County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS)
Comments Due September 27, 2026
The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services’ (PDS) Draft Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Zoning Ordinance is now available for public comment and the team will be hosting two public webinars to provide information and space for questions.
The draft ordinance defines BESS uses and determines where BESS can be located. The draft proposes to prohibit BESS in residential zones and encourages siting of BESS in appropriate industrial and commercial zones. The draft only addresses BESS facilities that have a total energy storage capacity of more than 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The draft also incorporates requirements to address safety and compatibility with surrounding areas.
The BESS Zoning Ordinance amendment will only apply to projects located in unincorporated communities within San Diego County’s jurisdiction and will not apply to tribal lands. However, tribal leaders, staff, and community members are encouraged to comment on the draft and attend upcoming webinars.
Comment on the Draft Ordinance
Comments can be submitted via email to PDS.LongRangePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov or mailed to the attention of Mayu Tanaka at the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services, 5510 Overland Avenue, Suite 210, San Diego CA, 92123.
The draft ordinance is expected to go to the Board of Supervisors for adoption in Spring 2027, and there will be additional opportunities to provide feedback or meet with staff after the public review period.
Attend a Virtual Public Meeting
You are invited to attend one of our upcoming virtual public meetings (these meetings are not tribal-specific, but open to all who are interested). At the meetings, the BESS team will provide a summary of the draft ordinance. You may also provide your comments to staff at these meetings. Please note that each meeting will cover the same material. The dates of the meetings are:
- August 27, 2026, at 12:00 pm | Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83821996822
- September 17, 2026 at 6:00 pm | Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87632623299
Please register for the meetings! Registration is free and does not require you to create an account. While registration is not required to attend, it helps the BESS team anticipate the number of attendees.
If you would like interpretation services at the meeting, please contact Mayu Tanaka in your preferred language at PDS.LongRangePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 505-6677 by 11:59 p.m. on August 19, 2026.
If there is interest in discussing this topic and providing comments outside of a public setting, please reach out to the BESS Zoning Ordinance Amendment team at PDS.LongRangePlanning@sdcounty.ca.gov.