San Diego ADU
We are architects helping homeowners in San Diego County create modern, sustainable, and flexible ADUs that maximize property value.
WHAT IS A GRANNY ADU SAN DIEGO?
A granny flat, also known as a companion unit, in-law unit, backyard unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot that can be rented. These include:
Detached new construction
Attached unit to your current house
Space above your house
Interior built from existing converted space (attic or basement)
Garage conversion
Why now is an ideal time to build a granny flat or ADU san diego.
Favorable law: In 2017, the California Senate passed a state-wide law that gave California cities more flexibility allowing homeowners to build ADUs. Since 2017 any lot with a single-family home can have a rentable unit, an ADU.
Fee reduction: In 2018, San Diego County voted to waive several of the fees for building ADUs over the next five years. The expected savings ranges from $8,000 to $30,000 depending on several factors.
Record rent: The average rent in San Diego is breaking record at up to $1,887 per month.
It's easier and more profitable than ever to build an ADU in San Diego.
how can you USE a GRANNY FLAT or ADU?
For you: Extend your living space or add a studio or office.
For family and friends: Host visitors or have family members move in.
For rent: Increase your monthly income with long-term tenants.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS for adu SAN DIEGO
Size - Maximum is 1,200 s.f.
Parking - The new ADU law allows more flexibility by adding more tandem parking. In some areas, off-street parking is no longer required if the dwelling is within 1/2 mile of public transportation.
Setback - The setback requirements depend on the zone and city your lot is located in. There are no setback requirements if your ADU is converted from an existing garage.
Fire Sprinkler - Not required if it doesn’t exist in the main house.
Solar - Mandatory for detached ADUs and not required for garage conversions or attached ADUs.
Owner Occupancy - Some cities require the owner to occupy the primary house or the ADU.
Utilities - It is not mandatory to have new connections for utilities (electrical, gas, water & sewer). This is an important savings.
Selling - ADU units can’t be sold separately from the main home.
Rentals - California passed Senate Bill 1069 in an effort to increase the supply of housing to the state. For this reason, any ADU may be used for a long-term rental. ADUs cannot be rented out for less than 30 consecutive days.
New California ADU Bills
The State of California has adopted several bills that affect accessory dwelling units (ADUs) since January 1st, 2020. They relax the governing laws on ADU's, now making ADU development easier.
No more minimum lot size requirements.
Reduce maximum setbacks applicable to an ADU to 4 feet.
ADUs are now allowed on lots with multifamily dwellings (not just single-family dwellings).
You're no longer required to replace off-street parking, making garage conversions easy.
The local permitting agency must act on the submittal of an application for an ADU within 60 days on a ministerial CEQA exempt basis. (Previously it was 120).
Owner occupancy of the primary residence is no longer imposed in order to build an ADU on your property.
No additional or increased utility fees.
HOA or CC&R cannot prevent you from building an ADU on a single family lot.
Allows and encourages rental of your ADU.
City or County cannot impose impact fees on ADUs under 750 SQFT.
Cities or counties may no longer require replacement parking when a garage is converted to an ADU.
A city/county cannot require ADU parking within a 1/2 mile of public transit (including any bus stop).
Prohibit a local agency from imposing an owner-occupant requirement for an ADU or main residence until January 1, 2025.
You can now build up to 3 units (an ADU and a JADU) on a single-family property lot. A JADU is a small living unit (maximum 500 s.f.) without a full kitchen.
ADUs in the NEWS
New York Times: Empty Garages: The Answer to California’s Housing Shortage?
LA Times: Could granny flats help ease the state’s housing crisis? Some advocates think so
SF Gate: The Bay Area housing crisis depicted as nutrition labels
Contact us at info@moderngrannyflat.com with your address and we’ll respond with details about building an ADU on your property.