Activity

Obtaining precise, consolidated data for all building permits issued across the entirety of San Diego County over the past five years is challenging due to the fragmented nature of reporting between the County’s unincorporated areas and the various incorporated cities within the county (like the City of San Diego itself). Each jurisdiction often maintains its own permitting records and reporting mechanisms.
However, by synthesizing available information, we can provide a general overview and some specific data points:
General Trends and Information:
* Increase in 2023: San Diego County saw a significant increase in residential building permits in 2023, with 11,673 permits pulled. This was a 21 percent increase from 2022 and the highest number in 17 years.
* Majority in Multi-Family: The majority of the residential construction permits in 2023 were for multi-family buildings (apartments, condos, townhouses), totaling around 9,100 permits. Single-family permits, including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), accounted for approximately 2,573 permits.
* City of San Diego Leads ADU Permitting: The City of San Diego has issued the most permits for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the county.
* County Efforts to Streamline: San Diego County has been working to streamline the building permit process to expedite approvals.
Available Data Points:
While a precise five-year total is not readily available in a single source, we can look at some annual figures:
* 2023 (San Diego County): 11,673 total residential permits.
* 2022 (San Diego County): Approximately 9,647 total residential permits (based on the 21% increase to 11,673 in 2023).
* 2021 (San Diego County): Approximately 10,048 total construction permits (all types).
* 2020 (San Diego County): Approximately 9,472 total construction permits (all types).
* 2019 (San Diego County): Data is less readily available in the aggregated form for the entire county. However, the average since 2015 had been around 9,000 to 10,000 per year before the 2023 surge.
Where to Find More Detailed Information (Though Not Aggregated):
* San Diego County’s Open Data Portal: This portal provides datasets on building permits issued by the County’s Planning & Development Services (PDS) for unincorporated areas. You can filter and explore this data, though it won’t include the incorporated cities.
* City of San Diego’s Open Data Portal: The City of San Diego has its own open data portal with information on development permits. You can find data here specifically for the City. They also have a “Permit Finder” tool for accessing permit activity.
* U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS): The Census Bureau provides some data on building permits at the county level, although it might not have the detailed breakdown you need and may have a lag in reporting.
* Local News and Construction Industry Reports: Sometimes, local news outlets or industry research groups may publish summaries or analyses of building permit activity in the region.
In conclusion, while San Diego County saw a significant surge in building permits in 2023, reaching the highest level in 17 years, a precise total for the entire county over the past five years requires compiling data from various jurisdictions (the County and each incorporated city), which is not readily available in a single, consolidated source. You would need to consult the individual reporting mechanisms of each to get a complete picture.

Video courtesy of Escrow.com

Video courtesy of Escrow.com