Form DS-164 —
San Diego's Mandatory First Step
San Diego requires completion of Form DS-164 — High-Piled Combustible Storage before any building permit or fire sprinkler permit can be issued for a warehouse with rack storage. This form is published by the City of San Diego Development Services Department and must be submitted with your permit application.
The DS-164 requires you to declare every commodity stored over 6 feet in height, identify all products containing plastics stored above 6 feet, list all products stored above 12 feet, and document all aerosol and flammable/combustible liquid storage. It triggers the determination of whether your storage qualifies as high-piled combustible storage and what fire protection requirements apply.
What Makes San Diego Different
Most California cities handle high pile storage through a general fire plan review. San Diego goes further — their Development Services Department has published a specific, multi-page High-Piled Combustible Storage form (DS-164) that functions as a pre-screening tool. It must be completed and approved before your fire sprinkler plans can be submitted, reviewed, or approved.
For buildings with high-piled combustible storage, a copy of the approved DS-164 form must be electronically affixed to all fire sprinkler permit plans before they are accepted for review. If your DS-164 is missing or incomplete, your fire sprinkler permit application will be rejected at intake — not during review.
- Form DS-164 — High-Piled Combustible Storage: sandiego.gov — DS-164 PDF
- Building Permit — San Diego Development Services: sandiego.gov/development-services/permits/building-permit
- Fire Permit — San Diego Development Services: sandiego.gov/development-services/permits/fire-permit
- High Pile Stock Inventory — San Diego Fire Records & Forms: sandiego.gov/fire/records-forms
When You Need
a Permit in San Diego
San Diego enforces the 2022 California Building Code and the California Fire Code. The City of San Diego's own DS-164 form confirms the exact thresholds directly from CFC Chapter 32.
| Permit Type | Trigger | Authority & Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit | Racking over 5'9" in height, OR any racking anchored to the slab. California seismic code requires anchoring — making virtually all warehouse racking subject to a building permit. | San Diego Development Services sandiego.gov/development-services |
| Fire / High Pile Permit + DS-164 | Top-of-load 12 feet or more for standard commodities, OR 6 feet or more for high-hazard commodities (Group A plastics, rubber tires, aerosols, flammable liquids, idle plastic pallets), AND storage area exceeds 500 sq ft | San Diego Development Services Fire Permit: sandiego.gov/permits/fire-permit |
| DS-164 Form Required | Any warehouse with pallet racks over 500 sq ft — per San Diego Fire Records & Forms: "a structural permit form is required and also a sprinkler analysis from the fire department." DS-164 must be approved before fire sprinkler plans can be submitted. | San Diego Development Services sandiego.gov/fire/records-forms |
How San Diego's
Review Process Works
San Diego consolidates building and fire permit review through the Development Services Department — but the reviews themselves are handled separately by Building and Fire. The DS-164 form links both reviews together.
Structural & Seismic
- Stamped engineering drawings per ANSI MH16.1
- Seismic calculations per CBC §1613 and ASCE-7
- Slab and soil conditions — verified by licensed engineer
- Anchor and base plate specifications
- Load capacity ratings for frames and beams
- CAD layout with aisle widths and dimensions
Life Safety & Fire Protection
- DS-164 form — completed and signed before submittal
- All commodities stored over 6 feet declared by category
- Sprinkler system hydraulic calculations per NFPA 13
- Transverse flue space — 3 inches minimum
- Longitudinal flue space — 6 inches minimum
- DS-164 must be affixed to fire sprinkler plans electronically
What to Expect
in San Diego
Complete Form DS-164 First
Before anything else — complete the City of San Diego's DS-164 High-Piled Combustible Storage form. This requires declaring every commodity stored above 6 feet by category, documenting top-of-load heights, and identifying whether any aerosols or flammable liquids are stored. This form determines your fire protection requirements before plans are drawn.
Engineering Package
A licensed engineer prepares stamped structural drawings, seismic calculations per CBC §1613 and ASCE-7, and rack engineering documentation per ANSI MH16.1. San Diego's seismic zone makes complete engineering documentation non-negotiable.
Fire Sprinkler Plans with DS-164 Attached
Fire sprinkler plans must include hydraulic calculations per NFPA 13, Chapter 28. The approved DS-164 form must be electronically affixed to the plans before submission. San Diego will not accept fire sprinkler plans without the DS-164 attached — this is a hard intake requirement, not a plan check correction.
Submit Through San Diego's Online Portal
San Diego Development Services accepts permit applications online. All PDF documents must meet San Diego's specific upload requirements — file size, naming conventions, and plan sheet numbering must be confirmed before submission or the application will be delayed at intake.
Inspection and Sign-Off
Installation must match approved drawings exactly. San Diego requires inspection at multiple phases. Load capacity signage, maximum storage height markers, and commodity classification posting must all be in place before final inspection is requested.