Maxed-Out Lot? You Can Still Build an ADU in San Diego Home › Articles › Maxed-Out Lot ADU Told Your Lot Is “Maxed Out”? You Can Still Build an ADU in San Diego By IL Total Design & Build · Licensed San Diego design-build contractor, CSLB #1058676 · Last updated July 2026 Every few months
For decades the answer was simple: an ADU is part of your property, and it sells with the house. AB 1033 changed that. In the City of San Diego since August 2025 — and unincorporated San Diego County since April 4, 2026 — you can convert an ADU into a condominium and sell it separately, with
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As of January 1, 2026, your ADU's square footage is measured by interior livable space only. Walls, stairwells, and mechanical rooms no longer eat into your cap — and that quietly changes what you can build. By Daniel Dechner, IL Total Design & Build — design, permit & build under one roof, San Diego CSLB
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If you're stationed in San Diego, your Basic Allowance for Housing can cover the carrying costs of a rental ADU. Here's how military homeowners are using BAH to build long-term wealth instead of just paying rent.
Building an ADU can trigger a property tax reassessment — but Prop 19 protects parent-to-child transfers in specific ways. Here's what San Diego homeowners need to know before they break ground.
As of 2026, AB 1033 is live in both the City of San Diego and San Diego County — meaning homeowners can now sell ADUs as separate condos. Here's what that actually means for your property and finances.
La Jolla has the highest ADU rental rates in San Diego County — and some of the tightest Coastal Zone restrictions. Here's what lot constraints and premium construction costs mean for your project.
AB 462 cut Coastal Development Permit timelines to 60 days for San Diego homeowners west of I-5. Here's what changed, what still requires a CDP, and how to move before the rules shift again.
