In short
- 129 ADU permits since 2018.
- 33 in 2025, up 43% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 188 days from application to permit (median of 78 permits with both dates recorded).
About this data
- Source: California HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Reports. The state data does not say whether an ADU is detached, attached, a garage conversion or a JADU, so most records show as 'unknown'. Permit valuations are not published in this source. Timelines use the application date the city reported to the state, matched to the permit where possible; some cities report their planning application date, so timelines can include planning review. Each project is counted once, in its building-permit year (or completion year when no permit date was reported).
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | — | — |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 19 | — | — |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
Not counted above: 6 approved projects with no building permit reported yet.
ADU rules in Solana Beach
State law check: HCD found the city's 2023 ordinance out of line with state law (December 16, 2025). The city adopted a new ordinance in 2026 that HCD hasn't reviewed; it keeps the entrance rule HCD objected to.
| Rule | Solana Beach's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 850 sq ft (studio or 1 bedroom) or 1,000 sq ft (more than 1 bedroom). Junior ADU 500 sq ft. | At least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms) must be allowed; an 800 sq ft detached ADU always is. Conversions of existing space have no size cap. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft. |
| Height | Detached: 16 ft (18 ft near a major transit stop, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower, 2 stories at most. | Detached: at least 16 ft (18 ft within ½ mile of transit, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower. |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions or a rebuild in the same footprint. 6 ft between the house and a detached ADU. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space (tandem allowed) unless exempt (transit, historic district, inside existing space, permit parking area, car share). None for a junior ADU. | At most 1 space; none within ½ mile of transit and in several other cases. No replacement parking when a garage is converted. |
| Owner living on site | None for ADUs. Junior ADU that shares a bathroom: the owner lives in the house or the junior ADU (covenant). | None for ADUs. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house requires the owner to live in one of them. |
| How many on a single-family lot | One ADU or one junior ADU, plus the state combinations: a converted ADU and a junior ADU, and a detached ADU up to 800 sq ft. | One ADU converted from existing space, one junior ADU and one new detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft). From January 1, 2027: two new detached ADUs (a city then needn't allow a junior ADU on that lot). |
| Short-term rentals | Longer than 30 consecutive days, for ADUs and junior ADUs. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Coastal Zone: the city's ADU handout asks for the California Coastal Commission's approval letter with the building permit application.
- The ADU's main entrance can't be visible from the street in front; HCD called that rule subjective.
- The city runs a pre-approved ADU program (PADU).
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Solana Beach Municipal Code 17.60.210 · City ADU submittal handout (June 18, 2025) · HCD findings (December 16, 2025); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Oct 5, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
| Type | Median days, application to permit | Middle half | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior ADU (JADU) | too few to say | 6 | |
| Unclassified | 188 | 135 – 365 | 72 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 54 ADU permits Solana Beach reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 45 (83%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 12 months.
The state reports don't record expired or cancelled permits, and a completion the city hasn't reported looks the same as an unfinished project, so the share is a floor. Years with incomplete reports are left out.
What neighbors declared as cost
Cost data (declared permit valuations) is not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How to choose an ADU builder
An ADU builder serving Solana Beach? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Solana Beach
How many ADUs have been permitted in Solana Beach?
Public records show 129 ADU permits in Solana Beach from 2018 through 2025. 33 in 2025, up 43% from 2024. These counts come from the city's reports to the state, which place a project in its completion year when no permit date was reported.
How long does an ADU permit take in Solana Beach?
Among the 78 ADU permits in Solana Beach with both dates recorded, half were issued within 188 days of the application; the middle half took 137 to 359 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Solana Beach?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Solana Beach, but what you can build depends on your lot, local rules and utilities. This site shows permits, not eligibility. See California ADU rules.
Where do I apply for an ADU permit in Solana Beach?
Apply with the City of Solana Beach's Community Development Department by emailing a building permit application, plans and the Coastal Commission's approval letter; the city also has a pre-approved ADU program. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2025 (published once a year)
How our data works · Download the data · Free to reuse with credit to SoCal ADU Tracker (socaladutracker.com), under CC BY 4.0.