How to apply and pay ADU permit fees in San Diego (2026)

Short answer: yes — in 2026 most San Diego ADU permit applications and fee payments can be completed online through the City of San Diego Development Services Department portals: the Accela-based Online Permit/Plan Check Portal and the ePlan electronic plan review site. Start by logging into the permit portal and entering your parcel/APN; that single step tells you whether your ADU can be handled fully online or requires an in-person intake at the Development Services permit counter. If the portal won’t produce a fee, request a written fee estimate from the DSD fee desk before you submit so you can pay immediately when the record becomes payable.

Can I submit and pay for my ADU permit online right now?

Yes. Use the City of San Diego Online Permit/Plan Check Portal (Accela-based) plus the ePlan electronic plan review site linked to that permit record. Those portals accept full ADU plan submissions, collect permit fees, and let you track plan check and inspections in many cases. The portal will validate the parcel/APN and either allow electronic submission or flag the record as requiring in-person intake.

How to check for outages or maintenance: the permit portal shows status or service notices on its login page and the Development Services homepage posts scheduled maintenance alerts. If you see the portal is down, call the DSD service desk (phone number listed on Development Services web pages) to confirm and learn expected restoration times.

When you must go in person: projects that need discretionary review (for example, conditional use permits, certain coastal development permits), projects in locally designated historic districts, or sites with active code enforcement or unresolved violations often require paper plans or counter intake. The portal usually blocks electronic submission or displays a note when the parcel sits in a special plan area or overlay zone. If the portal flags your parcel, schedule an in-person appointment or bring complete paper documents to the permit counter.

A common workflow mistake: assuming the portal will always show a payment button. Preliminary or review-only submittals sometimes generate only a fee estimate, not a payable invoice. If you need to budget or secure payment immediately, request a formal written fee estimate from the DSD fee desk before final plan submission.

How much will my ADU permit cost and how do they calculate it?

ADU permit fees combine several components: plan-check fees (hourly or fixed tiers), the building permit fee derived from construction valuation, inspection fees, and any applicable sewer, utility connection, or impact fees. The building permit portion is based on a declared construction valuation or the city’s valuation tables; square footage influences valuation and therefore fees. Structural review or special engineering adds plan-check hours and increases cost.

Get a quick estimate two ways: use the portal’s fee calculator or preliminary fee-estimate function, or request a written fee estimate from the DSD fee desk. Provide ADU square footage, proposed construction valuation, and scope (detached/attached, kitchen, plumbing) so staff can deliver a usable breakdown of plan-check, building, inspection, and any sewer/impact fees.

Illustrative example (hypothetical): a 600 sq ft detached ADU with a construction valuation of $150,000 will have a building permit fee calculated from that valuation plus plan-check hours and inspection fees. Exact amounts vary; use the portal estimator or a written fee letter to avoid surprises.

Pitfalls to watch for: small scope changes — adding a kitchen, extra plumbing, or more bedrooms — change valuation and can move your project into a higher fee bracket. Also, fee reductions or waivers sometimes exist for certain ADU incentive programs; always ask the DSD fee desk or check Development Services notices to confirm eligibility and get written confirmation before assuming a reduction.

What documents and payment info do I need to have ready before you start the online form

Prepare these documents and details before you open the online application to avoid timeouts and rework.

• Complete set of plans (site plan, floor plans, elevations) in the portal’s ePlan-compatible PDF format. Follow the portal’s file-naming and file-size rules.
• Structural calculations and details, if applicable.
• Roof, foundation, and soil reports when required.
• Energy compliance forms and CALGreen checklists.
• Proof of ownership (deed or latest property tax bill) if requested.
• Contractor license and insurance documents if a contractor signs the permit.
• Parcel/APN entered exactly as on the county tax bill (portal validation depends on this).
• Project valuation and ADU square footage; short scope description (detached/attached, kitchen/plumbing).
• Owner contact and contractor information (CSLB name and license number if applicable).
• Proposed use (rental, accessory living, family member) when requested.
• Online: major credit/debit cards and ACH/e-check options in the portal; the portal shows supported card types during checkout. You can also charge to an existing city permit account if you or your contractor have one.
• In person: cashier’s check and money orders are almost always accepted; many counters accept credit cards but may have transaction limits or surcharges—confirm before you bring a card.

How to attach proof of payment to the permit record: after paying online, immediately download the portal-generated receipt (PDF) and attach it to the permit record’s documents/attachments tab, or save the emailed receipt and upload it. If you pay at the counter, scan or take a clear photo of the cashier’s receipt and upload it to the permit record. If payment posts under a contractor’s permit account, add a short comment on the permit record with the transaction ID and payer name. Missing or misattached receipts are a leading cause of processing delays, so attach the receipt right away.

Step-by-step: applying and paying online (the workflow you’ll follow)

1. Log into the City of San Diego Online Permit/Plan Check Portal (Accela-based). Use one account so you don’t have to transfer records later.

