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Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU/JADU)
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.
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.
Statistics
Here is a summary of the ADU applications received, construction permits issued and the number of ADUs completed by year. You can now conduct searches for ADUs and JADUs by location, time frame and status of the application.
| Year | Applications Received* |
Permits Issued* |
Construction Complete* |
| 2021 | 372 | 275 | 183 |
| 2020 | 754 | 544 | 386 |
| 2019 | 777 | 501 | 202 |
| 2018 | 373 | 237 | 61 |
| 2017 | 110 | 19 | 13 |
| 2016 | 16 | 14 | 9 |
*The data provided is current as of June 25, 2021.
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.
- ADU Handbook: This easy-to-read handbook provides an understanding of all newly updated regulations in 2020.
- 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.