If you’re planning a new home or accessory dwelling unit in Lakeside, the County’s 2026 table lists a total park impact fee of 9,486 dollars for a single-family dwelling, 8,940 dollars for a multi-family dwelling unit, and 4,916 dollars for an ADU. Those are County of San Diego Park Land Dedication Ordinance fees, often shortened to PLDO fees.
Lakeside is unincorporated, so County rules apply rather than the rules of an incorporated city. The fee is generally collected through County Planning & Development Services when the building permit for a new dwelling is issued. An exemption may change the answer for a particular project, especially an ADU, so confirm the permit record and project status before relying on a budget figure.
This is general information and not legal advice.
What are the 2026 Lakeside park impact fees?
The County’s listed 2026 totals are 9,486 dollars for a single-family dwelling unit, 8,940 dollars for a multi-family dwelling unit, and 4,916 dollars for an accessory dwelling unit.
The table separates each total into land, park improvement, and administration entries:
| Lakeside dwelling type | Land acquisition fee for a non-subdivision project | Park in-lieu fee for a subdivision project | Park improvement fee | Administration fee | County’s listed total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family dwelling unit | 706 dollars | 706 dollars | 8,594 dollars | 186 dollars | 9,486 dollars |
| Multi-family dwelling unit | 677 dollars | 677 dollars | 8,088 dollars | 175 dollars | 8,940 dollars |
| Accessory dwelling unit | 359 dollars | 359 dollars | 4,461 dollars | 96 dollars | 4,916 dollars |
The table footnotes say the land acquisition impact fee applies to a “Non-Subdivision Residential Project,” while the park in-lieu impact fee applies to a “Subdivision Residential Project.” The County’s listed total is the figure to use when reviewing the applicable row. Ask PDS to confirm how the line items will appear for your permit.
These figures come from the 2026 tables on the County Department of Parks and Recreation’s PLDO page. The page does not state when the fees will next change, so check the posted table again before permit issuance.
Why does the County charge these fees?
The County charges PLDO fees so new residential development contributes land or money for parks serving new residents.
The ordinance requires new residential development projects to dedicate park land, pay park impact fees to the County so parks can be developed, or meet the applicable combination described by the County. It was originally adopted on December 19, 1972. The Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive update on July 25, 2018.
The County divides its unincorporated area into 24 Local Park Planning Areas. These areas match the Community and Subregional Plan boundaries in the County’s General Plan. Each area has its own rates for park impact fees or park land dedication per dwelling unit because the fees are based on land acquisition and park construction costs within that area.
Lakeside has its own row in the tables. A figure from another community, even another unincorporated community, is not a substitute for the Lakeside amount.
When is the fee paid?
The PLDO park impact fee is paid when a ministerial building permit for a dwelling is issued, unless it was previously paid or the project is exempt under the ordinance.
For permits in unincorporated areas, County Planning & Development Services collects the fee on behalf of the Department of Parks and Recreation. That means the building permit process is the practical point to confirm the amount, whether an earlier payment appears in the record, and whether the County recognizes an exemption.
Discretionary projects follow a different approval path. The County page gives lot splits, residential subdivisions, and conditionally permitted residential uses as examples. Those projects are conditioned to dedicate park land or pay fees, with land dedication described by the County as preferred.
Does every Lakeside ADU owe the listed fee?
The County page does not establish whether every Lakeside ADU owes the listed 4,916 dollars fee.
Its 2026 table gives an ADU row, but the ordinance text needed to determine the exemptions for a particular project was not read. Do not treat the existence of that row as proof that your ADU must pay, or that it is exempt.
Ask County PDS to check the proposed unit and the permit record under the PLDO. Useful questions are whether the project qualifies for an exemption, whether the fee was previously paid, and which 2026 table entry PDS will apply. County Parks and Recreation can also be reached using the contact on the PLDO page.
For the separate land-use questions that come with adding a unit, see the guide to ADU rules.
When can the County require park land?
