Do you need a permit for a shed in San Diego?
It depends on the project. San Diego exempts some sheds from a building permit and requires one for the rest1; the exemption's limit is 120 square feet, with the conditions in the city's wording below.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
San Diego's rule“One-story detached accessory buildings supported on the ground and used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses provided the projected roof area is 120 square feet or less and the structure will not be utilized for any separately regulated use subject to Land Development Code Chapter 14, Article 1.”1
City of San Diego, San Diego Municipal Code (docs.sandiego.gov, Office of the City Clerk), §129.0203(a)(1)
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Projected roof area over 120 sq ft (or not one-story/detached) | One-story detached accessory buildings supported on the ground and used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses provided the projected roof area is 120 square feet or less and the structure will not be utilized for any separately regulated use subject to Land Development Code Chapter 14, Article 1.1 |
| Electrical permit | Building-permit exemptions are not exemptions from electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits | The exemptions in Section 129.0203(a) are not exemptions from the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit requirements.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.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Exempt up to this area | 120 square feet | One-story detached accessory buildings supported on the ground and used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses provided the projected roof area is 120 square feet or less and the structure will not be utilized for any separately regulated use subject to Land Development Code Chapter 14, Article 1.1 |
Who can apply
- Owner-builder allowed with Form DS-30422
Shed 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.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Garage/Storage-SDU/DUP/TH | Plan review | Plan check $1,501.42 each; inspection hourly3 |
All of San Diego's fee lines are on the San Diego permit page.
Inspections
- Inspections before concealment; final inspection4 At least one day in advance; online or 858-581-71115
Special areas and extra reviews
- Exemptions do not apply to historical resources, ESL sites needing a development permit, or URM buildings1
California law that applies
- State rules on which work needs a permit in California
- Homeowners doing their own work in California
- Contractor licensing in California
Who to ask
City of San Diego Development Services Department6
Building permits
- Website
- sandiego.gov6
- Apply online
- sandiego.gov7
- Phone
- (619) 446-50008
- Address
- 7650 Mission Valley Road, MS# DSD-1A, San Diego, CA 921089
- Hours
- Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (in-person services closed 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)9
- Inspections
- 858-581-7111 (24/7 automated line) or online5
Shed permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare San Diego with 18 other cities on the national shed permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- 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
- Information Bulletin 211: Residential DecksCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised April 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 501: Fee Schedule for Construction Permits-StructuresCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- 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
- InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- About UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Information Bulletin 120: Project InspectionsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentRevised October 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Contact UsCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026
- Locations and HoursCity of San Diego, Development Services DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026