California Coverage · San Diego County
San Diego County base maps & site data for designers
The existing-conditions base map and pre-design site analysis that normally takes a half-day of GIS hunting and a site visit — for any San Diego address, from La Jolla to the backcountry WUI, in about a minute.
What Lekua resolves in San Diego County
Every layer below is pulled live from San Diego’s own GIS and authoritative state sources the moment you enter an address — no manual tracing, no generic insets, every source cited.
SANDAG-hosted regional parcel boundary with APN, address, and lot area — the SanGIS JPA’s own data.
Fine 1–2 ft contours generated on-demand from the 1-meter USGS 3DEP elevation model — San Diego publishes no light vector contour service, so this is finer than anything available off the shelf.
SanGIS LiDAR-derived countywide building outlines, gap-filled with FEMA national structures for anything the regional layer misses.
Five setback tables encoded and code-cited: City of San Diego (SDMC §131.0431 Tables 131-04D–G), unincorporated county (§4810 Schedule C), Escondido, Encinitas, and Carlsbad (including its R-1 lot-width rule). Rings draw once a table passes independent review; until then exports carry the cited values with an explicit “unverified” advisory.
CAL FIRE FHSZ severity with defensible-space perimeters drawn to San Diego’s stricter local rule — Zone 1 extends to 50 ft here, not the default 30 ft.
USDA SSURGO soil profile, historical rainfall, and modeled seasonal sun-hour heat maps for the parcel.
California natives matched to the site’s soil and microclimate, plus lawn-replacement rebate estimates — SDCWA regional programs with the county’s Waterscape Rebate Program and district add-ons (Otay, Helix).
Drawn to San Diego’s stricter defensible-space rule
San Diego County extends defensible-space Zone 1 to 50 feet — beyond the state default — and much of the county’s eastern and northern edge sits in Very High severity zones. Lekua draws the perimeters to the local rule automatically and filters the plant palette to what each zone allows, so the first pass is already code-aware.
- Zone 1 drawn at San Diego’s 50-ft local requirement instead of the 30-ft state default.
- Zone 0 (0–5 ft ember-resistant) and Zone 2 perimeters drawn around every structure.
- Every recommended plant carries a defensible-space zone rating, with flammability from Las Pilitas and UCANR / CAL FIRE-aligned lists.
Zoning setbacks, by jurisdiction
Setbacks in San Diegoare set per town, not countywide. Lekua resolves the parcel’s jurisdiction and zone code and encodes each jurisdiction’s adopted setback table, citation and all. Setback rings are drawn only after a table passes independent panel review — until then the export carries the code-cited values with an explicit “unverified” advisory instead of lines we can’t stand behind.
A native palette, enriched beyond the plant list
Start from the Calscape native plant database — then get the research-backed traits Calscape alone doesn’t put at your fingertips, matched to the parcel’s exact soil, sun, rainfall, and microclimate. Hand a client a list that’s code-compliant, climate-appropriate, and built to perform.
Flammability and defensible-space zone suitability from Las Pilitas burn-time research and UCANR / CAL FIRE-aligned fire-safe lists — not just a name on a list.
Slow / moderate / fast growth plus mature height and spread, so spacing and time-to-fill are realistic from day one.
Calscape cultivation and longevity guidance, so the palette reads for how it performs over 10–20 years, not just at install.
WUCOLS-aligned water-use ratings (for the MWELO budget) and pollinator / bird support scores on every species.
Plant data: Calscape / CNPS, enriched with Las Pilitas burn-time research, UCANR & CAL FIRE-aligned fire-safe lists, and WUCOLS water-use ratings.
Water districts & rebates
Lawn-replacement rebate estimates are matched to the serving district: San Diego County Water Authority · County Waterscape Rebate Program · Otay Water District · Helix Water District.
San Diego County base map FAQ
Can I get a CAD base map for a San Diego County parcel?
Yes. Enter any San Diego address and export a layered DXF (AutoCAD-compatible) with SANDAG parcel lines, SanGIS LiDAR-derived building outlines, on-demand 1–2 ft contours, spot elevations, and the zoning determination with code-cited setbacks — plus a designed PDF site report.
What contour interval is available in San Diego County?
San Diego publishes no light vector contour service, so Lekua generates fine 1–2 ft contours on-demand from the 1-meter USGS 3DEP elevation model — far finer than the 10-ft national fallback, which matters on canyon-rim and hillside lots.
Does it include zoning setbacks for San Diego jurisdictions?
Five setback tables are encoded with citations: the City of San Diego (SDMC §131.0431), unincorporated county land (§4810 Schedule C), Escondido, Encinitas, and Carlsbad including its R-1 lot-width rule. Setback rings are drawn only after a table passes independent panel review; until then the export carries the code-cited values with an explicit “unverified” advisory and always labels the zone determination honestly.
How does it handle San Diego’s 50-ft Zone 1 rule?
Automatically. Defensible-space perimeters are drawn to the county’s stricter local requirement — Zone 1 extends to 50 ft instead of the 30-ft state default — and every recommended native is tagged with the zones it’s suited to.
Is the data current and reliable enough for submittals?
Layers are pulled live from county GIS, USGS, and CAL FIRE at export time, and any encoded setback table cites its source with a date. Everything is labeled “for planning reference — not for construction.” Verify against the current code and a stamped survey before submittal.
Start with a San Diego address
Free to search. Sign in to export the CAD base map and PDF site report.