Closing of Building Permit Application
San Diego Municipal Code § 129.0211
in effect§129.0211 Closing of Building Permit Application
(a) If two years have elapsed since the date a Building Permit application is deemed complete and the applicant has not requested that a Building Permit be issued, the application file shall be closed. Plans and other data submitted for review may be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official. To reapply, the applicant shall submit a new Building Permit application with required submittal materials and shall be subject to all applicable fees and regulations in effect on the date the new application is filed.
(b) The application file for City projects and for residential master planned developments shall be closed after two years have elapsed since the date the Building Permit application is deemed complete. For the purposes of this section, residential master planned developments are residential developments submitted with one or more building types constructed in phases on one or multiple lots.
(c) The Building Official may extend a Building Permit application for a period not exceeding 180 calendar days from the date the Building Permit application was deemed complete if the Building Official determines that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented issuance of the Building Permit.
(d) The Building Official may extend a Building Permit application for one additional period not exceeding 180 calendar days if the Building Official determines that the building standards effective at the time that the Building Permit application was submitted are sufficient to protect public health and safety or the project complies with significant life and safety building standards effective at the time that the Building Permit application was submitted and:
(1) The additional application extension is in the public interest; or
(2) Circumstances beyond the control of the applicant prevented the issuance of the Building Permit.
(e) A Building Permit application shall not be extended more than 360 calendar days from the date the Building Permit application was deemed complete.
(f) If a request to extend the closing date of a Building Permit application has been filed in accordance with this section, the existing Building Permit application shall be automatically extended until the Building Official has made a decision on the request for an extension.
(g) The application for all Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, or Fire Permits associated with a Building Permit shall expire concurrently with the Building Permit.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)
(Amended 3-1-2006 by O-19468 N.S.; effective 4-1-2006.)
(Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.)
(Amended 1-18-2018 by O-20897 N.S.; effective 2-17-2018.)
(Amended 4-9-2020 by O-21181 N.S.; effective 5-9-2020.)
(Amended 3-11-2022 by O-21439 N.S.; effective 4-10-2022.)
(Amended 9-18-2023 by O-21725 N.S.; effective 10-18-2023.)
(Amended 8-5-2024 by O-21859 N.S.; effective 9-4-2024.)
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/MuniCodeChapter12/Ch12Art09Division02.pdf#page=9Fetched: 10/28/2026