The City of San Diego is one of the most ADU-friendly jurisdictions in California, layering its own Bonus ADU pathway on top of every state allowance. Companion units are widely accepted, and the city actively recognizes pre-approved plans from neighboring jurisdictions.
ADUs from 150 sq ft up to 1,200 sq ft. JADUs 150–500 sq ft. The Bonus ADU Program adds capacity beyond state baseline.
State guarantee: California requires every city to allow at least an 800 sq ft ADU exempt from local lot coverage, FAR, and front-setback rules.
Height baseline: 16 ft for detached, rising to 18 ft within ½ mile of major transit. Attached ADUs follow the primary home, capped at 25 ft.
No parking required for most ADUs. Garage conversions in the Beach Impact Area outside a Transit Priority Area need one replacement space unless an exception applies (≤500 sq ft, historic district, attached, residential parking district, or near car-share).
Permits are issued through the Development Services Department (DSD) using a Building/Combination Building Permit. Coastal Overlay parcels follow a separate Coastal ADU path. The city pledges a 30-day review for applications using a pre-approved plan.
State backstop: A complete ADU permit must receive a decision in 60 business days. If the city stalls past 30 business days, AB 253 lets you hire a certified private plan checker to force a 10-business-day decision.
ADUs are subject to the Inclusionary Housing Regulations. Fees scale with size per SB 543. The San Diego Housing Commission ADU Finance Program offers construction loans and technical assistance.
SB 543: No impact fees on ADUs ≤750 sq ft. Above 750 sq ft, fees scale to the ratio of ADU size vs the main home.
Visit the official San Diego ADU page (link in hero) for current eligibility and downloads.
Standard ADUs in San Diego: no owner-occupancy required (made permanent in 2023).
JADUs: limited to 500 sq ft of interior livable space within an existing single-family home. Owner occupancy is required only when sanitation facilities are shared with the main house. JADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals (AB 1154 / SB 543).
Sketch a floorplan, walk through it in 3D, and have our planners review it for size, height, and setback compliance before you submit to San Diego.
Heads up: Local rules change frequently. This page summarizes publicly available state law (California Government Code §§ 66310–66342) and current local guidance for general planning purposes. Always confirm specifics with the San Diego planning desk before submitting plans. ADUMetrics does not provide legal advice.