SAN DIEGO — October 22, 2026. Owners of older, unpermitted accessory dwelling units have an important new official document to read. The City of San Diego’s May 2026 Information Bulletin 242 outlines the process for seeking a permit to legalize certain ADUs or junior ADUs built without permits before January 1, 2020, under California’s Assembly Bill 2533 framework.
What is an ADU and a JADU?
An ADU is a secondary dwelling with independent sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation facilities. It may be detached, attached or converted from an existing structure. A JADU is smaller (no more than 500 square feet) and contained entirely within a qualifying existing single-family residence, with its own rules governing facilities and configuration.
What the 2026 San Diego bulletin changes — and does not
The California law seeks a pathway to bring older unpermitted units into the regulated housing supply without treating every defect the same as new construction. But it is not automatic amnesty and does not say a homeowner can rent a structurally unsafe conversion without review. The city requires an application and fees, then reviews the unit for minimum safety conditions and conducts inspections.
Among basic life-safety elements identified in the official bulletin are appropriate smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide alarms, emergency escape or rescue openings, and light and ventilation. Certain deficiencies may need correction before approval. The city also points out that work performed after January 1, 2020, such as newly installed heating, electrical or water heater equipment, may need to comply with current applicable codes.
Who is outside this streamlined program?
The city’s bulletin identifies situations that may require additional documentation or separate review. These include units in fault, landslide or liquefaction areas; some excavations under floor systems; prohibited building materials; structures on easements; and certain attached commercial or multifamily buildings. The bulletin also says this particular pathway does not apply to projects subject to the Coastal Act in the described coastal regulatory areas; those require separate coastal development compliance.
How San Diego property owners begin
- Confirm the unit is located inside the incorporated City of San Diego.
- Gather credible evidence that the unpermitted ADU/JADU existed before January 1, 2020.
- Read Information Bulletin 242 (May 2026) and its Attachment A safety checklist.
- Use the city’s online Development Services permit application system and select the appropriate Building Permit route.
- Prepare for the reviews, fees, corrective work and inspection needed for issuance and approval.
Cost, safety and timelines
There is no single honest flat legalization price for every ADU. Required retrofits, structural documents, existing utilities, fire protection and site conditions can change costs. Do not hire a contractor or market the unit as permitted solely because AB 2533 exists; confirm actual city approval and permit status. The city’s live permit processing dashboard provides category-level timelines but not a guaranteed deadline for an individual legalization project.
Frequently asked questions
Does the program apply to an ADU built in 2022?
No. The city’s special older-unpermitted-unit eligibility depends on pre-January 2020 construction; other permits and compliance routes may apply to newer work.
Can a garage conversion without a permit become legal?
Potentially, if it is an eligible qualifying older ADU/JADU and meets the official requirements. A garage conversion is not automatically eligible simply because it has a bedroom and kitchenette.
Does the San Diego program apply to Chula Vista or La Mesa?
No. Those are separate municipal jurisdictions, with their own permitting offices and state-law implementations.
Primary official documentation: San Diego Information Bulletin 242, ADU/JADU Information Bulletin 400 (January 2026), and DSD permit portal. Independent, unpaid public-service journalism from San Diego News. Corrections: california58com@gmail.com.
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