Requesting Building Plans (OWNER)

Below is the procedure and requirements for reproducing building plans on file with the City of San Diego. Anyone from the public is able to come in to our office and view building plans from any property; the City is compelled to seek compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 19850-19853.   

In order to begin the process of obtaining a copy of your building plans, you will need to come into our office. Please be aware that if the plans are signed and stamped by an architect and/or engineer, then it is copyrighted material, and it will be necessary to undergo a legal process in order to obtain permission from that professional to copy them. With the information we are able to locate on the subject property, we will partially complete the Plan Duplication Application with you, here in our office. (If the property is within the jurisdiction of a Homeowner’s Association (HOA), you will then need to obtain the signature of a current officer of that Homeowner's Association on the Application, and present documentation to that effect.) Once you return the completed Application with all supporting documents, we then send the request to duplicate the building plans to the professional(s) [i.e., architect(s), engineer(s), if any]. The Plan Duplication Application process does not cost you anything (except for the actual copies once permission is obtained, which is $2.00 per page), and typically takes between four to six weeks. Be sure to bring in your valid photo identification. And, if the title to your home is in the name of a Trust, we also require a copy of the three following pages of your Trust: 1) Title page; 2) Designation of Trustee page; and 3) Signature page.

Requesting Building Plans (NON-OWNER)

Below is the procedure and requirements for reproducing building plans on file with the City of San Diego.

Anyone from the public is able to come into our office and view building plans from any property; but in order to obtain a copy of them, the City is compelled to seek Compliance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 19850-19853.

In order to begin the process of obtaining a copy of architectural building plans, you will need to come into our office. You do not need to be the owner; however, permission will need to be obtained from the current owner to copy the plans. Please be aware that if the plans are signed and stamped by an architect or engineer, then it is copyrighted material and it will be necessary to undergo a legal process in order to obtain permission from that professional to duplicate them. This process is achieved by completing the Plan Duplication Application which you, as the "Applicant", must initiate here in our office. You will then obtain the signature of the current owner of the property, or Homeowner's Association representative, if applicable. If the title to the property is in the name of a trust, corporation or LLC, we will also require certain documentation to ascertain who is authorized to sign on their behalf. We will determine how the title is held when you come into our office.

Once we receive the completed Application with all supporting documents, we then send the request to the professional to duplicate the building plans. The Plan Duplication Application process typically takes between four to six weeks, and does not cost you anything (except for the actual copies once permission is obtained, which is $2.00)

Customers can request an in-person appointment here: Schedule Appointment