You have framing ready and inspections queued, but one missing piece can stop your custom home cold: utilities. If you plan SDG&E new service, water and sewer connections, and the right trenching permits early, you can avoid costly delays. This guide explains how San Diego utility hookups work from power and gas to water and sewer, what typical SDG&E lead times look like, and practical steps to keep your build on schedule.
San Diego Utility Hookups: The Big Picture
Utility planning in San Diego is a critical path item. Power design, transformer placement, water meter sizing, and sewer laterals must be coordinated with grading, hardscape, and the driveway. For new construction utilities San Diego homeowners should begin applications as soon as site plans and loads are known, ideally before foundation work.
- Start applications early: utility design and construction windows can span several months.
- Coordinate trenching with all providers to minimize rework and street cuts.
- Confirm utility easements on title reports and site plans to prevent redesign.
- Call DigAlert 811 at least two working days before any excavation to locate existing facilities.
SDG&E Lead Times And Scheduling Strategy
SDG&E lead times can fluctuate with workload, supply chain, and scope (overhead vs underground, distance to nearest facilities, and whether a new transformer is required). Build your schedule backward from utility milestones so inspections and meter sets land when you need them.
- Design window: commonly 4–10 weeks after a complete application, including load letters, site plan, and trench/conduit details.
- Construction window: commonly 4–12 weeks after design approval, easement recording, and trench readiness.
- Meter set: often 3–10 business days after release and green-tag inspection, depending on service area and staffing.
Submit complete packages and respond quickly to plan check comments to compress the timeline. Ask SDG&E for a target energization date early and keep it updated as inspections progress.
Power: From Application To Energization
SDG&E Power Installation New Build San Diego: Step-By-Step
- Prepare load calculations: Work with your electrician to complete residential load calcs and identify voltage, phase, and amperage (commonly 200A–400A for custom homes).
- Apply for SDG&E new service: Submit the application, site plan, single-line diagram, meter/main specs, and preferred meter location. Include photos of the site and access routes.
- Design review and field meet: SDG&E may schedule a site walk to confirm routing, existing infrastructure, and whether a transformer pad is needed.
- Easements and permits: Record any required utility easements. Secure a Right-of-Way permit where work enters public ROW.
- Joint trench coordination: If doing underground service, coordinate a joint trench with telecom and, if applicable, gas. This reduces costs and street impacts.
- Trench and conduit: Install trench per SDG&E standards, with correct depth, bedding, warning tape, and conduit sizes/bends. Obtain inspection.
- Transformer pad requirements: If a transformer is required, build the pad to specification (clearances, grounding, bollards, and access) and pass inspection.
- Meter panel and grounding: Install a utility-approved meter/main combo and labeling. Your AHJ must green-tag the service.
- Meter set and energization: After all releases, SDG&E sets the meter and energizes the service.
Overhead Vs Underground Service
- Overhead: Faster and less expensive but with visual impact; may be constrained by pole locations and clearances.
- Underground: Cleaner look and better reliability, but trenching, conduit, and potential transformer pads add time and cost.
Recommendation: In most residential neighborhoods, underground service aligned with a joint trench yields a cleaner site and fewer future conflicts. Plan the conduit path before hardscape and landscaping.
Gas Service: Coordinating With Power
SDG&E provides natural gas in many San Diego areas. Combine gas planning with electric to streamline trenching and inspections.
- Application: Submit gas load data (BTUs), appliance list, service line length, and meter location.
- Design & scheduling: Gas design lead times commonly track power timelines but can be shorter. Verify if a joint trench is allowed along your route.
- Installation: Trenching, bedding, and tracer wire standards must be followed; pass inspection before meter set.
If your project is all-electric, document that early so SDG&E designs only what you need and avoids unnecessary gas coordination.
Water And Sewer: Taps, Meters, And Laterals
San Diego Water Meter Sizing For New Homes
Meter sizing is driven by fixture count, irrigation demands, fire sprinkler requirements, and static pressure. Many custom homes land at 1 inch or 1.5 inches, but verification by the water agency is required. Provide a plumbing fixture worksheet, fire sprinkler demand, and site elevation to the agency. Ask for a confirmation letter before paying fees.
Water And Sewer Tap Fees San Diego: What To Expect
Water and sewer fees vary by jurisdiction (City of San Diego vs. other districts), meter size, and whether capacity fees apply. Expect a combination of capacity fees, installation fees, and inspection charges. As ballpark ranges for planning only:
| Fee Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water capacity/impact | $4,000–$25,000+ | Driven by meter size and district policy |
| Meter & setter installation | $500–$3,500 | Larger meters cost more; roadway work adds cost |
| Sewer connection/capacity | $2,500–$10,000+ | Varies by basin and fixture units |
| Sewer lateral installation | $6,000–$25,000+ | Depth, paving, and traffic control drive costs |
Always verify current fee schedules on your agency website or request a fee estimate in writing: water agency fees. Different districts update fees periodically.
Sewer Lateral Installation Cost San Diego
Costs depend on depth, distance to main, soil conditions, and whether you must trench across the street. Shallow laterals on the same side of the street may fall near the low end of the range, while deep or cased bores under arterial roads can exceed the high end. Coordinate CCTV of existing laterals early to assess reuse potential.
Permits, Trenching, And Inspections
- Trenching permit San Diego: Required for excavations in the public Right-of-Way. Plan for traffic control plans, restoration standards, and inspection windows. See the City permit center: ROW permits.
