San Diego, CA
San Diego ADU Rules & Requirements (2026)
Check San Diego's ADU setbacks, height, parking, JADU eligibility, and 60-day approval timeline in seconds.
San Diego, California ADU Rules
By-right approval available
Max Size
1,200 sq ft (detached); up to 50% of primary dwelling (attached)
Setbacks
4 ft rear/side (state-mandated); front setback matches zone
Height Limit
16 ft (single-story); 18 ft within half-mile of transit; 25 ft with deed-restricted main unit
Parking
None required under CA AB 68 when within 0.5 mi of transit; otherwise 1 space per unit
Owner-Occupancy
Not required (AB 68 prohibits owner-occupancy requirement; extended indefinitely by AB 976)
JADU Eligibility
Yes. 500 sq ft max, within primary residence. Can add 1 JADU + 1 ADU per lot.
Review Type
Ministerial (by-right, no public hearing). 60-day approval requirement under state law.
Approval Timeline
60 days statutorily; typically 45–90 calendar days in practice.
Short-Term Rentals
Prohibited on ADUs (most common)
Local note: San Diego offers pre-approved ADU plans that cut plan review to ~30 days. SB 9 also allows lot splits that can create 4-plex equivalents on eligible single-family lots.
Source: City zoning codes and state ADU statutes (CA AB 68/976, OR HB 2001, CO HB24-1152), updated April 2026.
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San Diego ADU rules at a glance
San Diego enforces one of the most permissive ADU regimes in California. Under state ADU law (Gov. Code 65852.2) and the city's implementing ordinance, ADU permits are reviewed ministerially — meaning staff approve the application based on objective zoning and building standards rather than discretionary design review or public hearings.
Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft are allowed by-right on most single-family and multi-family lots, with a 4-foot rear/side setback and a 16-foot height limit (18 feet within a half-mile of a major transit stop). Parking is not required near transit, historic districts, or when an existing garage is converted. Owner-occupancy requirements are preempted by AB 68 and AB 976, so you can rent both the primary home and the ADU.
Pre-approved plans cut timelines
San Diego maintains a Pre-Approved ADU Plan catalog — selecting one of these designs drops plan review to roughly 30 days and saves $10,000–$20,000 in design fees. For custom-designed ADUs, expect a 60–90 day review window with the city's 60-day statutory clock starting when the application is deemed complete.
JADUs and SB 9 stacking
San Diego allows one ADU plus one JADU on every eligible single-family lot. A JADU must be carved out of the primary dwelling's existing footprint and is capped at 500 sq ft. SB 9 (the California HOME Act) layers on top of this, permitting lot splits and duplex conversions in single-family zones — which can stack into a 4-plex configuration on a single original parcel.
What San Diego does not allow
ADUs cannot be operated as short-term rentals under San Diego's Short-Term Residential Occupancy ordinance. Lot coverage, building setbacks, and fire-separation still apply from the underlying zone once state minimums are met. Hillside lots and coastal overlay zones trigger additional review.
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