Planning Department's Proposed Changes to the Bonus ADU Program
NFABSD Responses to Proposed ADU Amendments ​
In advance of the May 15 Land Use & Housing Committee hearing (Agenda), the Planning Department published updated amendments to San Diego's ADU regulations.
NFABSD has studied the 25 recommendations in the Staff Report and recommends further changes to the items below.​​​
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Click HERE for more details on NFABSD's responses to the Planning Departments proposals. IF there are further updates from the Planning Department before the June 16 City Council meeting, NFABSD will update its responses accordingly.
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Number | Name of Item | NFABSD Response |
|---|---|---|
5 | JADU Home Rental Terms | HCD's comments are unclear. Regardless, San Diego should require long term rental on remaining units. |
9 | Floor Area Ratio Maximums | Conversion of existing structures isn't limited by FAR. New structures, including Bonus ADUs are limited by FAR provided that a minimum 800 square foot ADU is allowed. |
11 | Fire Safety Setbacks | San Diego must be more mindful of fire risk than the scattershot approach in the 2025 Cal Fire map, which especially ignores risks in low opportunity neighborhoods south of I-8. |
15 | ADU Home Density Bonus -
Fire Safety and Evacuation
Routes | As with Item 11, need to be mindful of changes in the Fire Map. |
16 | ADU Home Density Bonus - Development Scale | Strongly support capping FAR calculation at 10,000 square feet. Further recommendation to use existing definition of Allowed Developable Area in Chapter 14, Article 3, Division 1. |
18 | ADU Home Density Bonus - Parking | Needs to use state code, which is one-half mile walking distance requirement, and clarify that it's for each affordable and each bonus. |
25 | Structure Height | Need to include attached ADUs and ensure that total structure is limited to 2 stories |
Key to acronyms
ADU - Accessory Dwelling Unit
JADU - Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
HCD - State Department of Housing and Community Development. Specifically refers to the comments of HCD in Attachment 3 of the Staff Report.
FAR - Floor Area Ratio. FAR is calculated as the ratio of the square footage of development (structures) to the area of the lot. The allowed maximum FAR of development on a lot depends on the size of the lot.
RS Zones - Residential Single-Family. Even though every "single-family" property in San Diego is allowed at least 4 dwelling units, there are still distinctions in development regulations between single-family and multi-family zoned properties. The most prevalent type of RS zoning in San Diego is RS-1-7, which equates to 7 primary dwelling units (i.e., houses) per acre, with a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet. You can find the zoning of your home by going to the Zoning and Parcel Information Portal (ZAPP Map) and typing in the address.
DSD - Developments Services Department. For ministerial projects, such as Bonus ADU developments, DSD has the sole authority to approve projects. There is no mechanism for appealing ministerial (Process 1) decisions.​
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