San Diego · Data Study · Updated 2026-07-02
San Diego ADU Cost Data — 2026
Cost per square foot by neighborhood, all-in cost by size, City of San Diego permit fees, and ADU rent comps — with primary sources. Free to cite with attribution.
San Diego ADU rules at a glance
California law requires a city to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days — miss it and the permit is deemed approved. As of Jan 1, 2026 (SB 543), the city must also rule the application complete within 15 business days.
The City of San Diego permits up to two ADUs plus one Junior ADU on a single-family lot; impact fees are waived for units under 750 sqft.
San Diego’s ADU Bonus Program lets a homeowner add one market-rate ADU for each deed-restricted affordable ADU (unlimited pairs inside Transit Priority Areas). In its first two years it produced 253 bonus ADUs on top of the 147 allowed by state law, with 295 deed-restricted affordable units in progress — averaging ~8 units per participating lot.
ADUs on parcels in San Diego’s Coastal Overlay Zone (Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, La Jolla, parts of Mission Beach) carry extra setback/landscape review certified by the Coastal Commission in 2024, which adds time and soft cost versus an inland build.
Cost by ADU type
| ADU type | All-in cost | $/sqft | Typical rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| JADU (interior conversion) · under 500 sqft | $60K–$150K | $150–$300 | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Garage conversion · existing shell | $80K–$200K | $200–$250 | $1,500–$2,200 |
| Attached ADU · added to home | $150K–$300K | $250–$350 | $2,000–$2,800 |
| Detached ADU · new build | $200K–$450K | $300–$450 | $2,500–$3,500 |
| Two-story / custom · detached | $250K–$500K+ | $350–$450 | $3,200–$4,500 |
Source: City of San Diego and the aduglossary.com San Diego cost model.
All-in cost by size
Model: San Diego $/sqft hard cost ($425 budget – $750 high-end) + $18K permits + $12K utilities. Bars show the high-end build.
Neighborhood cost tiers ($/sqft hard cost)
| Tier | $/sqft | ADU rent | Neighborhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Premium | $400–$500 | $3,200+ | La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Del Mar, Point Loma, Ocean Beach |
| Urban Core | $350–$450 | $2,800+ | North Park, Hillcrest, South Park, Mission Hills, Downtown |
| Mid-Range Residential | $300–$400 | $2,400+ | Kensington, Talmadge, Clairemont, Serra Mesa, Allied Gardens |
| Value Corridors | $250–$350 | $2,000+ | El Cajon, Chula Vista (East), Mira Mesa, Santee, Escondido |
Source: aduglossary.com San Diego cost guide neighborhood analysis.
Permit & soft-cost fees
| Plan check | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Building permit | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Impact fees | Waived (<750 sqft) |
| School fees | $2–$4/sqft |
| Utilities hookup | $2,500–$7,000 |
| Total permit + soft cost | $5,000–$13,500 |
Source: City of San Diego (IB 501).
ADU rent comps
Rent range: $3.27–$4.43 / sqft
| Size | Beds | Monthly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 600 sqft | 1BR | $2,400 |
| 800 sqft | 2BR | $3,200 |
| 1100 sqft | 2BR | $3,950 |
Estimate your unit: San Diego ADU rent estimator.
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<iframe src="https://aduglossary.com/san-diego-adu-cost-data-2026/embed" width="100%" height="520" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:12px" title="San Diego ADU cost by neighborhood — ADU Glossary" loading="lazy"></iframe>Preview: the embeddable chart.
Sources
- City of San Diego — ADU / Companion Unit program & fee schedule (IB 400, IB 501)
- UC Berkeley Terner Center — San Diego ADU Bonus Program (2023 analysis)
- California Gov. Code § 65852.2 — ADU 60-day ministerial approval
- California HCD — ADU Handbook
- SANDAG Open Data — Accessory Dwelling Unit Report 2024
- City of San Diego — Coastal Overlay Zone ADU regulations (Housing Action Package)
How to cite: “San Diego ADU Cost Data 2026, ADU Glossary” linking to aduglossary.com/san-diego-adu-cost-data-2026.