Accessory and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU/JADU)

ADUs, also referred to as companion units, casitas, cottages or granny flats, are detached or attached accessory structures on a residential lot that:

1. Provide living facilities for one or more persons;
2. Are independent of the primary dwelling unit; and
3. Include permanent provisions for living, sleeping and cooking.

A JADU is an accessory structure that is contained entirely within an existing, habitable single dwelling unit.

Both ADUs and JADUs can be integrated into existing single-family or multi-family properties and can be designed in a variety of ways, including converting a portion of an existing house, adding to the existing house, converting an existing garage or constructing a new detached structure. These are intended as housing, and shall not be used for a rental term of less than 30 consecutive days. Learn more about ADUs and JADUs. 

Highlights

ADUs and JADUs are an integral part of the City's Housing SD initiatives that will help increase housing affordability and supply citywide. The City has amended regulations that make it easier and less expensive to build ADUs and JADUs, helping to provide affordable and below-market housing throughout the City. These amendments include:

• Requiring that rental periods for ADUs or JADUs be greater than 30 days. 
• Expediting permit processing, plan review and construction inspection times, and processing new ADU permits over-the-counter for detached one-story units, additions, conversions of garages or accessory structures.  With over-the-counter permitting, applicants may receive all approvals necessary for construction on the same day, rather than having to wait as long as two weeks to get plan corrections back.

• 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.

• Increasing zoning flexibility.
• Waiving Development Impact Fees, Facility Benefit Assessment Fees and General Plan Maintenance Fees.  
• Increasing the maximum size of a project from 700 square feet to 1,200 square feet. 
• Maintaining the existing setbacks for a permitted garage or a non-habitable accessory structure that is converted to an ADU. 
• Exempting qualified projects from requirements to create new parking spaces.  

Here is a summary of the ADU applications received, construction permits issued and the number of ADUs completed by year. 

*The data provided is current as of June 26, 2020.

Municipal Code

• ADUs and JADUs
• Building Permit Procedures
  • Who may prepare Plans, Reports, Calculations, etc?
  • Building Permit Application Extensions and Expirations
  • Building Permit Utilization
  • Building Permit Expiration and Extension
• 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 - 17

Submittal Requirements

• Guide to Project Submittal Process, Section 1
• Construction Permits - Structures, Section 2
• Single Dwelling Unit/Duplex and Accessory Structures, Section 2A

Fee Schedule

• Information Bulletin 501 - Construction Permits for Structures

Inspections

• Information Bulletin 120 - Project Inspections

Publications and Resources

• 2019 ADU Handbook - This is a guide for homeowners seeking to construct an ADU on their property.
• 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 Unit
• Permit-ready design/building plans:
  1. City of Encinitas Permit-Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit (PRADU) program  
  2. County of San Diego