We compiled historical building permit information handwritten by Donald Covington from old issues of the San Diego Daily Transcript into a searchable database of about 900 addresses. Scans of his tablets are linked below. The information spans from 1909 to 1930. Enter your address below to search our database and see if your address is included.
Historical Building Permit Search
Tablet 1 1909-1914
Tablet 2 1916-1919
Tablet 3 1912-1924
Tablet 4 1921-1925
Tablet 5a 1922 -1924
Tablet 5b 1922
Tablet 6 1925
Tablet 7 1930
Tablet 8 List by Builder
Tablet 9 O’Neall’s Terrace
Tablet 10 Blair’s Highlands
Tablet 11 St. Louis Heights & Lynhurst
Tablet 12 Wallace Heights
Tablet 13 1909-1910
There are many free records online that may help you in researching the history of your home. These are some helpful starting points:
California Historical Resources Inventory Database
This database lists designated historical resources and resources identified during historic surveys. Not all homes or details may be available. Houses that were surveyed will list the subdivision, year built, architectural style, the owner and a photo of the building at the time of the survey.
Lot Books
Lot Books from 1873-1928 posted by the City of San Diego
These handwritten records describe the owner whom property tax was assessed each year and the assessed value of the real estate and improvements. Records online span the years 1873 to 1928. This can tell you when structures (“improvements”) were first built on the property and the different owners over time.
You will need to know your subdivision name and the legal description. The San Diego County Assessor Recorder County Clerk’s website can help you determine subdivision, block number and then lot number.
The Lot Books are organized by year; within the years they are organized by subdivision, which is written at the top of each page. Then, find your block number, then the lot number.
City Directories
The City of San Diego has scanned the city directories from 1926-1960. These are also available on ancestry.com. City directories can tell you who lived at the address, whether they owned or rented, and their profession. There is an alphabetical portion by last name, and the back portion of directories are organized by street address.
https://www.sandiego.gov/digitalarchives/collections/city-directories
Census
Free U.S. census records for each decade (1790–1950) can be searched online via
FamilySearch.org (free account required) or ancestry.com (paid account required). It is easier to search if you have a former resident’s name or neighbors’ names.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Sanborn Map Company created maps to allow fire insurance companies to assess their total liability in urbanized areas of the United States. The maps include outlines of each building and outbuilding; the location of windows and doors; street names; street and sidewalk widths; property boundaries.
By looking at the maps over the years, you may be able to track changes to the structures on your lot and the surrounding lots.
San Diego 1888 Downtown and Coronado, North Park is not yet shown
San Diego 1906 Downtown, portions of Bankers Hill and Hillcrest, North Park is not yet shown
San Diego 1920 Volume 2 Includes North Park east of 28th St.
San Diego 1921 Volume 3 Includes North Park west of 28th St.
San Diego 1950 Volume 2 Includes North Park east of Idaho St. / 28th St.
San Diego 1950 Volume 3 Includes North Park west of Idaho St. / 28th St.
San Diego 1956 Volume 2 Includes North Park east of Idaho St. / 28th St., north of Myrtle
San Diego 1956 Volume 3 Includes North Park west of Idaho St. / 28th St.
San Diego 1956 Volume 5 Includes North Park east of Idaho St. / 28th St., south of Myrtle