The County may require park land dedication for subdivision and condominium projects with more than 50 dwelling units.
That requirement can be imposed as a condition of approval for a discretionary project. For residential development projects with 50 or fewer dwelling units, the County page says only payment of park impact fees is required.
The 2026 Lakeside dedication table lists these requirements in square feet per dwelling unit or lot:
| Dwelling type | Lakeside park land dedication requirement |
|---|---|
| Single family | 377.67 square feet |
| Multi-family | 355.45 square feet |
| Accessory dwelling unit | 196.02 square feet |
They should not be read apart from the project’s approval type and the rule for projects with more than 50 dwelling units. A buyer considering vacant or developable property can also use the buying land guide for general due diligence topics and the new construction home guide for related planning context, while relying on Lakeside’s County offices and tables for the local PLDO answer.
How are Lakeside PLDO priorities identified?
Lakeside’s Planning Group makes advisory recommendations, while County Parks and Recreation reviews proposed priorities under County policies and plans.
Each year, Parks and Recreation requests a five-year priority list from each Planning and Sponsor Group. Those lists provide community recommendations for the use of PLDO funds. The department reviews them against Board Policy F-26, the PLDO, and the Parks Master Plan. In some cases, it may recommend park improvements that do not appear on the submitted lists.
Lakeside Community Planning Group agendas show that the group has a PLDO committee. The October 7, 2026 agenda listed a Little League PLDO funds request and the Lindo Lake Park Phase II playground. The November 4, 2026 agenda listed a proposed reconsideration of the October 7 vote concerning Lindo Lake playground PLDO funds. Its committee report also listed the closing of an ad hoc committee and stated that a dog park was then in the County Capital Improvement Program.
Those are agenda items only. No outcome for the Lindo Lake matter was posted in the County agenda, and the planning group’s role is advisory.
What should you check before setting a project budget?
Confirm the current Lakeside table, the permit type, any prior PLDO payment, and any exemption directly with the County before fixing the budget. Check that the Department of Parks and Recreation PLDO page still shows the 2026 table, then ask PDS which dwelling row applies and whether the County record shows a prior payment. For an ADU, ask whether the proposed unit is exempt, and for a discretionary project, ask whether the approval will require fees or land dedication.
We were reviewing costs for a new Lakeside home when the owner found a county park fee that was not included in his contractor’s estimate. He also wanted to know whether a smaller ADU would trigger the same charge. We checked the applicable fee schedule and exemptions separately for each proposed dwelling.
The short version
The County’s 2026 Lakeside table lists total park impact fees of 9,486 dollars for a single-family dwelling unit, 8,940 dollars for a multi-family dwelling unit, and 4,916 dollars for an ADU.
Payment generally occurs when the ministerial building permit for the dwelling is issued, unless the fee was already paid or the project is exempt. Because the County page does not resolve whether a particular ADU is exempt, ask PDS before relying on the listed amount.
For subdivision and condominium projects with more than 50 dwelling units, the County may require park land dedication as a condition of discretionary approval. Lakeside planning recommendations can help identify local park priorities, but the group serves in an advisory role and Parks and Recreation reviews the recommendations.
If you’re also deciding what the property may be worth before or after the proposed work, start with the home value tool.
Common questions
What is the 2026 park impact fee for a single-family dwelling in Lakeside?
The County's listed 2026 total park impact fee for a single-family dwelling unit in Lakeside is 9,486 dollars.
What is the 2026 park impact fee for an ADU in Lakeside?
The County's listed 2026 total for an accessory dwelling unit in Lakeside is 4,916 dollars. Ask County Planning & Development Services whether a particular ADU is exempt.
When are Lakeside park impact fees paid?
PLDO park impact fees are paid when a ministerial building permit for a dwelling is issued, unless the fees were previously paid or the project is exempt under the PLDO.
Can the County require park land instead of a fee?
For subdivision and condominium projects with more than 50 dwelling units, the County may require dedication of park land as a condition of approval for a discretionary project.
