San Diego County, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning citation
- § 6792(c)(1)
- Standard surfacing
- Asphalt or Portland Cement Concrete
- Single-family/duplex exception
- Match existing access street surface
- Excluded zones
- Agricultural Use Regulations zones
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County requires driveways and parking spaces to be hard-surfaced with asphalt or concrete, but single-family and duplex driveways only have to match the surface of the access street.
Except for zones subject to the Agricultural Use Regulations, all parking spaces, loading spaces, and driveways shall be hard surfaced with durable asphalt concrete or Portland Cement Concrete surfacing on a suitably prepared base. Parking spaces and driveways accessory to single-family and duplex dwellings need not be surfaced with a more durable type of surfacing than that which exists on the access street. Driveways and aisles designated for “fire access” must be capable of supporting fire apparatus (minimum 50,000 pounds) unless a greater minimum is required by the Fire Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Table 6792.2 summarizes the required paving thickness of A/C and base according to soil classification, and shall be used unless a suitable alternative pavement design by a registered civil engineer is submitted and approved by the Director. Soil classifications are as established based on the R-value, or resistance value, which identifies the strength of soil from vertically applied pressure. R-value is a factor used in pavement design in the San Diego Regional Standard Drawings to determine the necessary thickness of paving required. Soil classifications identified in Table 6792.2 are established as follows: Good to Excellent Subbase: soil with an R value of 40 or greater. Medium Subbase: soil with an R value of 20 to 39 Poor Subbase: soil with an R value less than 20
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
Zoning Ordinance Section 6792 requires parking spaces, loading spaces, and driveways to be hard surfaced with durable asphalt concrete or Portland Cement Concrete on a prepared base. But driveways and parking accessory to single-family and duplex homes are exempt from that durability standard: they need only be surfaced to match whatever surface already exists on the access street, so a dirt or gravel road frontage lets a homeowner keep an unpaved driveway. Agricultural-zoned parcels are also excluded from the hard-surfacing rule entirely.
Violations & Fines
Planning & Development Services can require re-surfacing to the code standard as a condition of permit approval; noncompliant grading or paving work done without required permits is enforceable as a zoning violation subject to correction orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a dirt or gravel driveway in unincorporated San Diego County?
Do all driveways in the county need to be paved with asphalt or concrete?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.