Permits & Laws — City of San Diego
City of San Diego ADU Permits in 2026: Submittal Checklist, Rules & Timelines
San Diego is one of California's most ADU-friendly cities — no parking requirements in most of the city, no owner-occupancy rule for standard ADUs, and a Bonus ADU program that can let you build several units on a single lot. This guide walks City of San Diego homeowners through the official Information Bulletin 400 submittal requirements, size and setback rules, coastal permits, fees, and the 2026 state-law changes that put hard deadlines on your approval.
What this guide covers
- Why San Diego is so ADU-friendly
- The City's ADU submittal checklist (IB 400)
- Size, setbacks & how many ADUs you can build
- Parking & owner-occupancy rules
- The Bonus ADU Program
- Coastal permits & the AB 462 60-day rule
- 2026 timelines & pre-approved plans
- Fees and exemptions
- How to apply
- Frequently asked questions
Why San Diego is so ADU-friendly
The City of San Diego has gone further than most California cities to encourage ADUs. Outside the Coastal Overlay Zone, no parking is required, the property owner does not have to live on-site, and the city's Bonus ADU Program lets homeowners who build deed-restricted affordable units add extra market-rate units — in some areas with no cap. Layered on top are 2026's statewide reforms, which force the city to move fast on your application.
The City's ADU submittal checklist (Information Bulletin 400)
A Building Permit is required to create any ADU or JADU in San Diego — there are no exemptions. For a single home with an ADU or JADU (R3 occupancy), follow Project Submittal Manual Section 2A. At minimum, every ADU/JADU submittal must include the following plans, calculations, and forms.
Plans & calculations
- Site Plan and Vicinity Map (see Information Bulletin 122)
- Floor Plans and Roof Plans
- Elevations and Sections (as applicable)
- Structural plans and details
- Structural calculations and/or truss calculations (as applicable)
- Title 24 Energy calculations
Required forms
- General Application (DS-3032)
- Water Meter Data Card (DS-16)
- Storm Water Applicability Checklist (DS-560)
Size, setbacks & how many ADUs you can build
An ADU in San Diego is an attached or detached unit of 1,200 sq ft or less with full independent living facilities. Here's how the core dimensional rules work:
| Rule | City of San Diego standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 150 sq ft gross floor area |
| Maximum size | 1,200 sq ft. Floor-area-ratio limits may be exceeded to allow one ADU up to 800 sq ft. Conversions of existing structures are not subject to the 1,200 sq ft cap. |
| Setbacks | New detached ADUs may build up to the property line if 16 ft or less in height. ADUs taller than 16 ft (or multi-story) next to residential property must keep a 4-ft side and rear setback. Front and street-side-yard setbacks of the zone apply (one ADU of 800 sq ft or less may encroach). |
| Solar | Required on newly constructed, non-manufactured detached ADUs (panels may go on the ADU or the main home). Conversions and additions are exempt. |
How many ADUs? On a standard single-dwelling lot you can generally have the primary home plus one detached ADU, one ADU converted from existing space, and one JADU. Multi-dwelling lots can support more — up to two attached ADUs and as many as eight detached ADUs, depending on the existing unit count.
Parking & owner-occupancy rules
This is where San Diego shines. No parking spaces are required for ADUs outside the Coastal Overlay Zone. Even inside it, parking is only triggered in the Beach Impact Area of the Parking Impact Overlay Zone (and outside a transit priority area) — and is waived anyway if the ADU is 500 sq ft or less, attached, in a historic district, in a permit-parking district, or near a car-share vehicle. Converting a garage or carport never requires replacement parking (except in that narrow coastal beach-impact case).
On occupancy: the property owner is not required to live on-site for a standard ADU. A JADU is the exception — it requires the owner to live in one of the on-site units, and a Junior Unit Agreement (no separate sale of the units) must be recorded before the permit is issued. ADUs and JADUs can't be rented for terms shorter than 31 days (no short-term vacation rentals).
The Bonus ADU Program
San Diego's Bonus ADU Program rewards affordability. Within sustainable development areas, for every qualifying on-site deed-restricted affordable ADU you build, you're allowed one additional non-deed-restricted bonus ADU — and in those areas the number of bonus ADUs is unlimited (you must still meet the underlying zone's floor area, height, and lot-coverage limits). Outside sustainable development areas, the bonus is capped at one. Build at least two affordable ADUs and you can also add one market-rate accessible ADU. This is the mechanism behind San Diego lots that fit five, six, or more units.
