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Helping San Diego Homeowners Create More Living Space
A junior accessory dwelling unit, also called a JADU or junior ADU, can turn part of your existing home into a smaller, private living space. It can be a smart option for aging parents, adult children, family members, guests, or rental income.
IL Total Design & Build helps homeowners plan, design, permit, and build JADUs that fit the property and the way the homeowner wants to use the unit. We review the layout, entrance options, kitchen needs, bathroom access, privacy, utilities, storage, heat, and the connection to the rest of the house.
A junior ADU in San Diego is usually created within the existing building. A JADU may be up to 500 square feet, but the final maximum depends on the property, zone, local regulations, and the City of San Diego. We also review building codes, specific permitting requirements, and any historic or structural consideration that may affect the plan.
Design, Permits, and Build Under One Roof
A junior ADU should feel private, comfortable, accessible, and easy to use. Our team plans the entrance, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom access, living areas, and how the new layout will work with the main home.
We can review a hallway, storage room, office, garage area, or other functional spaces that may work for the ADU.
The City of San Diego Development Services Department reviews JADU drawings and approval documents. We guide the permitting process, respond to comments, and review utilities, the existing structure, and each material detail needed for safe work.
Our architect, permit staff, and building team follow the same plan. You get fewer handoffs, clear guidance, and one local company helping move the JADU from an early idea to finished living space.
Our Services
Our ADU Building Process
Free Property Consultation
We discuss your goals, review the home, and learn which part of the property you are considering for the JADU.
We explain the main design, permit, financing, and construction steps. Most first consultations take about 30 to 45 minutes.
Book NowPlan and Design Your ADU
Our in-house architect creates a custom JADU plan around your home and the way the new unit will be used.
The design may cover the entrance, sleeping area, kitchen, bathroom access, storage, windows, walls, heat, and connections to the main home.
View JADU Design ServicesJunior ADU Construction
After the design and permit are approved, our team prepares the project and begins the approved construction work.
We coordinate the trades, provide updates, follow building codes, and complete the approved material details inside your home.
View ProjectsCompletion and Final Walkthrough
Once construction is complete, we review the finished JADU with you and address the final project details.
Your JADU is ready for family housing, guests, privacy, or rental potential while making better use of your existing home.
Get Started
See Our Recent Work
Our projects include junior ADUs, attached ADUs, detached ADUs, conversions, and other residential work in San Diego.
Areas We Serve
IL Total Design & Build helps homeowners throughout San Diego plan, permit, and build JADUs.
Junior ADU Construction Tips
Read helpful guides about JADU planning, the City of San Diego development process, small-space design, rent, affordable housing, and ways to improve your San Diego property.
SB 543 and Your ADU: What Changes for San Diego in 2026
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
Downsize Into Your ADU, Rent Out the House: San Diego Empty-Nester Playbook (2026)
Home › Articles › Downsize Into Your ADU Downsize Into Your ADU, Rent Out the House: The San Diego Empty-Nester Playbook (2026) By Daniel Dechner, IL Total Design & Build · Updated June 2026 ·
Does an ADU Raise Property Taxes in San Diego? (2026)
Home › Articles › ADU & Property Taxes Will Building an ADU Raise My Property Taxes in San Diego? (2026) By Daniel Dechner, IL Total Design & Build · Updated June 2026 · 9 min
Our Location
IL Total Design & Build is located in San Diego and helps homeowners with JADU construction, ADU design, permit planning, existing-space conversions, and residential construction. From the first property review to approved drawings and construction, our team helps you move forward with a clear plan.
- IL Total Design and Build
- 9655 Granite Ridge Dr #200, San Diego, CA 92123
- (619) 404-0125
Junior ADU Questions From San Diego Homeowners
Simple answers about JADU design, permit steps, property review, and construction.
A junior ADU is a smaller unit created within qualifying space in a home. It may include its own entrance, kitchen area, storage, and bathroom access, depending on the property and approved plan.
Yes. We review the available space, entrance options, utilities, walls, bathroom access, zone, and other site conditions that may affect the project.
Yes. We create the design around the property, available space, and the way the homeowner plans to use the unit.
Yes. We prepare permit-ready drawings and help with the San Diego Development Services Department, corrections, revisions, and approval steps.
In many cases, yes. We can plan an entrance that gives the JADU more privacy while working with the existing building.
The timeline depends on the property, design, permit review, utilities, structural work, and construction scope.
Yes. You may use our team for design and permit work only or continue through construction and the final walkthrough.