Permits and plans
Which office permits your project, what plans it needs, and how we coordinate the paperwork.
Most construction work needs a building permit, and the office that issues it depends on the address: a city building division, or the County of San Diego for unincorporated communities such as Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rancho Santa Fe and 4S Ranch. Our locale pages list the office for each town we serve.
Additions, ADUs, structural work and most rebuilds need drawn plans, and often an engineer's calculations. Coastal parcels may need a coastal development permit first, and homeowners associations or the Rancho Santa Fe Association's Art Jury may need to approve the design before the city sees it.
We explain who files what at the first visit, since the owner, the designer and the contractor can each apply. Have your deed or parcel number, any past plans, your association rules and photos of the work area ready.
Permit and plan-check fees are set by each city or the County and change; ask the building division for its current fee schedule. We do not publish a range, since we have none sourced for all 22 towns.
Common questions
Who pulls the permit?
Either the owner or a licensed contractor can apply. We settle who applies, and who pays the fees, in the written scope.
Where we do this work
Permits and plans in Carlsbad
Additions, ADUs and rebuilds in Carlsbad, with city permits and a coastal-zone check.
Permits and plans in Escondido
Home additions, ADUs and fire or water rebuilds for Escondido's older housing stock.
Permits and plans in Encinitas
Additions, ADUs and whole-home work in Encinitas, with coastal and design-review checks.
Permits and plans in Del Mar
Careful additions and rebuilds in Del Mar, where design review and the coastal zone shape every project.
Permits and plans in Oceanside
Additions, ADUs and reconstruction in Oceanside, from coastal bungalows to inland tract homes.
Permits and plans in Carmel Valley
Room additions and renovations in Carmel Valley's newer, HOA-governed neighborhoods.
Permits and plans in Leucadia
Additions and rebuilds for Leucadia's small coastal lots along Highway 101.
Permits and plans in Rancho Santa Fe
Additions and rebuilds in Rancho Santa Fe, where County permits and the Association's Art Jury both apply.
Permits and plans in Cardiff
Additions and renovations for Cardiff-by-the-Sea's small lots near the lagoon and the coast.
Permits and plans in Olivenhain
Additions, ADUs and rebuilds on Olivenhain's larger semi-rural lots.
Permits and plans in Fallbrook
Additions, ADUs and fire or water rebuilds in Fallbrook's unincorporated rural neighborhoods.
Permits and plans in Fairbanks Ranch
Additions and rebuilds in Fairbanks Ranch, with association design review on top of County permits.
Permits and plans in Rancho Bernardo
Additions, renovations and fire or water rebuilds for Rancho Bernardo homes west of I-15.
Permits and plans in Solana Beach
Additions and rebuilds in Solana Beach, one of the oldest housing stocks in North County.
Permits and plans in Vista
Additions, ADUs and rebuilds for Vista's older neighborhoods, from the city core to the east side.
Permits and plans in La Costa
Additions and ADUs in La Costa, a master-planned part of Carlsbad with HOA and city review.
Permits and plans in 4S Ranch
Additions and ADUs in 4S Ranch's newer neighborhoods, under County rules and HOA approval.
Permits and plans in Rancho Penasquitos
Additions and renovations for Rancho Penasquitos' 1960s to 1980s family homes.
Permits and plans in San Marcos
Additions, ADUs and rebuilds in San Marcos, from older tracts to newer hillside neighborhoods.
Permits and plans in San Elijo Hills
Additions and ADUs in San Elijo Hills, a master-planned part of San Marcos with HOA review.
Permits and plans in Bonsall
Additions, guest houses and fire rebuilds on Bonsall's rural lots.
Permits and plans in North County San Diego
What to expect for building and rebuilding across North County: which office permits what.