San Diego, CA

Backyard project rules in San Diego

San Diego writes its own permit exemptions, and some are tighter than the model code's: a retaining wall is exempt only to 3 feet. Zoning sets fence and wall heights yard by yard, and coastal, historic and sensitive-land rules can take an exemption away.

Written by DueRivaEditorial review: 2026-09-30Review standard

Local workflow

Start with the parcel, not the project photo

1. Check the exemptions' own exceptions first

No Building Permit exemption holds for work on a historical resource, on premises with environmentally sensitive lands that need a development permit, or with unreinforced masonry walls. The patio cover exemption also stops at the appealable area of the Coastal Overlay Zone and at Planned Developments.

2. Test the work against San Diego's own list

The exempt list is the city's: sheds and playhouses to 120 square feet of projected roof, fences to 7 feet, retaining walls to 3 feet from the top of the footing, and patio covers to 300 square feet in the RS and RX zones. An exempt structure still needs its electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits.

3. Place fences and walls by yard

A permit-free fence can still be too tall for its yard. In a required front yard a solid fence starts at 3 feet at the property line; side and rear yards allow 9 feet if everything over 6 is open. Going higher takes a Neighborhood Development Permit, and between the shoreline and the first public road any fence or wall takes a Coastal Development Permit.

Questions to take to the department

Is the lot a historical resource, or does it hold environmentally sensitive lands that need a development permit?
Is the lot in the appealable area of the Coastal Overlay Zone, or between the shoreline and the first public road?
Which zone is the lot in, and which of its yards will the fence, wall or cover sit in?
Does the exempt structure still need an electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit?

Eleven projects, in San Diego’s own words

Fence

No permit: A fence of 7 feet or less, unless it is a swimming pool barrier. Zoning still sets the height by yard: in a required front or street side yard, a solid fence is 3 feet at the property line, rising to 6 at the setback line, and an open one 6 feet; in required side and rear yards a fence can reach 9 feet if everything over 6 is open.
Permit: A taller fence takes a Building Permit; the fence regulations' own table draws that line at 7 feet or greater, so confirm a fence of exactly 7 feet with Development Services. One taller than the yard allows needs a Neighborhood Development Permit, which can add up to 20 percent. Between the shoreline and the first public road, any fence needs a Coastal Development Permit.
Fees: Plan check, first 100 lineal feet$2,031.00
Plan check, each further 100 lineal feet$970.52
Inspection, first 100 lineal feet$529.71
Inspection, each further 100 lineal feet$353.13
The bulletin's lines for a fence over 7 feet, masonry or not; a fence of varying height is priced at its tallest. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Deck

No permit: A deck of 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house and not serving the exit door the California Residential Code requires.
Permit: Any other deck needs a Building Permit. None of the exemptions holds for work on a historical resource, on premises with environmentally sensitive lands that need a development permit, or with unreinforced masonry walls.
Fees: Deck plan check, up to 500 sq ft$1,677.99
Deck inspection, up to 500 sq ft$264.25
The bulletin's deck lines for a single dwelling unit, duplex or townhome; a bigger deck has its own. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Shed

No permit: A one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, with no more than 120 square feet of projected roof area, supported on the ground and not put to a separately regulated use.
Permit: A bigger shed needs a Building Permit, and wiring or plumbing one takes its own electrical or plumbing permit even when the shed is exempt. None of the exemptions holds for work on a historical resource, on premises with environmentally sensitive lands that need a development permit, or with unreinforced masonry walls.
Fees: Garage or storage building plan check$1,501.42
The bulletin's line for a garage or storage building at a single dwelling unit, duplex or townhome; its inspection is billed by the hour. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Patio

Ask the city: The code names no patio slab. The line it would have to fit takes in sidewalks and driveways no more than 30 inches above the grade beside them, not over a basement or story and not on an accessible route, and Development Services decides whether a patio is one.
Permit: A cover is exempt only as a patio cover for a single dwelling unit in the RS or RX zones of no more than 300 square feet of projected roof area, no more than 12 feet high and outside every required yard, unless it is in the appealable area of the Coastal Overlay Zone or a Planned Development. Any other patio cover needs a Building Permit.
Fees: Patio cover plan check$1,412.54
Patio cover inspection$529.71
The bulletin's lines for a patio cover at a single dwelling unit, duplex or townhome. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Driveway

No permit: A driveway no more than 30 inches above the grade beside it, not over a basement or story and not part of an accessible route.
Permit: Any construction in the public right-of-way, a new curb cut and apron included, takes a Public Right-of-Way Permit.
Fees: The building permit fee bulletin names no driveway line.