2. Start a new permit application and select the ADU project type. Enter the parcel/APN first; the portal will validate the parcel and tell you if online submittal is allowed or if you must do an in-person intake.

3. Fill in application fields: owner and contractor info, project valuation, square footage, and scope. Save frequently — the portal can time out.

4. Upload plans and required documents to the ePlan portal: site plan, floor plans, elevations, structural calculations, energy forms. Name files clearly (siteplan.pdf, floorplan.pdf, calcs.pdf) so plan-check staff can find them quickly. The portal will typically flag missing required uploads before checkout.

5. Request a fee estimate in the portal if that option appears. If not, use the portal’s “Request Fee Estimate” function or contact the DSD fee desk and ask for a written fee breakdown. Wait for the estimate to post or arrive by email.

6. When the permit record is payable, the portal will show a payment or checkout button. Choose your payment method (card or e-check, or permit account billing) and complete the transaction.

7. Immediately download the payment receipt PDF and attach it to the permit record (Documents > Attachments) or paste the transaction ID into the permit comments. Keep the emailed receipt.

8. Confirm payment posted by checking the permit record’s payment tab for the transaction ID and status. The portal will update to “Fees Paid” or “Payment Received” and show the permit record number.

If the payment is declined: try a different card or e-check; verify billing address and CVV; check for bank fraud holds on municipal transactions. If the portal gives a generic error, call the DSD payments help desk (number on the permit portal) and ask them to reset the invoice so you can retry. Keep screenshots of any errors and the portal messages.

After payment: expect an emailed receipt and the permit record to move into plan check. If plan-check hasn’t started within the city’s published business days after payment, attach your receipt and contact the assigned plan checker or the plan-check help desk for a status update.

If you must pay or submit in person — where to go and how to not get stuck

When the portal requires in-person intake or you choose to pay at the counter, go to the City of San Diego Development Services permit counter. Confirm the counter’s current physical location, hours, and whether appointments are required on the Development Services website before you go.

What to bring: three complete paper sets of plans if required, a printed copy of your completed permit application or the portal pre-submission summary, owner ID, contractor license and insurance, the parcel tax bill or deed, and payment. Bring the same documents you would upload online so intake staff can accept your file in one visit.

Accepted payments at the counter: cashier’s check and money orders are almost always accepted. Many counters accept credit cards but may impose limits or surcharges—call ahead if you plan to use a card. For large payments, a cashier’s check avoids card limits and holds.

How to reduce wait time: schedule an intake appointment if available; arrive with forms filled out; hand plans to intake staff in the order they request; bring any written fee estimate you received online. If the counter is busy, take a numbered ticket and ask for the estimated wait time so you can step out and keep your place.

• Payment posted to the wrong permit: get the cashier’s receipt with the transaction ID and request reallocation. The payments desk usually can move funds between permits with that proof.
• Need a refund or credit: provide the original receipt and a written request; refunds typically require manager approval and may take time—ask for an expected processing timeline.
• Fee corrections: if staff posted an incorrect fee, ask for a fee correction form or an internal audit by the fee desk and keep copies of all receipts and confirmations.

If a payment or fee adjustment is time-sensitive, call the assigned plan checker or the payments help desk immediately after leaving the counter to speed reallocation or correction.

Conclusion

First action: log into the City of San Diego Development Services online permit portal and enter your parcel number. That single step tells you whether you can finish everything online or need to schedule an in-person intake. If the portal won’t show a fee, request a written fee estimate from the DSD fee desk before you submit. Your goal is a permit record with “Fees Paid” and a payment receipt attached so plan check begins within the city’s published timeframe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay ADU permit fees with a personal credit card online?

Yes. The online permit portal accepts major credit and debit cards and usually an e-check/ACH option. You can also charge fees to an existing city permit account if available. If a card is declined, verify billing address and CVV, check with your bank for fraud holds, then retry or call the payments help desk.

How do I get an accurate fee estimate before submitting plans?

Use the portal’s fee-estimate tool if available, or request a written fee estimate from the Development Services fee desk. Provide ADU square footage, proposed construction valuation, and the scope (kitchen, plumbing, detached/attached) so staff can calculate plan-check, building, inspection, and any sewer or impact fees.

What if my payment posts to the wrong permit number?

Keep the cashier’s receipt or portal transaction ID. Contact the payments help desk immediately and request reallocation; staff can usually move funds between records with the receipt and correct permit number. If you paid in person, ask the cashier for a manager or payments supervisor to confirm the transfer.

Are there fee waivers or reductions for ADUs?

Occasionally the city offers fee reductions or incentive programs for certain ADUs. These change over time. Ask the DSD fee desk or check Development Services notices to see if your project qualifies and get written confirmation before relying on a waiver.

What if the portal times out while I’m uploading plans?

Save progress frequently and upload documents in the order the portal requests. If a timeout happens, don’t immediately resubmit identical files without checking the permit record — duplicates confuse staff. Contact the plan-check help desk and provide the attempted upload time and your account so staff can confirm receipt or tell you whether to re-upload.