What happens if San Diego's building department misses the 10-day deadline?

Missing the deadline is automatically a Housing Accountability Act violation. The California Department of Housing and Community Development can impose fines of $10,000-$50,000 per month, and builders can petition courts for enforcement, with mandatory attorney fee awards for successful claims.

When did AB 1308 take effect?

AB 1308 was signed into law on October 10, 2025, as Chapter 509 of the Statutes of 2025, and took effect in 2026. All building departments in California, including San Diego County and City of San Diego, must now comply with the 10-business-day inspection requirement.

AB 1308: California's New 10-Day Inspection Deadline for Pacific Beach Builders

Q: Does AB 1308 apply to all residential construction in San Diego?

AB 1308 applies to new residential buildings with 1-10 units and additions to existing buildings with 1-9 units, where no floors exceed 40 feet above ground level. This covers most single-family homes, ADUs, duplexes, and small apartment buildings in Pacific Beach.

What AB 1308 Means for San Diego Builders

Assembly Bill 1308, signed into law on October 10, 2025, fundamentally changes how quickly building departments must respond to final inspection requests. Starting in 2026, city and county building departments across California—including San Diego—must complete inspections within 10 business days of receiving notice that construction work is complete.

The law applies to new residential construction with 1-10 units and additions to existing buildings with 1-9 units, where no floors exceed 40 feet above ground level. For Pacific Beach builders working on coastal ADUs, single-family remodels, or small multi-family projects, this means predictable timelines and faster project closeouts.

What makes AB 1308 particularly powerful is its enforcement mechanism: failure to inspect within 10 business days is automatically classified as a Housing Accountability Act violation, potentially subjecting building departments to penalties ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per month.

Impact on Pacific Beach Construction Projects

For builders in coastal San Diego neighborhoods like Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and Mission Beach, inspection delays have historically added weeks—sometimes months—to project timelines. AB 1308 eliminates this uncertainty.

The City of San Diego Development Services already processes over 70,000 permits annually and has implemented virtual inspections and online permit tracking. However, projects in Pacific Beach often require Coastal Development Permits, adding complexity that can extend timelines.

With AB 1308's 10-day mandate, builders can now schedule final payments, coordinate with clients, and plan future projects with confidence. This is especially critical for coastal construction where holding costs—insurance, security, weather protection—can run hundreds of dollars per day.

Practical Steps for Compliance

To take advantage of AB 1308's protections, submit your notice of completion with complete documentation. The bill text specifies the 10-business-day clock starts when the building department receives proper notice.

If an inspection doesn't occur within the deadline, document the delay. Under the Housing Accountability Act, courts must award attorneys' fees to successful petitioners, and judges can fine cities for violations. In cases of bad faith, fines can be multiplied by five.

Key Provisions of AB 1308

10-business-day inspection deadline for all qualifying residential construction
Automatic Housing Accountability Act violation if deadline is missed
Applies to 1-10 unit new construction and 1-9 unit additions
Height restriction: No floors exceeding 40 feet above ground level
Enforcement mechanism: $10,000-$50,000 monthly penalties plus mandatory attorney fees
Effective date: 2026 for all California building departments

How Pacific Beach Builders Benefit

Prior to AB 1308, final inspection delays of 2-4 weeks were common in San Diego. This created significant carrying costs for builders:

Construction loan interest accruing on completed projects
Property insurance costs for uninhabited structures
Security and weather protection expenses
Delayed certificate of occupancy preventing sale or rental
Tying up crews that could move to next project

AB 1308's 10-day mandate cuts these delays by 50-75%, saving thousands in carrying costs per project while providing timeline certainty that helps schedule subsequent projects.

Coordination with Other Streamlining Laws

AB 1308 works alongside California's other 2026 builder streamlining laws to create comprehensive timeline improvements:

AB 253: Private plan check option for permit review delays
AB 462: 60-day coastal ADU permit timelines
AB 434: Pre-approved ADU plans with 4-week guarantees
AB 671: 20-day restaurant tenant improvement approvals

Together, these laws compress timelines from permit application through final inspection, giving Pacific Beach builders unprecedented control over project schedules.