In a recent city update, the San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) has announced significant steps to alleviate the local housing crisis by streamlining permit processes. As reported by the city of San Diego, the overhaul includes expedited services and a shift to digital platforms to speed up construction.
Announced last week, the new Complete Communities Now program takes a bold stance toward housing efficiency, demonstrating the city's tactical approach to drive housing production. The program aims to review permit applications within a rapid 30-day timeframe, with a slice of the new housing stock reserved for low- and moderate-income residents, according to official city statements.
Under Mayor Todd Gloria's administration, the DSD has secured permission for 9,700 new homes in the past year, marking an impressive 82% increase from the previous year, with numbers rising to the highest levels since 2005, "We’ve made hundreds of systemic changes to help the city get permits reviewed quickly," Elyse W. Lowe, Director of the DSD, told the city's Land Use and Housing Committee. Designed to give San Diego's developers certainty and efficiency, the various programs under Gloria's directive focus on accelerating the construction of much-needed housing space.
Among the accelerated services, the Affordable Housing Permit Now program stands out, with its 30-business-day guarantee for processing deed-restricted affordable units. Quickly gaining approval, this initiative reflects the city's commitment to tackling the affordable housing segment with effective administrative agility, clocking an average of just nine days for reviews, as city officials have reported.
Other efficiency-boosting measures include the Rapid Review process for smaller-scale projects and a Tenant Improvements approach that allows design professionals to green-light their plans without the usual bureaucratic holdup. The No Plan Building Permits strategy simplifies small domestic remodels, and Instant Solar Permitting facilitates quicker solar installations for eco-conscious homeowners. Drawing back the curtain on the complexities of discretionary projects, the city also introduced the Professional Certification program, which shaves weeks off the initial permit review by trusting in the expertise of qualified professionals, "More than 50% of permits are issued on the same day," according to the DSD, highlighting the productivity gains of this multi-pronged permitting overhaul.
