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Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU/JADU)
ADU/JADU Updates | May 2022
- The San Diego Housing Commission’s (SDHC) Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Finance Program helps homeowners with low income in the City of San Diego build ADUs on their property. The program provides financial assistance in the form of construction loans and technical assistance that helps homeowners understand and complete the process of building an ADU. Learn more.
- Have questions about building an ADU on your property? Schedule a free virtual Planning and Zoning appointment.
- New
Info Bulletin!! - View the updated regulations outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone, which include new setback and landscape requirements.
ADUs are detached or attached accessory structures on a residential lot that provide independent living areas. ADUs are intended as permanent housing solutions and shall not be used for rental terms less than 31 consecutive days.
ADUs can be integrated into existing single-family or multi-family properties. They can be designed in various ways, including converting a portion of an existing house, adding to the existing house, converting an existing garage or constructing a new detached structure. Learn more about ADUs and JADUs.
Highlights
ADUs and JADUs are an integral part of the City's Housing SD initiatives to increase housing affordability and supply citywide. The City has amended regulations that make it easier and less expensive to build ADUs and JADUs, providing affordable and below-market housing throughout the City.
Some of these changes include:
- Digital plan review, expedited processing and construction inspection times.
- A property with a Single Dwelling Unit may have both an ADU and a JADU.
- A property with Multiple Dwelling Units may have two detached ADUs and may convert habitable and non-habitable spaces to ADUs.
- The maximum size is 1,200 square feet, attached or detached.
- Encroachments into the side and rear yards.
- No parking required: Replacement parking is not required for conversions of garages.
- Bonus ADU Program for Affordable ADUs.
- Rental terms are for a minimum of 31 days.
- Waiving Development Impact Fees, Facility Benefit Assessment Fees and General Plan Maintenance Fees.
- Allowing the use of permit-ready, no-cost building plans from the County of San Diego and the City of Encinitas Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (PRADU) program. The plans still must meet the City of San Diego submittal guidelines for a building permit.
Municipal Code
- Effective Nov. 29, 2020, Amended ADU and JADU Regulations Outside Coastal Overlay Zone
Within the Coastal Overlay Zone, amendments will not apply until the California Coastal Commission certifies it as a Local Coastal Program Amendment. View the Strikeout Ordinance highlighting changes. - Building Permit Procedures
- Additions and Modifications to the California Codes
- California Building Code – Chapter 14, Article 5, Division 1 - 36
- California Residential Code – Chapter 14, Article 9, Division 1- 45
- California Green Building Standards Code – Chapter 14, Article 10, Division 1-6
- California Existing Building Code – Chapter 14, Article 11, Division 1 - 1
Fee Schedule
- Information Bulletin 501 – Construction Permits for Structures
- Information Bulletin 146 – School Fees
Inspections
- Information Bulletin 120 - Project Inspections
Publications and Resources
- ADU and JADU Map: Conduct searches for ADUs and JADUs by location, time frame and application status.
- California Department of Housing and Urban Development ADU Handbook
- ADU-Background-Summary
- Information Bulletin 101 - Building Valuation
- Information Bulletin 117 - Building Permit Extension and Expiration
- Information Bulletin 118 - Construction Changes
- Information Bulletin 140 - Residential Addition/Remodel
- Information Bulletin 152 - Building Permit Submittal
- Information Bulletin 153 - Building Permit Issuance
- Information Bulletin 400 - ADU/Junior ADU
- Technical Bulletin RESD-3-4 - Sprinkler Requirements for ADUs
- Permit-ready design/building plans:
- City of Encinitas Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (PRADU) program*
- County of San Diego*
*Contact each jurisdiction for the latest version of their plans. Once customized for your application, they will need to be submitted in PDF format. View PDF requirements.
FAQ - Single Dwelling Unit Zones Outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone
Can I build a new detached JADU?
No. A JADU may be within an existing or proposed single dwelling unit, attached or detached ADU, or other accessory structure (such as a garage). It cannot be a free-standing structure.
Can I have an access door between my JADU and my primary dwelling unit?
Yes, but the JADU must also have a separate exterior entry.
Can I have an access door between my JADU and my ADU?
Yes, but the JADU must also have a separate exterior entry.
No. However, if the construction of an ADU or JADU involves the conversion or demolition of an existing covered parking structure and the existing driveway curb is not in conformance with current city standards, the driveway shall be closed to the satisfaction of the City Engineer.
Yes. However, if you exceed the maximum FAR of the zone, you are limited to one (1) ADU with a maximum gross floor area of 800 square feet.
Can I use my existing driveway as a parking space?
Yes. The parking spaces must meet minimum dimension standards. 9’ x 18’ for parking spaces with wall or column on one side. 9’-6” x 18’ for parking spaces with a wall or column on two sides. 8’ x 18’ for all others.
Yes, however, no additional floor area can encroach into the front and/or street-side setbacks.
Yes. These proposed encroachments should be in conformance with §131.0461 of the San Diego Municipal Code.
The regulations allow for the following:
- • Two detached ADUs.
- • The conversion of 25% of the existing previously permitted multiple dwelling units.
- • Unlimited ADUs when converting non-habitable areas of an existing multiple dwelling unit building.
FAQ - Multiple Dwelling Unit Zones Outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone
I am in a zone that allows residential and commercial uses, can I build an ADU?
Yes, however, there must be at least one existing or proposed primary dwelling unit.
No, there must be at least one existing or proposed primary dwelling unit.
No. The new floor area must be detached from the existing building.
I am at the floor area ratio maximum for my zone, what is the largest new ADU I can build?
1 detached ADU with 800 square feet of new gross floor area. Exterior wall thickness is included in the gross floor area. See SDMC §113.0234 Calculating Gross Floor Area.