Permit History in San Diego: How to Check a Home's Records Before You Buy

by Trevor Landress

The City of San Diego lets anyone look up a property's permit history, and the Development Services Department says buyers can use these records to verify whether a project was legally constructed and completed. You can search permits from 2003 to the present online, and older building records are available by appointment.

The short answer

City permits and project status from 2003 to the present can be searched online.
Building records after 1955 are available through a records review appointment.
Building plans require an in-person appointment and are not self-service.
These records apply to properties inside City of San Diego limits. Other cities and the County keep their own.

Why check permit history

A remodel, an addition or a converted garage should have a permit on file. When it does not, the buyer can inherit a problem. The City's records are one way to see what was permitted, what was finished and what is still open. Development Services Information Bulletin 110, dated April 2026, describes the records it keeps and how to access them.

I am not an attorney, and I am not a code official. This guide explains where the records are and how to find them. What to do about unpermitted work is a question for a licensed professional and your attorney.

What you can search online

According to the City's records page, the online tools cover 2003 to the present.

OpenDSD: the approvals search.
Permit Finder: a map tool.
Accela: a guide for finding project reports and statuses is linked on the page.

The records include permits, applications and project status. You will need a property address, a plan file number, an approval number, a permit number or the parcel number.

Older and paper records

The City says building records after 1955 are available by scheduling a records review appointment, and it notes that not all types of property records may be available. For building records before 1955, it directs people to the County Assessor's Office. Alternate methods and code modification records from 1963 to the present list the case number, address, subject and result, and copies of a specific project file require an in-person request.

Building plans are not available through self-service. They require an in-person appointment with a team member. Bulletin 110 notes that building plans go back to about 1955, and that plans for common interest developments are retained from January 1, 1989.

Visiting the records counter

Address: 7650 Mission Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92108.
Self-service stations need no appointment during regular hours. Appointments are required for building plans and paper project files.
Copies cost $0.25 per page, according to the bulletin, and checks are made payable to the City Treasurer.
Hours listed on the page: Monday to Thursday, 7 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m., and Friday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Hours and fees change, so confirm them on the City's page before you go.

How this fits a purchase

Ask the seller's agent what work has been done, then check the record. Put the results next to the disclosures and the inspection report. My guide to reading an inspection report shows how to sort findings by risk, and my guide to inspection negotiations covers what comes next.

Permit questions come up with solar systems, ADUs and additions. For a solar system, the Contractors State License Board says the contractor should pull all required permits, which I mention in my solar guide. For a home in a flood-prone area, development has a higher standard, as I explain in my flood zone guide.

What the records will not tell you

A missing permit does not always mean work was done illegally, because older work, minor work and some repairs may not have required one. A record also may not exist in the digital system if the work predates 2003. If a record is unclear, ask for a records review and talk to a licensed contractor or an inspector.

For work in a condo or townhome, the association may have its own approvals, which I explain in my HOA fees guide.

My advice for San Diego buyers and homeowners

Search the address on OpenDSD before you write an offer.
Ask the seller's agent for a list of work done and compare it with the records.
Book a records review appointment if the home is older or the work is unclear.
Bring the findings to your inspector and your agent.
Do not assume a missing record is a problem, or that a record means the work was done well.

A note on advice

I am a REALTOR®, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or financial advisor, so this guide is general information. Your lender can tell you what you qualify for, and a CPA or attorney can answer tax and legal questions.

Call or text me at (619) 402-4614 or send me a message.

Call or text (619) 402-4614 Contact Trevor Landress

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up permits for a San Diego home?

Use the City of San Diego's online tools, OpenDSD, Permit Finder and Accela, which cover 2003 to the present.

Where are older building records kept?

Building records after 1955 are available through a records review appointment, and the City refers people to the County Assessor's Office for records before 1955.

Can I get a copy of building plans online?

No. Building plans require an in-person appointment with a team member and are not available through self-service.

What information do I need to search?

You will need a property address, plan file number, approval number, permit number or the parcel number.

Do these records cover every city in the county?

No. They are City of San Diego records. Other cities and the County keep their own.

About the author

Trevor Landress is a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West (DRE# 02126901). He was born and raised in San Diego and has been licensed since 2021.

Trevor helps homeowners sell, guides first-time buyers through the home buying process and assists investors with their next acquisition. His work includes negotiating offers, analyzing market trends, building pricing strategies and running marketing campaigns for his listings.

He serves clients across San Diego County, from coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad to neighborhoods inland.

Trevor is part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team, and he and the Campbell Group consistently rank as a top producing team at Coldwell Banker West each month. He writes these guides to help San Diego buyers and sellers navigate an ever-changing market. To talk through your plans, call or text (619) 402-4614 or contact Trevor Landress.

How I help San Diego home buyers

I help buyers sort out their budget, understand their loan options with a lender, search for homes, write and negotiate offers, keep track of inspection and contingency deadlines and stay organized through closing.

How I help San Diego home sellers

I help sellers price their home, prepare it for the market, market it to buyers, review and negotiate offers and manage the steps from an accepted offer to closing.