Coastal permits & the AB 462 60-day rule
If your property is in the Coastal Overlay Zone, a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) is generally required for ADUs that aren't fully contained in the existing primary structure. Since September 2022, qualifying ADUs in the non-appealable coastal area can get a City-issued CDP processed as a Building Permit. The big 2026 change is AB 462 (effective October 15, 2025): it imposes a strict 60-day deadline on coastal ADU permits, runs coastal review concurrently with ministerial approval, and removes the appeal to the California Coastal Commission — collapsing what used to be an 8–10 month bottleneck near the beach.
2026 timelines & pre-approved plans
| Law / path | Effect | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-approved plans (AB 1332) | Jan 1, 2025 | Applications using a City pre-approved ADU plan get a 30-day review. You license the plan directly from the provider. |
| SB 543 | Jan 1, 2026 | The City has 15 business days to determine completeness; miss it and your application is deemed complete. Resubmittals are reviewed only for previously flagged items. |
| AB 462 | Oct 15, 2025 | Coastal ADUs get a 60-day CDP deadline with no Coastal Commission appeal. |
| 60-day rule | State law | A complete, code-compliant ADU must be approved within 60 days, ministerially, with no public hearing. |
Fees and exemptions
ADUs in San Diego are subject to School Fees, the General Plan Maintenance Fee, and development impact fees, with important state-law breaks:
- ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from development impact fees under state law; larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling.
- ADUs/JADUs of 500 sq ft or less are exempt from school fees.
- Projects proposing more than one ADU may owe Regional Transportation Congestion Improvement Program (RTCIP) fees.
For a complete, current fee breakdown, reference the City's Information Bulletin 501 and the Development Services Fees page.
How to apply
San Diego accepts ADU applications digitally through its Accela Online Permitting Account. A few tips that prevent delays:
- Confirm your zone and overlays in ZAPP first — coastal, parking-impact, and transit overlays change which rules apply.
- Use a pre-approved plan if you can for the 30-day review track.
- Submit all three forms (DS-3032, DS-16, DS-560) with your plan set — missing forms are a common completeness kickback.
- Plan for solar early on new detached ADUs, and check whether a fire sprinkler system is triggered (Technical Bulletin RESD 3-4).
Thinking about a backyard ADU?
See how a pre-engineered, code-ready structure can speed up your San Diego permit and your build.
Explore ADU optionsFrequently asked questions
Do I need parking for an ADU in San Diego?
No — the City of San Diego requires no parking for ADUs outside the Coastal Overlay Zone, and garage conversions never need replacement parking. Parking is only triggered in the coastal Beach Impact Area, with several exemptions.
Do I have to live on the property?
Not for a standard ADU — owner-occupancy is not required. A JADU does require the owner to live in one of the on-site units, with a recorded Junior Unit Agreement.
How big can an ADU be in San Diego?
Up to 1,200 sq ft. Floor-area limits can be exceeded to allow one ADU up to 800 sq ft, and conversions of existing structures aren't subject to the 1,200 sq ft cap. The minimum is 150 sq ft.
How long does the permit take?
A complete, code-compliant application must be approved within 60 days, and pre-approved plans get a 30-day review. SB 543 gives the City only 15 business days to determine completeness.
What is the Bonus ADU Program?
For every qualifying deed-restricted affordable ADU you build in a sustainable development area, you can add a market-rate bonus ADU — with no cap in those areas — as long as you meet the zone's height, floor-area, and lot-coverage limits.
Can I build an ADU in San Diego's coastal zone?
Yes. A Coastal Development Permit is generally required, but qualifying projects in non-appealable coastal areas get a City-issued CDP, and AB 462 now caps coastal ADU approvals at 60 days with no Coastal Commission appeal.
Sources & further reading: City of San Diego Information Bulletin 400 (ADU/JADU) · City of San Diego ADU Toolkit · Zoning & Parcel Information Portal (ZAPP) · State law summaries: AB 462, AB 1154, AB 1332, AB 1033, and SB 543 (effective 2025–2026).
This guide is for general information and reflects rules as of June 2026. Some regulations differ within the Coastal Overlay Zone. Always confirm current requirements with City of San Diego Development Services for your specific property before submitting.