At Ten Seventy Architecture, we believe that protecting your budget is just as important as delivering beautiful designs. That’s why, across every project we work on—whether it’s a custom home, an ADU, a remodel, or a major addition—we always double-check every permit invoice that comes through.
Here’s the hard truth:
San Diego’s building permit invoices are often riddled with errors. In our experience, we’ve found that up to 20% of invoices issued by the city contain mistakes—and these aren’t small mistakes, either.
In fact, here are just a few examples we’ve personally caught for our clients:
- A $3,000 overcharge due to a misclassified fee
- A duplicate patio charge that resulted in a $600 refund
- And the biggest yet: a staggering $20,000+ overcharge on a water and sewer fee for an ADU project
These errors happen more often than you’d think, and if you don’t know what to look for, you’ll likely end up paying for them.
That’s why we make it our mission to go over every single line item on every invoice—because it’s not just about catching mistakes, it’s about protecting your investment and ensuring your project stays on track.
We don’t just do this for our own projects, either. Our permit facilitation service is designed to help homeowners, developers, and builders navigate San Diego’s notoriously tricky permitting system. Whether you’re stuck mid-permit, not sure why an invoice seems so high, or just need a second set of eyes, we can help you untangle the details and avoid costly missteps.
If you’re starting a new project or need help navigating San Diego’s permitting process, feel free to schedule a design consultation. We’re here to help you make smart moves, stay on budget, and get your project across the finish line.