10 feet in length within the lot that connects the two side property lines and is parallel to the front property line, or parallel to the chord of a curved front property line, and at the maximum distance from it, as shown in Diagram 113-02BB.
Diagram 113-02BB
Rear Property Line on Triangular Lot
Rear property line 10'
STREET
(d) Side and Street Side Property Lines. The side property lines connect the front property lines to the rear property lines at the corners of the lot. The side property line that abuts the public right-of-way is the street side property line.
(e) Property Lines that Abut an Alley. A property line that abuts an alley shall be determined in accordance with Section 113.0246(a) through (d). However, the property line that abuts an alley shall not be considered a street property line for the purpose of determining setbacks or street yards as indicated below and as shown in Diagram 113-02CC.
(1) Alley adjacent to front property line. A setback equivalent to a rear yard shall be applied when a lot abuts an alley as a front property line.
(2) Alley adjacent to side property line. A setback equivalent to an interior side yard shall be applied when a lot abuts an alley as a street side property line.
(3) Alley adjacent to rear property line. A setback equivalent to a rear yard shall be applied when a lot abuts an alley as a rear property line.
Diagram 113-02CC
Alley Setbacks
Apply Front Street Yard Setback Street Front Property line
Front Property Line Street Side Yard Apply Front Property Line Building Yard Setback Building Apply Interior Rear Side Yard Property Line Apply Rear Yard Setback Alley
Front Apply Rear Building Property Line Yard Setback
Alley
(f) Resubdivided Corner Lots in Residential Zones.
In residential zones, property lines for resubdivided corner lots shall be determined in accordance with Section 113.0246 (a) through (d); however, the setbacks along the front property line and street side property line shall observe the setback requirements placed on the original lot configuration and the remaining property lines shall observe the required interior side setback requirements of the zone, as shown in Diagram 113-02DD.
Diagram 113-02DD
Setbacks for Resubdivided Corner Lots
[image omitted; see the official PDF]
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 11-13-2008 by O-19801 N.S.; effective 12-13-2008.) (Amended 8-4-2011 by O-20081 N.S.; effective 10-6-2011.)
(Amended 7-22-2024 by O-21836 N.S.; effective 10-5-2024.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter11/Ch11Art03Division02.pdf#page=26Fetched: 10/28/2026