Key Terms

The County has land use jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas of the County, or the areas outside of the 18 cities. 

An official document issued by the building official that authorizes the applicant to begin construction for their project. 

A development project which requires the jurisdiction to exercise judgment in deciding whether to approve or deny the project.  In San Diego County, discretionary projects require approval from the relevant approving authority: Director of Planning & Development Services, County Planning Commission, or Board of Supervisors. 

The General Plan is the foundational planning document for local land use planning, which provides the vision, goals, and policies for how a jurisdiction will grow and develop presently and into the future.  The General Plan includes seven elements: land use, transportation, conservation, noise, open space, safety, and housing.   

Ministerial (also referred to as “by-right”) projects are reviewed and approved based on an objective criterion, such as a checklist of items.