Home Energy Rebates for San Diego Homeowners: What the Heat Pump Rebate Offers and Where It Stands
California's home electrification rebate, called HEEHRA, offers up to $8,000 toward a heat pump for households under 80% of area median income and up to $4,000 for households from 80% to 150%. At the time this article was written in October 2026, the California Energy Commission and TECH Clean Calif
Sewer Laterals in San Diego: What You Own and What to Check Before You Buy
A sewer lateral is the pipe that carries wastewater from your home to the public sewer main, and in the City of San Diego the owner is responsible for it from the building to the point where it connects to the main under the street. The City will pay for a repair at no charge only if the blockage is
San Diego Trash Fee: What City Homeowners Pay and What It Includes
Single-family homeowners in the City of San Diego began paying a trash collection fee on July 1, 2025, after the City Council approved it on a 6 to 3 vote in June 2025. 10News reported that the standard 95-gallon bundle, which includes recycling and organics containers, cost $523.20 in the first yea
SDG&E Rate Plans for San Diego Homeowners: How Time-of-Use Pricing Works
SDG&E offers several residential rate plans, and the biggest difference is whether your price changes by time of day. On time-of-use plans, the on-peak period is 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and most plans require a 12-month commitment, so the plan you choose when you move in is worth a few minutes of homework
San Diego Water Rates: How the City Charges and What Is Changing in 2027
The City of San Diego bills single-family water use in three tiers, and it has proposed moving to a single rate of $11.09 per hundred cubic feet starting January 1, 2027 after a court ruling. At the time this article was written in October 2026, the City Council had postponed its vote on the change
Water-Saving Rebates for San Diego Homeowners: Turf, Toilets and Washers
San Diego homeowners can get rebates for some water-saving upgrades through SoCal Water$mart, but the amounts vary by water agency and depend on available funding. At the time this article was written in October 2026, the program listed $40 for a qualifying toilet, rebates starting at $85 for a qual
Flood Zones and Flood Insurance in San Diego: How to Check a Property
FEMA flood maps divide the country into zones, and in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, flood insurance is mandatory for homes in high-risk zones that have a government-backed mortgage. The City of San Diego adds that any property can be affected by a flood, whet
Permit History in San Diego: How to Check a Home's Records Before You Buy
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 a
Solar Panels on a San Diego Home: Owned vs. Leased and What Buyers Should Ask
If the home you want has solar panels, the first question is whether the system is owned or leased, because that decides who gets the savings and what happens when the home is sold. The California Contractors State License Board says a lease or a power purchase agreement may require a buyout or a bu