House Plans and Custom Drafting in San Diego, CA
Service Area: San Diego, CA
San Diego got out ahead of the state on AB 1033
In August 2025, the City of San Diego became one of the first jurisdictions in California to activate AB 1033, the state law that lets an ADU be sold separately as its own condominium unit instead of just rented out. San Diego County followed with its own ordinance on April 4, 2026. That timing matters if you're planning an ADU here: San Diego isn't waiting on the rest of the state to figure this out, and a backyard unit designed correctly today can become a sellable asset, not just a rental line item.
What's driving demand in San Diego right now
San Diego County grew from roughly 3,269,973 to 3,336,081 residents between 2023 and 2025, adding about 12,909 people in 2024 alone, the largest single-year increase the county has seen since before the pandemic. That growth is landing on a housing stock that's still catching up. The City of San Diego permitted 8,782 new homes across all types in 2024, its second-most productive permitting year in the last decade. At the same time, home values have softened: Zillow puts the city's typical home value at $1,007,800, down 2.3% year over year, with the county figure at $941,520, down 1.6%. For homeowners, that combination of a cooling resale market and a still-active permitting pipeline is pushing more people toward building up, out, or a second unit on their existing lot rather than trading into a new house at today's prices.
ADU rules in San Diego and California
California runs the most permissive statewide ADU framework in the country, and San Diego operates fully inside it. The core rules trace back to AB 68, AB 881, and SB 13 in 2020, which forced ministerial approval within 60 days, guaranteed a minimum 850 square foot ADU regardless of local lot restrictions, and removed the owner-occupancy requirement outright by way of AB 976 in 2023. SB 897, also from 2023, set statewide height minimums so cities can't quietly kill ADUs through restrictive height limits. AB 2533, effective in 2025, opened an amnesty path for unpermitted ADUs built before 2020, which is worth checking if you're buying a San Diego property with an older bonus unit that was never permitted. And starting in 2026, SB 543 adds a 15-business-day completeness review on top of the existing 60-day clock, with an automatic deemed-approved outcome if the city misses it.
What makes San Diego specifically stand out is AB 1033, a 2024 state law that only takes effect where a city or county opts in. San Diego did, city ordinance live since August 22, 2025 and county ordinance since April 4, 2026, alongside San Jose and Santa Monica. That opt-in is what turns an ADU here from a rental unit into something that can be sold as its own condo. If you're weighing whether an ADU pencils out financially, that distinction changes the math.
Where the work is concentrated
ADU Plans & Design
Between the condo-conversion option under AB 1033 and the state's guaranteed 850 square foot minimum, San Diego is one of the strongest ADU markets in our footprint right now. A softening resale market makes an ADU's rental or resale value more attractive than it would be in a hotter market, and the local ordinance gives it an exit path a standard rental unit doesn't have.
See ADU Plans & DesignCustom House Plans
With 8,782 new homes permitted citywide in 2024, San Diego's building pipeline is genuinely active, and new construction on infill and hillside lots tends to need site-specific design rather than an off-the-shelf plan. That's driving steady demand for fully custom sets built around the actual parcel.
See Custom House PlansHow we work with San Diego clients
Apex Drafting Services doesn't have an office in San Diego, and we're not going to pretend otherwise. We're a remote drafting team, and we serve San Diego homeowners, builders, and contractors the same way we serve clients across the country: photos, measurements, site plans, and a video walkthrough when needed, all handled without an in-person meeting. If your project needs a set that reflects San Diego's permitting requirements and, where relevant, the city or county's AB 1033 ordinance, that's built into how we scope the job, not an afterthought.
3D Renderings & Walkthroughs
Useful for visualizing an ADU-as-condo layout or a hillside custom build before it's permitted.
Learn moreStock House Plans
Starting at $799 for straightforward builds that don't need a fully custom set.
Learn moreHome Additions & Remodel Drafting
An option for owners adding square footage instead of building a separate unit.
Learn moreA crowded local field
San Diego already has an established base of local drafting and design firms, including MADesign & Drafting Services, San Diego Design Group, Affordable Architects, Streamline Design Group, and Alldraft Home Design. We're not trying to out-local them. We compete on turnaround and on being built around remote-first workflows from day one, which keeps the process moving whether you're down the street from downtown or out past El Cajon.
San Diego ADU and drafting FAQ
Does San Diego allow ADUs to be sold as condos?
Yes. San Diego was an early adopter of AB 1033, the state law that lets local jurisdictions permit ADUs to be sold separately as condominiums rather than only rented. The City of San Diego's ordinance took effect August 22, 2025, and San Diego County followed on April 4, 2026.
What is the minimum ADU size California guarantees?
The state's AB 68/AB 881/SB 13 framework guarantees a minimum 850 square foot ADU regardless of local lot-size restrictions, with ministerial approval required within 60 days. Owner-occupancy requirements were eliminated in 2023 under AB 976, and starting in 2026, SB 543 adds a 15-business-day completeness review with an automatic deemed-approved outcome if a city misses its 60-day clock.
Is Apex Drafting Services located in San Diego?
No. We're a remote drafting company with no physical office in San Diego. We serve San Diego homeowners, builders, and contractors remotely, working from the plans, photos, measurements, and video walkthroughs you send us.
How much do stock plans cost compared to custom plans for a San Diego project?
Stock house plans start at $799 and are a faster, lower-cost route for a straightforward build. Custom house plans cost more because they're designed around your specific San Diego lot, setbacks, and local permitting requirements. Which one fits depends on your site.
Nearby service areas
Start your San Diego project
Tell us what you're building, an ADU, a custom home, or an addition, and we'll scope it against San Diego's current permitting environment.