San Diego ADUs

Last reviewed June 26, 2026

Last verified against official source pages: June 26, 2026 (Pacific Time).

What This Page Covers

This page is designed as a high-utility reference for homeowners, designers, and builders who need San Diego ADU and JADU rules in one place. It prioritizes official San Diego City and State source links so you can confirm details quickly before submittal. Carlsbad is a separate city. Its coastal permits, fees, and 2026 size rules are on the Carlsbad ADU rules page.

Stock photo of a modern duplex — Stock photo. Not a San Diego project.

Stock photo of a modern house — Stock photo. Not a San Diego project.

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. The four main types are detached ADUs, garage conversion ADUs, attached ADUs, and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs).
JADU: up to 500 square feet, within a single-family residence, with a kitchen or efficiency kitchen.
The City allows up to two ADUs on a single-dwelling lot, plus one JADU. Source: City of San Diego ADU page.
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) Pre-check zoning and overlays

Confirm zoning, Coastal Overlay status, and Sustainable Development Area status in San Diego City tools before design decisions.
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. See our guide to pre-approved ADU plans.
3) Submit building permit application

Apply through Development Services and track review milestones through San Diego City systems. Our ADU permitting guide explains the full permit process.
4) Final inspections and closeout

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

2026 Land Development Code Update

The City's 2026 Land Development Code Update went to hearings from February to May 2026. Check the City Planning page for what was adopted before you rely on any change.

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.

Executive And Legal Offices

Mayor Todd Gloria
City Attorney Heather Ferbert
Office of the City Clerk

City Council (Districts 1-9)

Joe LaCava, Jennifer Campbell, Stephen Whitburn
Henry Foster III, Marni von Wilpert, Kent Lee
Raul Campillo, Vivian Moreno, Sean Elo-Rivera

Planning And Land Use Bodies

Land Use & Housing Committee
Planning Commission
City Planning LDC Update Team

How this page stays current

This page is checked against the official City and State links above and updated when substantive regulatory changes are published. For permit decisions, always verify the current Municipal Code and adopted state law at submittal time.

For detailed planning guidance, see our ADU feasibility studies page, the San Diego ADU permitting guide, and the ADU handbook for a complete project overview.

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