Planning & Development Services public records are available for public review online.
PLEASE SEARCH FOR RECORDS ONLINE using Accela Citizen Access and/or PDS Document Library before reaching out to our team for assistance.
To review PDS records or writings not available online, please submit a written request to ensure the proper records are provided. Once the written request to review the information has been received, you will be contacted.
(California Public Records Act, Government Code Section 6250 et seq.)
Some Planning & Development Services records can be accessed
online using the following:
Accela Citizen Access
Research
permit history, pay fees, schedule
inspections, and apply for
building permits online.
-use the search at the top-right to search properties and APNs.
Help Guides for Accela Citizen Access
Property Summary Report - provides general property characteristics to aid in preparing plans and documentation. Help Guide available.
PDS Document Library
Research
permits and archived documents pertaining to properties, projects, and
developments in San Diego’s unincorporated communities.
For all other PDS Records:
To request PDS records that are not available online, please submit a PDS Public Records Request Form to receive assistance from PDS Staff. Once the completed request form has been received, PDS staff will contact you within 10 calendar days (California Public Records Act, Government Code Section 6250 et seq.).
If you have questions, please contact PublicRecords.PDS@sdcounty.ca.gov
Other non-PDS Records:
For information about public records not associated with PDS, please direct your questions to the appropriate department or call the General County Information line at (858) 694-3900 for more information. Click this link for a list of County Departments.
Records Exempt from Disclosure:
State law recognizes that certain categories of documents may be exempt from disclosure. Examples of categories of documents that the County may exempt from disclosure include those listed below. Please note, this list is not exhaustive.
- Attorney-client communications to and from counsel for the purpose of seeking or rendering legal advice are exempt from disclosure.
- Appointment calendars, phone records, emails, memos and other records which impair the deliberative process of County staff may be withheld.
- Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency memos that are not retained in the ordinary course of business, if the public interest in withholding those records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
- Names and contact information of complainants in code enforcement actions may be withheld.