Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) Regulation Amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program Amendmen
Summary
SCH Number
2025101201
Public Agency
City of San Diego
Document Title
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) Regulation Amendments to the San Diego Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program Amendmen
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/24/2025
Document Description
The City Planning Department is bringing forward amendments to the City's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
(JADU) regulations to align the San Diego Municipal Code with state law and incorporate revisions - requested by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The proposed amendments address ADU and JADU regulations, including minimum and maximum unit
size, conversions, rental terms, the number of permitted units, landscape requirements, structure height limits, setbacks, replacement parking, and owner-occupancy requirements. The amendments also Implement Senate Bill 1211 (Skinner, 2024), which establishes the number of ADU homes allowed on lots with existing or proposed multifamily structures, and Assembly Bill 1033 (Ting, 2023), which
allows for the sale and conveyance of ADU homes. The City Planning Department is also proposing amendments to ADU setback requirements in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The proposed amendments also include a modification to remove eligibility for the ADU Home Density Bonus Program in the RS-1-1, RS-1-2, RS-1-3, RS-1-4, RS-1-8, RS-1-9, RS-1-10, and RS-1-11 base zones, unless the portion of the premises proposed for development is located in an area identified as a High or Highest High or Highest California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) Opportunity Area at the time the development application is deemed complete and is in an area Identified as
residential in a land use plan. Other proposed amendments to the ADU Home Density Bonus Program include requirements related to the maximum number of permitted ADU and JADU homes on eligible single dwelling unit lots, minimum unit size, evacuation route access, automatic fire sprinkler installation, parking requirements for developments located outside of a Transit Priority Area,
increased penalties for violations, and the introduction of new community eµhancement fees.
Contact Information
Name
Rebecca Malone
Agency Name
City of San Diego Planning Department
Job Title
Program Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Citywide
Other Location Info
San Diego Citywide
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Ministerial
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268
Reasons for Exemption
Per R-316268.
• The Environmental Review Section of the City Planning Department has reviewed the Code Amendment and determined that the adoption of the proposed amendments revising the ADU Regulations and the City's ADU Home Density Bonus program is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h) which exempts the adoption of an ordinance regarding second units in a single-family or multifamily residential zone by a city or county to implement the provisions of Sections 66314 and 66333 of tl1e Government Code as set forth in Section 21080.17 of the Public Resources Code. The adoption of the proposed amendments Is also categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQJ\ Guidelines Section 15332 (In-fill Development Projects), as ADU and JADU projects meet the conditions of the Class 32 exemption. Adoption of the proposed amendments will remove zones from eligibility for the ADU Home Density Bonus program and limit the number of dwelling units that can be developed in eligible zones per -the proposed amendments to the City's ADU Regulations and ADU Home Density Bonus program. These proposed
amendments will decrease allowable ADU development in comparison to the existing regulations, which would decrease the potential for any physical effects on the environment.
Furthermore, the Environmental Review Section of the City Planning Department has reviewed the Code Amendment and determined that the adoption of the proposed amendments revising the ADU Regulations and the City's ADU Home Density Bonus program is consistent with the Final Addendum to the General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the General Plan Housing Element Update 2021-2029 (Project No. 104495/SCH No. 2006091032), which was adopted by the San Diego City Council on June 181 2020 (Resolution R-313099). Therefore, the proposed action Is a subsequent discretionary action and is not considered to be a separate project for the purposes of CEQA review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(c) and 1506o(c)(3). Pursuant to CEQA
Statute Section 21166 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, there is no change in· circumstance, additional information, or project changes to warrant additional environmental review for this action.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15332
Reasons for Exemption
The Environmental Review Section of the City Planning Department has reviewed the Code Amendment and determined that the adoption of the proposed amendments revising the ADU Regulations and the City's ADU Home Density Bonus program is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(h) which exempts the adoption of an ordinance regarding second units in a single-family or multifamily residential zone by a city or county to implement the provisions of Sections 66314 and 66333 of the Government Code as set forth in Section 21080.17 of the Public Resources Code. The adoption of the proposed amendments is also categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (In-fill Development Projects), as ADU and JADU projects meet the conditions of the Class 32 exemption. Adoption of the proposed amendments will remove zones from eligibility for the ADU Home Density Bonus program and limit the number of dwelling units that can be developed in eligible zones per the proposed amendments to the City's ADU Regulations and ADU Home Density Bonus program. These proposed amendments will decrease allowable ADU development in comparison to the existing regulations, which would decrease the potential for any physical effects on the environment. Furthermore, the Environmental Review Section of the City Planning Department has reviewed the Code Amendment and determined that the adoption of the proposed amendments revising the ADU Regulations and the City's ADU Home Density Bonus program is consistent with the Final Addendum to the General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for the General Plan Housing Element Update 2021-2029 (Project No. 104495/SCH No. 2006091032), which was adopted by the San Diego City Council on June 18, 2020 (Resolution R-313099). Therefore, the proposed action is a subsequent discretionary action and is not considered to be a separate project for the purposes of CEQA review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(c) and 15060(c)(3). Pursuant to CEQA Statute Section 21166 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, there is no change in circumstance, additional information, or project changes to warrant additional environmental review for this action.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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