Do I need an electrical permit in San Diego? Simple Permits, circuit fees and who can pull one

The San Diego rule

The City's When is a Permit Required? sheet and Information Bulletin 103 (May 2026, both read 23 October 2026) set the line. IB 103: "Electrical permits are required for all electrical work except as exempted in San Diego Municipal Code (SDMC) §129.0303."

The Simple Permits page limits the no-plan route to "single-dwelling units, duplexes or townhouses located outside of historic districts or in non-historically designated properties only." If one item in the job needs plan review, IB 103 says the whole job loses Simple Permit status and goes to plan review.

Who can pull it

A licensed electrician. California licenses electrical contractors as C-10 through CSLB (classifications). Since 1 January 2025 unlicensed handypersons are limited to jobs under $1,000, and only when no permit is needed (CSLB), so any permitted electrical job needs a licensee or you. 72.9% of the San Diego electrical firms in our file matched an active CSLB license; 16 matched one that was not active.

You, as owner-builder. The City says "Homeowners, property owners and licensed contractors" can get a Simple Permit. Owner-builders upload the Owner-Builder Verification Form DS-3042; IB 103 says it must also be signed if you are hiring different contractors yourself.

How to apply

1. Apply in the City's Accela portal (aca.accela.com/SANDIEGO) and choose Simple Permits. The City's instructions walk through picking each item and how many.
2. Issue. "Licensed contractors will receive the permit as soon as they complete and submit the application and pay the invoice. Homeowners will receive their Simple Permit normally within two business days" after DS-3042 is submitted.
3. Inspection. Schedule it in the same portal once the invoice is paid. For any circuits added to a house or duplex, IB 103 requires a signed Electrical Circuit Card (DS-1779) at inspection, unless the approved plans include the electrical drawings.

What it costs

From IB 103, Table 2 (items that qualify as Simple Permits on a house, duplex or townhouse):

A kitchen with three new 20-amp circuits is $176.57; adding a 50-amp range circuit to that is a separate $353.13 line. IB 103 says plan check, inspection and records fees are non-refundable. San Diego's electrical permits carry no job value; national price ranges are in electrical work cost.

What 2,265 San Diego electrical permits show

The permit is quick to get; the final is where jobs stall. Only 75.5% of electrical permits a year or more old reached final, and 13 of the 30 busiest firms finished under 70%. An open permit stays on your address until someone books the inspection, so ask who books it and hold back the last payment until it passes. Filing runs from March at the top to November at the bottom.

See every San Diego electrician by finished permits →

Check it in five minutes

1. Look up the electrician's C-10 on CSLB Check a License (steps).
2. After the job is booked, find the permit on your address in the City's Permit Finder or Accela (how).
3. Compare firms on the San Diego electrician list; counts by year are on San Diego permit statistics.

Other cities' rules: do I need a permit for electrical work, panel upgrade and EV charger.

What this does not tell you

This is the City of San Diego only; unincorporated areas are in our San Diego County electrical permit guide, and Chula Vista, Escondido and the other cities run their own counters. Exempt swaps leave no record. Permits pulled by owner-builders are not in our firm lists. IB 103 lists fees for the permit items only; the City's invoice is the final figure.