San Diego ADUs

Current ADU And JADU Rule Snapshot

• ADU: attached or detached unit on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence, with independent living facilities.
• JADU: up to 500 square feet, within a single-family residence, with a kitchen or efficiency kitchen.
• San Diego City indicates a building permit is required to create an ADU or JADU.
• San Diego City comparison table lists ADU size range at 150 to 1,200 square feet and JADU size range at 150 to 500 square feet.
• San Diego City notes parking is generally not required for ADUs except in the Beach Impact Area; JADU parking is listed as not required.

Setbacks, Height, And Encroachments

• San Diego City guidance indicates no side/rear setback is necessary for certain ADUs under 16 feet outside Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
• A minimum 4-foot side/rear setback applies when ADU/JADU height exceeds 16 feet adjacent to residential premises, and in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
• New detached ADU structures must still comply with the zone front setback; side/rear flexibility may apply per code.
• San Diego City states ADUs may encroach into side/rear setbacks, but certain features (for example exterior staircases and roof decks) cannot encroach.

Bonus ADU, Accessible Bonus, And Condominiums

• San Diego City ADU Bonus Program: in Sustainable Development Areas, one additional non-deed restricted bonus ADU may be allowed for each qualifying deed-restricted ADU, with a stated 15-year affordability term.
• Outside Sustainable Development Areas, San Diego City states the maximum number of bonus ADUs is one when qualifying deed-restricted ADUs are proposed.
• Accessible Bonus ADU pathway may apply when two affordable ADUs are provided and accessibility standards are met.
• San Diego City indicates ADU condominiums can be separately sold in certain cases, while ADUs built through the ADU Home Density Bonus program are not eligible for separate sale.

Permit Path And Plan Review

1. 1) Pre-check zoning and overlays

   Confirm zoning, Coastal Overlay status, and Sustainable Development Area status in San Diego City tools before design decisions.

2. 2) Select custom or preapproved plans

   San Diego City accepts certain regional preapproved plans and notes a 30-day review target for applications using preapproved plans, subject to code compliance.

3. 3) Submit building permit application

   Apply through Development Services and track review milestones through San Diego City systems.

4. 4) Final inspections and closeout

   Complete inspections and finalize required documents, including any JADU agreement or subdivision-related filings if applicable.

2026 Proposed Rules And Public Process Watch

San Diego City Planning's 2026 Land Development Code Update page describes 134 proposed amendments (103 citywide and 31 downtown). Not every amendment is ADU-specific, but code changes can affect housing and permitting pathways.

• Land Use and Housing Committee hearing reference: March 5, 2026 (as listed on the San Diego City page).
• Planning Commission hearing reference: February 19, 2026.
• City Council hearing reference on the City page: May 11, 2026.
• DSD Regulatory Updates page lists 2025 and prior legislative sessions, including ADU and JADU-related state bills.

City Planning And Decision-Maker Directory

For applicants tracking policy direction and proposed ordinance work, these are key public offices and bodies linked from official San Diego City pages.

Official Source Links

• City ADU/JADU Program Page: Accessory Dwelling Unit/Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
• City Municipal Code Home: Municipal Code
• Chapter 14 Division 3 PDF (ADU references on City page): Chapter 14, Article 1, Division 3
• City Regulatory Updates: Regulatory Updates
• LDC Updates in Process: Land Development Code Updates in Process
• City Legislative Calendar: Legislative Calendar
• California HCD ADU Handbook (Updated March 2026): HCD ADU Handbook
• HCD Enforcement and Technical Assistance Letters: HAU Letters Dashboard