ADUs in San Diego County
ADU Contractor in San Diego, From Lot Check to Final Inspection
Detached ADUs, attached ADUs, garage conversions and JADUs, designed, permitted and built by one licensed team.
Licensed, CSLB #1128933
- One team, design to build
- Permits and inspections handled
- Projects across San Diego County
Book a free in-home visit
Tell us about the project. We call you to set a time that works for you.
Free, no obligation. Or call (858) 315-4249.
What we build
ADU Types We Build
Every lot and every family is different, so the first question is which kind of ADU fits. These are the four we design and build across San Diego County.
Detached ADU
A separate small house in the backyard with its own entry, kitchen and bathroom. The most private choice, for a rental, a parent or a grown child.
Attached ADU
A new unit built onto the side or back of the house, sharing a wall. It often uses less of the yard and ties into the existing utilities.
Garage conversion
The garage you already have becomes a full living unit. Usually the quickest way to an ADU, because the walls, slab and roof are already there.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Up to 500 square feet carved out of the existing house, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen. A good fit for family who want to stay close.
Before anything is drawn
Will an ADU Fit Your Lot?
Whether an ADU works, and which kind, comes down to a handful of things about your property. We go through them with you on the lot, in a free consultation, before you spend anything on plans.
Size and shape of the lot
Where a unit can sit, how the access works, and what is in the way: trees, slopes, easements and the existing structures.
Setbacks and height
California law caps side and rear setbacks at four feet for most ADUs, and allows a detached ADU at least 16 feet tall, and more near major transit.
Utilities
Where water, sewer and power come in, and whether the electrical panel and sewer line can carry a second unit or need an upgrade.
Parking and transit
Many San Diego lots need no extra parking for an ADU, for example within half a mile of public transit or when a garage is converted.
Coastal and special zones
A lot in the coastal zone or another overlay can need an extra review. We find out at the start, not halfway through.
City or County
Inside the City of San Diego the plans go to Development Services; in an unincorporated area, to the County. Each has its own process.
Design-build
One Team From Design to Keys
An ADU is a small house: design, engineering, permits, utilities and construction all have to line up. When one team does all of it, the plan the city approves is the plan that gets built, and you have one person to call. We design the unit around your lot and how you want to use it, prepare the plans and the permit application, answer the plan check, build it, and walk the final inspection with you. Royalty is a licensed California contractor, and the same company stands behind the drawings and the build.
Permits
San Diego ADU Rules in Plain English
California has made ADUs easier to build than any other kind of addition, and San Diego follows the state law. A few rules shape almost every project.
Setbacks
For most ADUs the city can require no more than four feet from the side and rear property lines. A garage converted in place keeps its existing setbacks.
Height
A detached ADU is allowed at least 16 feet, and 18 feet near major transit, with two more to match the roof pitch. An attached ADU can go up to 25 feet or the height limit of the zone, whichever is lower.
Size
A JADU can be up to 500 square feet inside the existing house. ADU size limits depend on the type and the lot; we check what applies to yours.
Parking
Often not required for an ADU, for example within half a mile of public transit, and a converted garage does not have to be replaced.
Review time
The city or county has to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days.
City or County
Inside the City of San Diego the plans go to Development Services; unincorporated areas go to the County. Coastal-zone lots can need a coastal review as well.
Rules change, and a few depend on the exact address, so we confirm the ones that apply to your lot at the start. Weighing an ADU against a bigger house? See our room additions in San Diego. Choosing between a detached and an attached unit? Read our detached vs attached ADU guide.
Design styles
Styles to Choose From
A starting point for the conversation about how your ADU should look. We design it to suit your house, your lot and how you want to live in it.
Detached backyard ADU
Modern farmhouse
Craftsman cottage
Spanish revival
Open plan interior
In their own words
Hear it from San Diego homeowners
Royalty customers on camera, talking about the remodels we built for them.
Luxury bathroom remodelSan Diego
Kitchen remodelLa Mesa
Bathroom remodelCarlsbad
Kitchen remodelSan Diego
Bathroom remodelSan Diego
★★★★★
“Royalty Build and Design makes you feel like royalty! My wife and I had a tub to shower conversion and worked with Lavi as our project manager. We were both impressed with his response time in answering questions and addressing any issues.”
Steve G.Google review · 6 months ago
★★★★★
“We had our bathroom remodeled by Royalty design and build and we’re really happy with how everything turned out. Lavi and his team was easy to work with, showed up when they said they would, and kept us updated throughout the project.”
Zuleidy C.Google review · a month ago
★★★★★
“From start to finish, Gabi (project manager) and Lavi (owner) were exceptional.”
A Google reviewerGoogle review
Reviews quoted from Google, with first name and initial only.
How it works
From the First Call to the Final Walkthrough
1
Tell us about the project
Call or send the form. We call you back to set a time for the visit.
2
Free in-home visit
We see the space, listen to what you want and talk through the options.
3
Design and plan
Layout, materials and permits, planned before any work starts.
4
Build and walkthrough
One team runs the job and walks it with you when it is done.
Choosing a builder
Questions to Ask an ADU Contractor
Whoever you hire, these answers tell you how the project will really run. Ask us too.
01
Who designs the ADU, and who builds it? Is it one company or several?
02
Who prepares the plans and the permit application, and who answers the plan checker?
03
What does the price include: design, engineering, permits, utilities, finishes?
04
Who is on site every day, and who is my one point of contact?
05
Is the contractor licensed in California, and can I check the license?
06
How are changes handled and priced once the work has started?
Questions
ADU Questions San Diego Homeowners Ask
Can I build an ADU on my lot in San Diego?
Most single-family lots in San Diego can take at least one ADU, and many can take an ADU and a JADU. What fits depends on the lot size, setbacks, utilities and any coastal or overlay zone. We look at the lot with you in a free consultation and tell you what is realistic before anything is drawn.
What is the difference between an ADU and a JADU?
An ADU is a full second unit, detached, attached or a converted garage, with its own kitchen and bathroom. A JADU is up to 500 square feet inside the existing house, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen; it can share a bathroom with the main house.
How long does it take to build an ADU?
It depends on the type and the plan check. A garage conversion is usually the quickest; a detached ADU takes the longest. Under California law the city or county has to act on a complete ADU application within 60 days. We set out a realistic schedule for your project at the start.
Do I need extra parking for an ADU?
Often not. California law removes the parking requirement in many cases, for example within half a mile of public transit, and a garage converted into an ADU does not have to be replaced. We check your address at the start.
Do you handle the design and the permits?
Yes. Royalty is a design-build company: the same team designs the ADU, prepares the plans and the permit application, answers the plan check, builds it and walks the final inspection with you.
Can I rent out the ADU?
An ADU can be rented as a long-term home, and many San Diego owners build one for rental income or to house family. Rules for short-term rentals are separate and stricter, so check them before you plan on one.
Free design consultation
Schedule a Free ADU Consultation
Tell us about your lot and what you have in mind. We come out, look at it with you and tell you what kind of ADU fits.
Quick response
A real person from our office calls you back to set a time that suits you.
Expert guidance
Our design team walks the space with you and talks through layout, permits and budget.
No obligation
The visit and the first design conversation are free, with nothing to sign.
Send us your project
Takes a minute. We call you to set a time for the free visit.
Free, no obligation. Or call (858) 315-4249.