Quick Facts — San Diego County (Unincorporated)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authority Having Jurisdiction | San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) |
| Phone | (858) 565-5920 |
| Portal / Address | https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/ |
| Estimated Permit Fee | $200–$600 |
| Typical Approval Timeline | 5–10 business days (expedited available) |
| Required Inspections | Electrical rough, final |
| Primary Utility | San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) |
| PTO Timeline (post-final) | 15–30 business days |
County-Specific Requirement
SDG&E requires a Renewable Energy Systems (RES) application submitted online at sdge.com/res before or concurrent with the county permit. You will receive a SDG&E project number — include this on your permit application. NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff) applies to new SDG&E customers since April 2023.
Required Permit Documents
- Completed permit application — from San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS)
- Site plan / plot plan — overhead drawing showing panel placement, setbacks, north arrow, to-scale
- Roof plan with panel layout — IFC fire setback dimensions (18-inch perimeter; 36-inch hip-to-ridge on hip roofs)
- Single-line electrical diagram (SLD) — from installer, identifying all equipment by model number
- Equipment specification sheets — panels, inverter, racking
- Structural engineering letter — typically required for systems over 10kW
- Permit fee — $200–$600 (verify current rate with AHJ)
Utility Interconnection — San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
SDG&E's interconnection process at sdge.com/res typically runs 15–30 business days after the county final inspection. Submit simultaneously with your PDS permit application. SDG&E is among the faster California IOUs for interconnection processing outside of peak summer months.
Filing your San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) interconnection application on the same day as your county permit application saves 3–6 weeks by running both reviews in parallel. Most utilities accept applications before installation begins.
Full interconnection guide: Solar Interconnection Application Steps.
Inspection Schedule
Required inspections: Electrical rough, final. Schedule through the San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) portal or by calling (858) 565-5920. Your installer typically schedules inspections on your behalf — confirm dates in advance and ensure someone is available to provide access to the electrical panel and roof.
Full inspection guide: Solar Permit Inspection: What to Expect.
HOA Solar Rights — California
For California HOA solar rights law and a template approval request letter, see our HOA Solar Rights by State guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask your installer for the permit application number. With that number, look up the permit status at the San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) online portal or call (858) 565-5920. You want to see the permit as "issued" and eventually as "finaled" (final inspection passed). A permit that is issued but not finaled means the installation is incomplete from a permitting standpoint — your utility will not issue PTO until the permit is finaled.
Unpermitted solar carries significant risks: insurance claim denial on fire or weather damage, resale disclosure liability, and inability to obtain utility PTO (which means your system can't legally export power). Retroactive permitting is available at San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) — contact them at (858) 565-5920 to ask about the as-built permit process. Expect a penalty fee of 2–3x the standard permit fee for unpermitted work. Full guide: What Happens If You Install Solar Without a Permit.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction. Some AHJs issue a single combined building/electrical permit for solar PV. Others require separate applications. Contact San Diego County Planning & Development Services (PDS) at (858) 565-5920 or check their permit portal to confirm whether you need one application or two. Your installer should know this for your specific county — ask them before they submit.