This page presents a directory of seven residential architecture firms active in San Diego and the surrounding metro area. Six of these firms are based within the city itself. The directory includes fourteen published residential projects located in neighborhoods such as Point Loma, India, Del Mar, La Jolla, and Luecadia. Architectural styles frequently appearing in recent projects include modern, contemporary, minimalist, and midcentury modern, reflecting trends documented between 2014 and 2018.
| Project | Architect fee | Share of construction |
|---|---|---|
| New custom home, 3,000 SF | $65,000 – $183,000 | 5–14% |
| Whole-house renovation, 2,000 SF | $49,000 – $153,000 | 7–22% |
| Addition, 600 SF | $20,000 – $60,000 | 7–21% |
| ADU or guest house, 700 SF | $19,500 – $58,000 | 6–18% |
Local architect wages from BLS (May 2025); new-home construction runs about $190 per SF in this part of the country (Census). Consultants such as structural engineers are extra. Full breakdown of architect fees in San Diego → · Cost out your own project
For a 3,000 SF custom new home in the San Diego area, full architectural services typically run $65,000 – $183,000, about 5–14% of construction cost. A 2,000 SF whole-house renovation typically runs $49,000 – $153,000. Estimates come from the Architects List cost tool, built on local BLS wage data and Census construction costs; engineers and other consultants are billed separately.
There are seven residential architecture firms listed for San Diego, with six of these firms based directly in the city.
Modern architecture is the most prevalent style, appearing in 93% of tagged projects, followed by contemporary (57%), minimalist (36%), and midcentury modern (36%) among the published work.
The median cost for new home construction in the Pacific census division, which includes San Diego, is $190 per square foot according to the US Census Survey of Construction for 2026.
Architect selection often begins with reviewing each firm's project portfolio and experience with relevant styles or neighborhoods. ArchitectsList provides examples of recent work to support this process.