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FTZ 153 — Foreign-Trade Zone 153 — City of San Diego
California · San Diego · Port of entry: CA, San Diego
FTZ 153 is a Foreign-Trade Zone sponsored by the City of San Diego, covering the City and County of San Diego and a western portion of Riverside County, California, and it is associated with the port of entry at San Diego, CA.
Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 153 is a designated foreign-trade zone granted to the City of San Diego, serving the City and County of San Diego as well as a western portion of Riverside County, California. The zone operates in connection with the port of entry at San Diego, CA.
A Foreign-Trade Zone is a secure area, treated for customs purposes as being outside U.S. commerce, where companies may bring foreign and domestic merchandise for storage, assembly, processing, or manufacturing before it enters U.S. commerce or is re-exported. Depending on the activity, use of an FTZ can allow for duty deferral, duty reduction on certain finished goods, or duty elimination on merchandise that is re-exported. Zones like FTZ 153 are relevant to importers, manufacturers, and distributors that operate — or are considering operating — a facility within the stated service area.
A company evaluating whether FTZ status would benefit a specific facility in this region typically works with a customs broker or an FTZ compliance consultant. That advisor can help assess whether the operation qualifies, what activities would benefit, and what paperwork is required to pursue site or subzone designation under FTZ 153, sponsored by the City of San Diego.
Who qualifies
How to apply
Service area: City and County of San Diego and a western portion of Riverside County
Questions people ask
What is FTZ 153?
FTZ 153 is a Foreign-Trade Zone sponsored by the City of San Diego, covering the City and County of San Diego and a western portion of Riverside County, California.
Who is the grantee of FTZ 153?
The City of San Diego is the grantee/sponsor of FTZ 153.
What area does FTZ 153 cover?
It covers the City and County of San Diego and a western portion of Riverside County.
What port of entry is associated with FTZ 153?
The associated port of entry is San Diego, CA.
Do I need a customs broker to use an FTZ?
Many companies work with a customs broker or FTZ compliance consultant to determine whether their operation qualifies and to handle the required filings, though this is a general practice rather than a requirement specific to FTZ 153.
Is an FTZ the same as a bonded warehouse?
No, an FTZ and a bonded warehouse are distinct customs designations with different rules, though both allow certain deferral of duties; the given data does not detail those differences for FTZ 153 specifically.
How do I get subzone status for my own facility in FTZ 153's area?
You would typically contact the City of San Diego or an FTZ consultant to discuss designation, then follow the FTZ Board's application process available at trade.gov.
Can any business in San Diego County use FTZ 153?
Only businesses with a facility located within the stated service area — San Diego City/County or western Riverside County — would be eligible to pursue FTZ 153 status, subject to the standard FTZ Board process.
Where can I find the official application process?
The official FTZ Board application process is described at https://www.trade.gov/how-to-apply.
What benefits does an FTZ generally provide?
FTZs can offer duty deferral, reduction, or elimination on qualifying activity such as storage, assembly, processing, or re-export, depending on the specific operation.
Source: FTZ Board OFIS zone list (ofis.trade.gov). GetFundedUSA is independent and not affiliated with this zone's operator.