The City of San Diego is where most of our work happens, and it covers an enormous range — 1910s Craftsman homes in Mission Hills and North Park, post-war stock across Clairemont and Bay Park, canyon-edge houses in Del Cerro, and everything the coast adds on top.
We handle kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, whole-home renovations, custom new construction, and commercial tenant improvements across the city, with one general contractor on the job and a clear scope before demolition day.
- Permitting authority
- City of San Diego Development Services
- Coastal status
- Partially within the California Coastal Zone
- ZIP codes
- 92101, 92103, 92104, 92105, 92106, 92107, 92108, 92109, 92110, 92111, 92116, 92117, 92120, 92123
- Neighborhoods we work in
- Mission Hills · Bay Park · Clairemont · North Park · South Park · Kensington · Talmadge · University Heights · Del Cerro · Scripps Ranch · Bankers Hill
What we find in San Diego homes
San Diego’s older neighborhoods — Mission Hills, North and South Park, Kensington, University Heights — hold Craftsman, Spanish Revival, and Prairie-influenced homes from the 1910s through the 1930s, with the structural and systems issues that come with that age. Clairemont, Bay Park, Del Cerro, and Allied Gardens are dominated by 1950s and 1960s single-story tract houses on good lots, which respond exceptionally well to opening up floor plans and adding on. Newer areas like Scripps Ranch and Mira Mesa are largely about layout and finish updates.
Permitting and planning in San Diego
Permits are issued by City of San Diego Development Services. Beyond the standard building permit, the city layers community plans and overlay zones that vary substantially by neighborhood — historic districts in Mission Hills and Burlingame, coastal height limits along the shore, canyon and steep-hillside regulations in Del Cerro and the Clairemont canyon edges, and airport influence areas near Montgomery and Lindbergh. Knowing which apply to your parcel is the first thing we determine.
What we build in San Diego
Home Remodeling & Renovation
From a single-room addition to a full interior and exterior renovation, we guide the project from concept to completion.
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Kitchen Remodeling
A well-designed kitchen is the social center of your home. We handle design, cabinets, counters, lighting and flooring.
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Bathroom Remodeling
Thoughtful planning and attention to detail are the keys to any bathroom remodel — more light, more storage, more usable space.
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Custom New Home Construction
From the first planning conversation to the day you move in — a custom home built to your site, your preferences, and your budget.
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Design-Build
One entity, one contract, one continuous flow of work from first concept through final completion.
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Commercial Remodel & Tenant Improvements
Complete build-outs for office, retail, and industrial space — partition walls, custom millwork, and precision trim carpentry.
Learn moreRemodeling in San Diego: common questions
Do you work in San Diego’s historic districts?
Yes. Mission Hills, Burlingame, and several other areas have historic districts or individually designated resources where exterior work goes through historic review. It adds time and shapes the design; it does not prevent a good remodel.
Are 1950s Clairemont and Bay Park homes good remodel candidates?
Among the best in the city. Simple single-story framing, sound structure, and lots with room to expand. The common package is removing the kitchen wall, adding a primary suite, and upgrading electrical and windows — and it transforms the house.
How long does a San Diego building permit take?
It varies widely by scope and by whether any discretionary review applies. A straightforward remodel can clear plan check in a matter of weeks; projects involving coastal, historic, or hillside review run considerably longer. We give you a realistic range for your specific parcel rather than a generic one.
What our clients say about Surfside Developers
We specialize in helping our customers receive the biggest return on their investment — and we’d welcome the chance to give you a custom evaluation of your home.
“The quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that?”
Our experience with Surfside Developers has been outstanding. They came highly recommended to us by our trusted real estate agent assisting us in a remodel of our recently purchased home. With past contractors our experience has always been a hit or miss proposition, and so we were very nervous about committing to a major renovation on the order of $70K plus. Nevertheless, we were very confident of the plan upon our very first meeting with the owner, Derek Wattenbarger. Derek listened intently to our vision of what we wanted the remodel to accomplish and faithfully carried out the plan. And just as important, Derek provided great insight and advice to improve the execution of our plan when he saw opportunities to do so, as well as cautioning us when some of our original ideas were not economically feasible or may have contained an unforeseen downside. All through the process, Derek was completely straightforward, transparent, and respectful. Communication was terrific. All calls, emails, texts, etc. were returned promptly. He even introduced us to all of the various sub-contractors so that we had an opportunity to establish a relationship with them and communicate the details to the next level. Finally, and probably most importantly, the quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that? Highly recommended!
Jack and Sue SerrinoDel Mar, California“Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future.”
Derek has been by far the best contractor I have ever worked with and his ability to listen to my clients and react to their needs is above what I had ever expected. Derek being classically trained and professionally educated shows. Derek’s knowledge of both the practical and the possible allow him to do both small and large scale jobs and for that there is nothing I will not refer his way. Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future!
Seth O’ByrneSan Diego, CaliforniaWe also build near San Diego
Building in San Diego?
Tell us about the project and we'll set up a free consultation at the property — no pressure, no obligation.