San Diego ADU Contractor
Design, Permits & Build
San Diego’s licensed design-build contractor for Accessory Dwelling Units
Site assessment, design, permits, and construction — with one team accountable from start to finish
Why San Diego Homeowners Are Building ADU
Right Now
A well-planned ADU can generate attractive rental income of $2,500–$4,500 per month and meaningfully increase your property’s long-term value — making it one of the most versatile investments a San Diego homeowner can make
Rental Income
A one-bedroom ADU in San Diego rents for $2,500–$3,500 per month — $30,000 to $42,000 annually. Income that starts the moment your ADU is move-in ready.
Property Value
Permitted ADUs in Southern California increase home values by $150,000–$300,000 on average, per UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies (2024).
Family & Flexibility
Multi-generational living, home office, private guest suite — an ADU gives your property options that grow with your family’s needs.
What You Can Build — San Diego ADU Rules (2026)
San Diego’s ADU regulations are among the most permissive in California. Current rules for a single-family residential lot:
Up to 3 units by right: One detached ADU, one converted ADU, and one Junior ADU (JADU up to 500 sq ft)
Maximum size: Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft. Attached ADUs up to 50% of the primary home’s floor area, capped at 1,200 sq ft
Height: Up to two stories. Maximum 24–30 ft depending on underlying zoning
Setbacks: Minimum 4 ft from side and rear property lines. Conversions of existing structures generally exempt
Parking: No replacement parking required when a garage is converted or demolished (SB1211, effective January 2025)
No minimum lot size under California state law
No owner-occupancy requirement for standard ADUs
Permit timeline: City of San Diego must approve or deny within 60 days of a complete application
Short-term rentals prohibited: ADUs must be rented for a minimum of 31 days
Properties in the Coastal Overlay Zone, High Fire Hazard Zones, or other overlay areas may have additional requirements. We assess your specific property before any design work begins.
ADU Types We Build
Detached ADU
A freestanding backyard structure. Up to 1,200 sq ft, full design freedom, maximum privacy. Best for rental income and long-term equity.
Attached ADU
Connected to your existing home with a separate entrance. Works well on lots with limited backyard space. Up to 50% of your home’s square footage.
Garage Conversion
Transform an existing garage into a fully permitted unit. Lower upfront cost. No replacement parking required in most San Diego locations.
Two-Story ADU
Maximize square footage on a compact lot. San Diego allows two-story ADUs on single-family lots, up to 24–30 ft depending on zoning.
Junior ADU (JADU)
Up to 500 sq ft created from existing space within the primary residence. The most affordable entry point. Requires owner occupancy.
High-End Custom ADU
Full custom design matching or elevating your main home. Premium finishes, architectural details, smart home integration. Built where quality is the priority.
We visit your property, review your goals, and tell you exactly what’s buildable
including realistic cost ranges and timeline. No cost, no obligation.
Our ADU Process — Start to Finish
1. Site Assessment
We visit your property and evaluate lot dimensions, zoning, setbacks, utility locations, and overlay zones. You know exactly what’s buildable before any money changes hands.
2. Design
In-house team develops plans that work with your lot, goals, and budget. We design for permit approval — not just aesthetics — which keeps the process moving.
3. Permits
We prepare and submit all permit applications with the City of San Diego, manage corrections and resubmittals. You don’t deal with the city — we do.
4. Build
Licensed contractors, vetted subcontractors, daily site supervision. We build to the approved plans and pass every inspection. You receive a fully permitted, move-in-ready ADU.
ADU COST in San Diego — Realistic 2026 Budgets
San Diego construction costs have increased 44% from 2021 to 2025. Current realistic budgets for fully permitted, move-in-ready ADUs:
- Junior ADU (JADU) conversion: $70,000–$180,000
- Garage conversion ADU: $120,000–$240,000
- Attached ADU: $150,000–$300,000
- Detached ADU (new construction): $200,000–$470,000
- High-end custom detached ADU: $400,000–$600,000+
New detached construction runs $375–$650 per square foot in San Diego. City permit fees range from $13–$28 per square foot. School impact fees apply at approximately $4.79 per square foot.
Financing options: HELOCs, cash-out refinancing, construction loans, and the CalHFA ADU Grant Program (up to $40,000 for qualifying homeowners). We provide documentation needed for financing applications.
Why Choose Enjoy Build for YOUR ADU
Licensed General Contractor — CSLB #1141989, fully insured
Design-Build process — one team for design, permits, and construction. No gaps between your architect and builder
San Diego expertise — we know local zoning, permit timelines, and overlay zones that affect your property
Select number of projects — your ADU gets full attention, not a crew stretched across ten sites
High-end capability — we build ADUs that match custom homes, not just functional boxes
Serving San Diego County — Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and the City of San Diego
COMMON QUESTIONS
How long does it take to build an ADU in San Diego?
Most ADUs take 10–16 months from first meeting to Certificate of Occupancy. Coastal properties with CDP requirements add 2–4 months. We give you a written timeline estimate before design begins so you can plan around it.
How much does an ADU cost in San Diego?
A standard detached ADU in San Diego County ranges from $200,000–$400,000 depending on size, finishes, and site conditions. We provide a fixed-price contract after the design is complete — no open-ended estimates. Also we provide a list of possible or suggested upgrades.
Do you handle all the permits?
Yes. We prepare and submit all permit applications, manage plan check corrections with the city or county, coordinate with HOAs where required, and handle every inspection through final sign-off.
Can I build an ADU on my property?
Most single-family lots in San Diego County qualify. The main factors are lot size, setbacks, existing structures, and utilities. Our free site assessment answers this before any money is spent.
Do you do the design in-house or hire outside architects?
We do it in-house. Our design-build model means one team handles everything — architecture, engineering, permits, and construction. This eliminates the delays and miscommunications that happen when design and build are separate companies.
We visit your property, review your goals, and tell you exactly what’s buildable
including realistic cost ranges and timeline. No cost, no obligation.
Serving San Diego County
Licensed general contractor serving the following areas and surrounding communities in San Diego’s most demanding markets. Each project is site-assessed, permitted, and built by one team. Rancho Santa Fe · Carmel Valley · La Jolla · Del Mar · Encinitas · Solana Beach · Rancho Bernardo · Poway · Scripps Ranch
San Marcos · Escondido · Mission Hills · North Park · City of San Diego