Pergola

Ask the city: San Diego's exempt list names no pergola. The line one would have to fit is a patio cover for a single dwelling unit in the RS or RX zones of no more than 300 square feet of projected roof area, no more than 12 feet high and outside every required yard, unless it is in the appealable area of the Coastal Overlay Zone or a Planned Development, and Development Services decides whether a pergola is a patio cover.
Permit: Outside that line a pergola needs a Building Permit.
Fees: Patio cover plan check$1,412.54
Patio cover inspection$529.71
The bulletin names no pergola; these are its patio cover lines, which apply if the city treats it as one. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Retaining Wall

No permit: A retaining wall of 3 feet or less, measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall, that supports no surcharge and impounds no flammable liquids.
Permit: A taller wall needs a Building Permit; the fence regulations' table draws that line at 3 feet or greater, so confirm a wall of exactly 3 feet with Development Services. Zoning also caps walls by yard: two walls of up to 3 feet each in a required front or street side yard, and two of up to 6 feet each in side and rear yards, set apart by at least the upper wall's height.
Fees: City-standard wall plan check, each 50 lineal feet$1,677.99
City-standard wall inspection, each 50 lineal feet$353.13
The bulletin's lines for a wall built to the city's standard; an engineered wall is priced higher, and a wall of varying height at its tallest. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Pool

No permit: A prefabricated pool at a house that sits directly on the ground, with its walls entirely above grade and a capacity of no more than 5,000 gallons.
Permit: Any other pool needs a Building Permit, and California then requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features at a single-family home, from an enclosure at least 60 inches high to a safety cover or exit alarms, checked before final approval.
Fees: Private custom pool or spa plan check$2,649.60
Private custom pool or spa inspection$529.71
The bulletin's lines for a custom pool or spa; one built to an approved master plan costs less to check. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

Gazebo

Ask the city: San Diego's exempt list names no gazebo. The lines it would have to fit are a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, with no more than 120 square feet of projected roof area, or a patio cover for a single dwelling unit in the RS or RX zones of no more than 300 square feet of projected roof area, no more than 12 feet high and outside every required yard, unless it is in the appealable area of the Coastal Overlay Zone or a Planned Development; Development Services decides.
Permit: Outside those lines a gazebo needs a Building Permit, and wiring it for a fan or lights takes an electrical permit even when the gazebo itself is exempt.
Fees: The bulletin names no gazebo; ask Development Services which line prices yours.

Garage

Ask the city: The exempt list names no garage. One would have to fit the line for a one-story detached accessory building used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, with no more than 120 square feet of projected roof area, and Development Services decides whether parking a car is a similar use.
Permit: A garage past that line needs a Building Permit; a one-car garage is well past it.
Fees: Garage or storage building plan check$1,501.42
The bulletin's line for a garage at a single dwelling unit, duplex or townhome; its inspection is billed by the hour. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.

ADU

Permit: Always, though as a limited use decided without a hearing. With a house, the lot may add one attached or detached ADU of 150 to 1,200 square feet, two stories at most on a single-unit lot, with a 4-foot street side setback. Up to 16 feet high it needs no interior side or rear setback outside High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and 4 feet inside them. One of 800 square feet or less is free of lot coverage, floor area ratio and front setback limits.
Fees: Detached ADU up to 500 sq ft, plan check$3,512.92
Detached ADU up to 500 sq ft, inspection$2,228.29
Bigger detached ADU, plan check base$8,085.26
Bigger detached ADU, inspection base$8,401.90
Base rates from the bulletin's building table, which adds a rate per square foot above the base size; state law bars impact fees on an ADU of 750 square feet or less. San Diego Development Services, Information Bulletin 501, August 2026.