- Right-of-Way permit San Diego utilities: Needed for utility taps, laterals, and main extensions in public streets. Lead times vary with review workload.
- Private property: Coordinate with your building permit, grading permit, and inspections. Trenching may be covered under your site development permit.
- DigAlert 811: Call before you dig to mark existing utilities. Allow at least two working days and keep tickets current if schedules slip.
Schedule pre-construction meetings with your GC, civil engineer, electrician, and plumber to align conduit banks, sleeve locations, and elevation targets. Protect trench bedding and conduit alignment until inspection.
Joint Trench Coordination San Diego New Construction
Joint trenching installs electric, gas, and communications in a shared trench with separation per standards. Benefits include fewer street cuts, lower paving restoration costs, and faster schedules.
- Confirm participating utilities (SDG&E power and gas, telecoms) and a single trench schedule.
- Obtain each utilitys trench and conduit specs; build to the most stringent requirement.
- Stage inspections in a sequence that works for all parties before backfill.
If joint trench is not feasible, phase separate trenches while preserving driveway and landscape finishes for last.
Budgeting Snapshot For New Home Infrastructure
| Scope | Typical Lead Time | Typical Cost Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| SDG&E electric service | 8–20 weeks total (design + construction) | Trenching, conduit, transformer pad, meter/main |
| SDG&E gas service | 6–16 weeks total | Service length, joint trench, meter location |
| Water meter and tap | 3–12 weeks (agency review + crew schedule) | Capacity fees, meter size, traffic control |
| Sewer lateral | 2–8 weeks (permit + construction) | Depth, paving restoration, CCTV, inspections |
These ranges are planning guides, not guarantees. Confirm current durations with SDG&E and your water/sewer agency.
Checklist: Custom Home Utility Connections San Diego
- Order title report; verify utility easements and encumbrances.
- Finalize site plan with meter locations and service routes.
- Complete electrical load calcs and plumbing fixture counts.
- Apply for SDG&E new service (electric) and gas if needed.
- Request water meter sizing and fee estimate from your agency.
- Verify sewer lateral condition; plan replacement if required.
- Schedule DigAlert 811 before any trenching.
- Obtain Right-of-Way and trenching permits where applicable.
- Coordinate joint trench and inspections across all utilities.
- Protect conduits and bedding until inspections are signed off.
- Secure green tags and releases; schedule meter sets.
Answers To Common Questions
How long do SDG&E lead times take for new construction in San Diego?
Plan for roughly 8–20 weeks from complete application to energization, depending on scope and workload. A typical path includes 4–10 weeks for design, 4–12 weeks for construction after you deliver a ready trench and any transformer pad, and 3–10 business days for meter set after releases. Engage SDG&E early to confirm your specific timeline.
What are the steps for utility hookups for a new home in San Diego?
Confirm easements and meter locations; submit SDG&E electric (and gas) applications with load data; request water meter sizing and fee estimates; verify or design the sewer lateral; obtain Right-of-Way and trenching permits; perform DigAlert 811; trench and install conduits/laterals to spec; pass inspections; pay fees; schedule meter sets and energization.
How much do water and sewer tap fees cost in San Diego?
Fees vary by agency and meter size. As planning ranges, water capacity and meter costs often total $4,500–$28,000+ and sewer connection/capacity fees can run $2,500–$10,000+. Construction of the sewer lateral can add $6,000–$25,000+ depending on depth and paving. Request an official estimate from your water/sewer provider.
Do I need a trenching permit for new utilities in San Diego?
Yes, if you trench in the public Right-of-Way you will need a Right-of-Way or excavation permit, traffic control, and inspections. On private property, trenching is typically covered under your building or grading permit, but confirm with your jurisdiction.
Can I expedite utility connections for a new home in San Diego?
Submit complete applications, schedule field meets early, prebuild transformer pads, coordinate joint trench, and keep inspections tightly sequenced. Ask SDG&E and the water/sewer agency for target dates and communicate changes weekly. Some agencies offer priority scheduling for roadway moratoriums or coordinated work windows.
Permitting Tips And Risk Reducers
- Place meter locations where agencies can reach them without obstructions; avoid behind gates or down narrow paths.
- Design driveways and walls to maintain utility clearances and transformer access (including truck approach).
- Keep photographic records of trench depth, bedding, warning tape, and conduit layout before backfill.
- If upsizing a water meter for fire sprinklers, recalculate capacity fees before paying.
- Get all approvals in writing, including any deviations from standard specs.
Pros And Cons: Timing Your Trenches
- Trench early: Pro: clear access, fewer conflicts. Con: schedule risk if designs change.
- Trench late: Pro: designs are final. Con: possible rework of paving/landscape and schedule compression.
Best approach: Rough-in private property conduits after design approval but before flatwork, and leave public ROW trenching until all permits and traffic control plans are secured.
Your Next Three Moves
- Call SDG&E to open your project number and request a design kickoff date; submit complete electric and gas packages.
- Ask your water agency for written meter sizing and a fee breakdown; confirm sewer lateral status by CCTV.
- Assemble a joint trench plan with your electrician, plumber, and civil engineer; line up Right-of-Way permits and DigAlert 811 tickets.
With proactive planning and tight coordination, San Diego utility hookups can align with your construction milestones, rather than delay them. Use the steps and checklists above to stay ahead of SDG&E lead times and streamline water and sewer connections from day one.