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  Getting Started

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The addition of  ADUs prior to 2017 were prohibitive and disproportionately expensive.   Prior to 2017, many building dept's reported single and double digit permits for ADUs. The first phase new ordinances went into effect in 2017.  There was moderate pent-up demand.  Today, San Diego reported 443 permits for 2019.  Los Angeles county is in the thousands.
The newest ordinances that took effect in 2020 continues to remove more barriers and reduce costs.   Never has been a better time to seriously consider an ADU.
These new ordinances plus financing is a significant enabler that puts the ability to build an ADU into many homeowners and buyers grasp.  This is an exceptional time to empower many homeowners to take care of family,  create income stream while contributing to housing shortage. 

The Process

Once a commitment is made to build an ADU,  getting started can be bewildering.  Even trade professionals will find the process daunting.

Never the less,  this all becomes more manageable once you break down into functional groupings.   So lets review these functions.

​Purpose 
What is driving the interest in building an ADU?  Are you taking care of family,  creating income stream, retirement strategy or ?   You should also consider short-term needs versus longer term.  You may need to consider ADA or Age in Place living conditions

This an important first step as it determines general design needs # bedrooms, # bathrooms,  single floor,  indoor/outdoor designs etc.   The more clarity and defined you are,  the better your resources like contractors, architects can service you. 
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​In reality,  many of these next processes need to start initially in parallel.

Phase l (initial)
Contractor - get estimate pricing.  Contractor will want to know square footage,  # bedroom/ bathroom.  They will also want to know quality of finishes.  
Financing - Explore types of financing. Select a lender.  See Financing.
Design - Research local building department for new ordinances for ADUs.  Search & view plans.  Review public pre-design plans to provide ideas. You will need to hire an architect.

Phase II
Design - Hire an architect to design plans.  Consider and review existing pre-designed plans
Financing - Complete loan application
Contractor - Interview and select contractor.

Phase III 
Design - Plans complete.  Submit to building department.
Contractor - Search, research and hire a contractor.

Types of ADUs

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New, Attached - Allows new addition up to 50% of square footage of existing dwelling, not greater than 1,200 sf.
New, Detached - Allows new addition up to 50% of square footage of existing dwelling, not greater than 1,200 sf.
Conversion, Unconditioned - Typically a garage conversion.
Conversion, Conditioned  - Also known as a Junior ADU.  Converting living area.  Must have separate outside access and setback that complies with fire safety code.  Up to 500 sf.  Must have kitchen(ette) and direct access to the outside.  

Ordinances - 2017

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​Parking - Parking requirements has been one of the biggest obstacle in planning of ADUs.  The new ordinance allows more flexibility.   ​
​
  • No parking required if a public transit stop is within 1/2 mile.
  • Tandem parking allowed to fulfill parking requirement allotment.
  • ​Allowance to use setbacks for parking. 

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​Utilities - Previous regulations required new services for utilities including electrical, gas and water.   New utility connections not required. New ordinance allows to provide utilities to feed from existing dwelling providing there is sufficient capacity.   This will save on construction costs.

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Permit & Impact Fees -  Past fees reflect costs as new residential  construction.  New regulations state these fees must now be proportional.  Another significant cost savings.

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​Fire Sprinkler - Not required if not present in primary dwelling.

The following are provisions that are determined by local building department:​
  • Short term rental restrictions
  • Size & height limits
  • Setbacks​

Ordinances - 2020 New

​The following are excerpts from recent amendments to Calif Law effective Jan. 01, 2020 regarding creation of ADUs and Junior ADUs.   Legislation are from the following bills: SB 13, AB 68, AB 587, AB 670, AB 671 & AB 881.
Summary document from Calif. HCD is available below.

Lot Size
​Development standards shall not include requirements on minimum lot size (Section (a)(1)(B)(i)).
Owner Occupancy 
​Eliminates owner-occupancy requirements by local agencies (Section (a)(6) & (e)(1)) until January 1, 2025.
Maximum Size
Prohibits a local agency from establishing a maximum size of an ADU of less than 850 square feet, or 1,000 square feet if the ADU contains more than one bedroom (Section (c)(2)(B)).
Garage Conversion
Clarifies that when ADUs are created through the conversion of a garage, carport or covered parking structure, replacement off-street parking spaces cannot be required by the local agency (Section (a)(1)(D)(xi)).
Review time < 60 days
​Reduces the maximum ADU and JADU application review time from 120 days to 60 days (Section (a)(3) and (b)).
Parking Requirements
No parking required if a public transit stop is within 1/2 mile.  Tandem parking allowed to fulfill parking requirement allotment.  ​Allowance to use setbacks for parking. 
NEW 2020 - Clarifies “public transit” to include various means of transportation that charge set fees, run on fixed routes and are available to the public (Section (j)(10)).
Impact Fees  < 750 sq ft 
​Establishes impact fee exemptions or limitations based on the size of the ADU. ADUs up to 750 square feet are exempt from impact fees.   Impact fees for an ADU of 750 square feet or larger shall be proportional to the relationship of the ADU to the primary dwelling unit (Section (f)(3)).
HCD Admin & Enforcement
​Authorizes HCD to notify the local agency if the department finds that their ADU ordinance is not in compliance with state law (Section (h)(2)).
RHNA Housing
​Clarifies that a local agency may identify an ADU or JADU as an adequate site to satisfy RHNA housing needs as specified in Gov. Code Section 65583.1(a) and 65852.2(m).
Junior ADU
​Allows a permitted JADU to be constructed within the walls of the proposed or existing single-family residence and eliminates the required inclusion of an existing bedroom or an interior entry into the single-family residence (Gov. Code Section 65852.22).
Kitchen - Efficiency kitchen removed stove restrictions  & maximum waste line of 1.5 inches
Amnesty
​Allows upon application and approval, an owner of a substandard ADU 5 years to correct the violation, if the violation is not a health and safety issue, as determined by the enforcement agency (Section (n).
CC&Rs
​Removes covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) that either effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the construction or use of an ADU or JADU on a lot zoned for single-family residential use are void and unenforceable (Civil Code Section 4751).
Multi-Family
(a) (1) A local agency may, by ordinance, provide for the creation of accessory dwelling units in areas zoned to allow single-family or multifamily dwelling residential use.
Calif HCD memorandum of ADU changes effective Jan. 01, 2020
adu_2020_ordinances.pdf
File Size: 323 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

