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Building Permit Requirements
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Do you need a permit to replace a roof in San Diego?

It depends on the project. San Diego exempts some roof replacements from a building permit and requires one for the rest1.

Last checked

On this page
  1. Which permits you need
  2. Limits and conditions in San Diego's rule
  3. Who can apply
  4. Roof permit fees in San Diego
  5. Inspections
  6. Special areas and extra reviews
  7. California law that applies
  8. Who to ask
  9. Roof permit rules in other cities
  10. Sources

Depends on size or scope

San Diego's rule

“A permit is required for the renewal (replacement, alteration or modification) of roof coverings when one or more of the following conditions occur…”1

City of San Diego, Development Services Department, I. Permit Requirements

Which permits you need

PermitRequired whenThe city’s wording
Building permitHeavier roofing replacing shakes/shinglesWhere the existing wood shakes, wood shingles, or asphalt shingles are removed and replaced with a new roofing material weighing more than six (6) pounds per square foot.1
Building permitStructural framing, sheathing or support elements altered or replacedWhere alteration or replacement of structural framing members, roof sheathing/decking (plywood or oriented-strand board), support elements, lateral-resisting elements, or foundation system is required due to renewal of roof covering.1
Building permitSkip sheathing replaced with new plywood/OSBWhere the existing spaced ‘skip’ sheathing is removed and new roof sheathing/decking (plywood or oriented-strand board) is installed.1
Historic reviewDesignated historical resource or historic district: permit always requiredWhere the project site contains a designated historical resource or is located within the boundaries of an adopted historic district, a permit is always required for renewal of roof coverings.1
Electrical permitRe-installing removed rooftop PVWhere existing roof-mounted photovoltaic panels (PV) are removed in order to renew roof covering, an electrical permit is required to re-install the PV panels.1

Limits and conditions in San Diego's rule

Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.

RuleValueThe city’s wording
Like-for-like replacement exempt?YesRenewal of roof coverings on any building permitted by the California Building Code and the California Residential Code, where the existing roof structure, including roof diaphragm, is not altered.2
Roof area that can be replaced without a permit25%For single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses only, damaged roof sheathing/decking may be removed and replaced in-kind without a permit provided the accumulative surface area of sheathing/decking replaced does not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the entire roof surface area.1

Who can apply

  • Owner-builder allowed with Form DS-30423

Roof permit fees in San Diego

Fee lines as San Diego's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.

FeeTypeAs the schedule states it
Roof Re-sheathing, SDU/DUP/THPlan reviewPlan check hourly; inspection $264.25 each building4
Roof Structure Replacement, each 2,000 sq. ftPlan reviewPlan check $1,942.13 / $617.38; inspection $264.25 / $264.254

All of San Diego's fee lines are on the San Diego permit page.

Inspections

  1. Inspections before concealment; final inspection5 At least one day in advance; online or 858-581-71116

Special areas and extra reviews

  • Class A roof covering required for replacements1
  • VHFHSZ: CWUIC Chapter 5 as amended by SDMC applies (buildings built on/after Aug 27, 2009)1
  • Max two layers; tear-off required1
  • Not eligible for No-Plan Building Permit7

California law that applies

Who to ask

City of San Diego Development Services Department8

Building permits

Apply online
sandiego.gov9
Address
7650 Mission Valley Road, MS# DSD-1A, San Diego, CA 92108
11
Hours
Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (in-person services closed 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)11
Inspections
858-581-7111 (24/7 automated line) or online6

Roof permit rules in other cities

Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Diego with 19 other cities on the national roof replacement permit guide, or go straight to one:

Sources

  1. Information Bulletin 123: Minimum Standards for Renewal of Roof CoveringCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised September 2026Checked November 6, 2026
  2. SDMC Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 2: Building Permit ProceduresCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised September 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  3. Information Bulletin 211: Residential DecksCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised April 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Information Bulletin 501: Fee Schedule for Construction Permits-StructuresCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  5. SDMC Chapter 12, Article 9, Division 1: General Construction Permit ProceduresCity of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk)Revised September 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  6. InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
  7. Information Bulletin 203: No-Plan Building PermitCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised July 2024Checked November 7, 2026
  8. About UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Information Bulletin 120: Project InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised October 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  10. Contact UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026
  11. Locations and HoursCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026