ADU

California ADU laws

Accessory dwelling units are the fastest way to add a rental to a San Diego lot. Here are the state rules your city has to follow, and the bills behind them.

The rules The laws

State minimums

What every city must allow

Size and setbacks

At least an 800 sq ft ADU with 4 ft side and rear setbacks
Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft in many cases
Junior ADU (JADU) up to 500 sq ft inside the house

Height

16 ft for detached ADUs
18 ft near transit or on multifamily lots (+2 ft for roof pitch)
25 ft or the zone limit for attached ADUs

Approval

60 days to approve a complete application
Ministerial: no public hearing
Denials must list every reason

Fees and parking

No impact fees for ADUs 750 sq ft or less
No parking required within 1/2 mile of transit and in many other cases
No replacement parking when a garage is converted

Owner occupancy

None for ADUs
JADUs: owner must live on site only if sanitation is shared

Rentals

ADUs can be rented long term; many cities ban short-term (under 30 days) rentals
Our garage studios are rented; ask us about ADU rental numbers

Our properties

ADUs on our own properties

Built by CSLB-licensed contractors.

Framing

Finished living area

ADU kitchen

ADU bathroom

Bill by bill

SB and AB laws affecting ADUs

Law	What it does
AB 68 / SB 13 (2020)	Set the modern rules: 60-day approvals, smaller setbacks, no owner-occupancy for ADUs.
AB 2221 / SB 897 (2023)	Height up to 16 to 25 ft depending on location, front setbacks cannot block an 800 sq ft ADU, approvals must list every defect.
AB 976 (2024)	Permanently bans owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs.
AB 1033 (2024)	Lets cities allow ADUs to be sold separately as condos (city must opt in; check yours).
SB 1211 (2025)	Up to 8 detached ADUs on lots with existing multifamily buildings; replacing parking does not have to be replaced.
AB 2533 (2025)	Unpermitted ADUs built before 2020 can be legalized more easily; limits on impact fees and code upgrades.
2025 bills (AB 1154, SB 9, SB 543, AB 462, AB 130)	Further cleanups to JADU rules, fees, approvals after disasters and permit timelines. Check HCD for current text.

HCD ADU Handbook (PDF)State guide, March 2026 update City of San Diego Development ServicesPermits and ADU rules Finance an ADUHELOC, cash-out, DSCR

Not legal or tax advice. This page is general information about California and San Diego County rules as of 2026. Laws, amounts and deadlines change. Confirm with the agency and talk to a licensed attorney or CPA before acting.

Thinking about an ADU?

Run your lot by us

We can look at your lot, rents in your area and what an ADU adds to value, and refer licensed builders and engineers.

Broker, not a contractor. David Thomas Mejia is a California real estate broker (CA DRE #01448424), not a licensed contractor. Work that needs a California contractor's license should be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor; check any license at cslb.ca.gov. Cost ranges on this page are general estimates, not bids.