ADU Ordinances by San Diego County Building Departments

The following is a compiled list of all San Diego County building departments documents and links to their respective ADU ordinances.  Many of the provisions have not been updated to meet the statewide mandates that went into effect 1/1/2020.  They may take months to get through local govt. approval.  It is recommended to make direct contact with building department after review of their content.
County of San Diego
 
Contact
Contact
​Pre-Designed Plans, Waive impact fees
Mike Johnson, Land Use Planner
​(858) 694-33429
SD County Link
City of San Diego
 
Contact
Link
No setbacks
Building Services
​(619) 446-5300 
San Diego City Link
Carlsbad
 
Contact
Link
Max ADU size:  640 Sq ft
Building Services
​(760) 602-4645
Carlsbad Link
Chula Vista
 
Contact
Link
Will accept pre-designed plans provided by County of San Diego
Building Services
​(619) 409-5472
Chula Vista Link
Coronado
Value
Contact
Link
 
Building Services
​(619) 512-7300
Coronado Link
Del Mar
 
Contact
Link
Max ADU size: 550 Sq ft
Building Services
​(858) 755-9313 e1167
Del Mar Housing Program
El Cajon
 
Contact
Link
Max size: 10% of lot size​
Building Services
​(619) 441-1539 
HCD Link
Encinitas
 
Contact
Link
Permit Ready Plans
Planning Division
​(760) 633-2710 
Encinitas ADU Web page
Escondido
 
Contact
Link
Max size: 500 - 1,000 sq ft based on lot size
Planning Division
​(760) 839-4671
Ordinance PDF
Imperial Beach
 
Contact
Link
No local ordinance. State ordinance applies.
Planning Division
​(619) 628-2381
None
La Mesa
 
Contact
Link
Max size: Attached or detached - Up to 1,200 sq ft
Planning
​(619) 667-1188
La Mesa ADU Reg PDF
Lemon Grove
 
Contact
Link
​
Planning
​(619) 825-3805
Lemon Grove ADU Reg PDF
National City
 
Contact
Link
No local ordinance. State ordinance applies.
Planning Division
​(619) 628-2381
None
Oceanside
 
Contact
Link
Value
Planning Division
​(760) 435-3563
HCD Link
Poway
 
Contact
Link
 
Planning Division
​(858) 668-4646
Poway Ordinance
San Marcos
 
Contact
Link
Attached: 30% of existing dwelling. Detached based on lot size 750 - 1,000 sq ft
Planning Division
​(760) 744-1505 e3244
San Marcos Ordinance
Santee
 
Contact
Link
 
Planning Division
​(619) 258-4100 e167
Santee Ordinance PDF
Solana Beach
 
Contact
Link
 
Planning Division
​(858) 720-4450
Solana Beach Ordinance
Vista
 
Contact
Link
Value
Development Services
​(760) 643-5388
HCD Link


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We Can Help

Our specialty is financing with focus and expertise on construction financing.  We have a full portfolio and a process to identify financing that best meets your needs and goals. 
Our years of experience have developed firsthand knowledge and relationships of the full range of professionals needed in construction.   
We developed a team approach of highly coordinated and compatible resources to assist in feasibility, survey, design, permit process and build to the final product.     

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PictureWill Johnson, Renovation Loan Consultant "Work with Will"
"Financing is the Foundation to building ADUs".   Will shares his expertise to renovation/construction financing since 2009.  Will Johnson is a licensed mortgage loan officer specialized and committed to assist clients in creating financing to build ADUs and income properties.  Will has a full portfolio of financing solutions to meet the needs of every homeowner and home buyer.​
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Telephone: 

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  • Home
    • What
    • Why
    • How - The Process
    • Resources
    • About US
    • IPPrivPolicy
  • Renovation
    • Home Improvements
    • Room Addition
    • Before & After
  • Who
    • Home Buyers
    • Home Owners
    • Realtors >
      • Kickstart your Marketing
      • Create Your Team
      • Reno Realtor
  • ADU
    • Overview
    • ADU Demand
    • Financing ADUs
    • Process
    • ADU Plans
    • ADU Resources
    • ADU Video Series
    • Desktop Feasibility
  • Blog