The Complete Guide To Building An ADU In Solana Beach
Hello and welcome back to the SoHo Blog. In today’s post, we are going to do a deep dive into the ADU building process and the rules and regulations in Solana Beach, CA. Our office is in the heart of Solana Beach and we are very familiar of the ins and outs of getting ADU’s approved and built within the city limits.
This will be a full one, so let’s start with the basics.
What is an ADU?
(If you are already familiar with ADUs you can skip ahead to the Rules and Regulations section)
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a secondary living space on a property that can be used as a rental unit, a place for guests and family members, or even a smaller unit for you to move into while you rent your main home. Solana Beach is one of California’s coastal cities that has embraced ADUs as a solid solution for housing needs and has implemented favorable regulations for homeowners looking to build one.
This portion of the guide will walk you through the process of actually building an ADU in Solana Beach, from obtaining permits to finishing construction. Later, we will talk about all of the Rules and Regulations that will steer you in the right direction on what you can actually get built.
Step 1: Research and Planning
Before starting the building process, you’ll want to research and familiarize yourself with Solana Beach's ADU regulations and requirements (conveniently included in this article). We will give you the breakdown in plain English, but you can also find the full documentation on zoning, size restrictions, parking requirements, and more on the city website here. Our office is always open for you to schedule an appointment to explore the options for your specific property, just send us a message here.
Step 2: Obtain the Necessary Permits
To build an ADU in Solana Beach, you will generally need to obtain a building permit, electrical permit, and plumbing permit. The city's Development Services Department is responsible for processing and issuing permits. Our team works with the permitting department often and works hard to expedite submittals to ensure that there are no delays on the builder side.
Step 3: Hire a Contractor
Once you have your permits, you can begin the process of hiring a contractor. Choose a contractor who has experience building ADUs in Solana Beach and make sure to get references and check their credentials.
There are a lot of great ways to verify that the contractor you are interviewing is reputable and will provide a quality end product. First off, let’s make sure that they are licensed. You can easily do this by asking for their California license number and verify it using the CSLB website license lookup tool here.
Yelp, Nextdoor, Google reviews ,Facebook and Instagram are all great ways to see what the community says about them and if you can’t find any information out there and don’t know them personally… buyer beware.
Step 4: Design and Construction
Working with your architect or contractor, design the ADU to meet your needs and comply with city regulations. Choosing materials, finishes, and appliances that fit your budget and style is where the fun really begins. This is where having a quality contractor who does a lot of business can be a gamechanger. Access to materials, custom design tools and partnerships with manufacturers can save you both time and money in the building process.
During construction, regularly inspect the work to ensure it meets your standards and the city's regulations. This is where having a contractors like SoHo Construction can save you headache.
Our communication platform is designed so that you can make comments and post photos of every single part of the construction process with our team. Instead of sending an email or text with a list of issues and touch ups that you see and hoping that they get fixed, you get access to our dashboard where you can write specific comments on every item of your project and see who on our team has seen it and what next step was done.
Step 5: Final Inspection and Certificate of Occupancy
After construction is complete, the city will conduct a final inspection to ensure the ADU meets all building codes and regulations. If the inspection is successful, the city will issue a certificate of occupancy, allowing you to move in or rent the unit. When it comes to renting out your unit, SoHo has multiple partners, and our in-house Realtor, with years of property management experience to help you decide on rental rates, lease types and rules, and much more.
Now that we have the building process out of the way, let’s talk about the important Rules and Regulations to take note of in Solana Beach.
ADU Rules and Regulations in Solana Beach
(These are rules for single family residential homes)
What size detached ADU can I build in Solana Beach?
For studios and 1 bedroom units, Solana Beach allows for ADUs up to 850 sqft and for 2+ bedroom units up to 1000 sqft. ADUs under 800 sqft are exempt from lot coverage restrictions. This means that even if you are maxed out on lot coverage, you can still build a sub 800 sqft ADU.
Lot coverage rules determine the amount of land that can be covered by structures on a property. The specific lot coverage regulations for Solana Beach can vary based on the zoning of the property and other factors but typically range from 35-40%. If you are unsure about your property, we can help you with the Development Services Department to determine the most up to date rules on your specific property.
What is the height limit for ADUs in Solana Beach?
Solana Beach has a height restriction of 16 ft for detached ADUs. The city does not allow for two story ADU’s.
Can my ADU have a roof deck in Solana Beach?
Roof decks are not permitted for detached ADUs in Solana Beach.
Are there restrictions on what the exterior of my ADU can look like in Solana Beach?
Yes, the city requires that an ADU shall incorporate the same features as the primary or existing dwelling. This includes the exterior roofing, trim, walls, windows and color palette. One rule that Solana Beach requires that some other coastal cities don’t is that “the primary entrance to the ADU shall not be visible from the street adjacent to the front yard setback.”
What are setbacks? And what is the setback requirement for an ADU in Solana Beach?
Put simply, setbacks are the distance that a house or structure must be from the front, back or sides of a property line. Setbacks are implemented to help with home security, privacy, and keep a uniform neighborhood appearance. Their placement also gives public utilities access to plumbing, gas, electrical, or internet lines that might be running under the yard or landscaping.
In Solana Beach, an ADU must have 4 foot minimum setbacks from the rear and side-yard property lines, and the front yard setback is per the properties zoning standards. An ADU taking advantage of the 4 foot setbacks cannot be taller than 16 feet.
How close to my home or another structure can an ADU be in Solana Beach?
The minimum required distance between structures is 6 feet from eave to eave. An eave is the lower part of the roof that hangs over the edge of the wall of the structure. If the entrance to the ADU is facing the wall of another structure on the property, there is a minimum requirement of 10 feet from eave to eave.
Do I need to submit ADU plans in-person in Solana Beach?
At this time, Solana Beach requires in person submission of ADU plans and does not accept digital submissions.
Do I need a soils report for my ADU in Solana Beach?
No, there is no mandate for a soils report in Solana Beach.
Do I need to get Coastal Development Permits for my ADU in Solana Beach?
Yes, properties within the Coastal Zone are subject to the requirements in the Local Coastal Program (LCP) for building an accessory dwelling unit.
What are the parking requirements for ADUs in Solana Beach?
Parking spaces are required for ADUs unless your property falls under the following:
Property is within a one-half mile walking distance from public transit, including bus stops.
Within an established historic district.
Converted from the existing space of a primary residence or accessory structure, or are attached to an existing or proposed primary residence.
Now that you are armed with the knowledge you need to build your ADU in Solana Beach, feel free to reach out to us here at SoHo Construction to get started on your design and plans. If you’re not from Solana Beach and would like to know the rules for your part of town, let us know and we can send you the information that you need.
