Understand the opportunity. Plan around your property.
Space for family. A separate home. A different use for your lot. The right approach starts with understanding which rules fit your address and goals.
Five of the measures below were signed in 2026 for the next phase of housing development. SB 1077 is an earlier coastal law with guidance issued in July 2026, included here because it matters when planning for 2027.
01 / AB 956Signed in 2026
Two detached ADUs. A new way to think about your lot.
AB 956 expands the state approval pathway to allow up to two detached, newly built ADUs on qualifying lots with an existing or proposed single-family home. It also clarifies protections against unreasonable HOA restrictions.
If two detached ADUs are approved, the local agency is not required to approve an additional junior ADU on the same lot. Unit size, height, setbacks, access, and site conditions still shape the design.
For your project
A second detached unit may be worth exploring for family housing or rental use. Start with a site-specific layout and eligibility review.
For qualifying lots with up to two ADUs, SB 1117 changes how covered impact fees are calculated for ADUs larger than 750 square feet: the calculation uses only the area above 750 square feet, proportionate to the primary home.
For lots with more than two ADUs, a different calculation applies. Building permits, school fees, and utility charges require their own review; this is not a waiver of every project fee.
1,000 sq. ft. ADU−750 sq. ft.250 sq. ft.Illustrative area used for covered impact fees on an eligible lot
More accountability during building-permit review.
AB 1621 limits agencies to two plan-check and specification reviews for a complete, covered building-permit application. An applicant may request additional submittals; a noncompliant application can still be denied after two.
The law also tightens appeal timelines and restricts departures from previously approved plans during inspections unless supported by the required written findings.
For your project
Complete plans and coordinated responses matter. A two-review limit does not guarantee a permit after two rounds.
Let qualifying lot-split and housing reviews move together.
AB 2601 allows qualifying SB 9 housing applications and urban lot-split maps to be processed concurrently, with related changes for eligible small-lot housing subdivisions.
A city or county can still condition permit issuance or occupancy on approval and recordation of the required subdivision map. This is a housing-and-subdivision process change, not a blanket right to divide any property.
For your project
If separate lots or a small housing development are part of your goals, coordinate the mapping and building plans early.
SB 1196 directs the California Public Utilities Commission to establish utility-connection timelines and penalties for failures to process covered applications on time. It addresses ADUs, junior ADUs, and other small energization projects.
The law’s effective date does not mean every ADU receives an immediate hookup or the same guaranteed connection date. Applicable utility rules, capacity, and project scope still need to be checked.
For your project
Plan electrical capacity, service equipment, and the utility application alongside design and permitting.
Coastal property? There’s a separate layer to review.
SB 1077 required the California Coastal Commission, working with the Department of Housing and Community Development, to prepare guidance that helps local governments simplify ADU and junior ADU permitting through local coastal program amendments.
The final guidance was issued July 1, 2026. It informs coastal project planning for 2027, but does not eliminate Coastal Act requirements or automatically exempt every coastal ADU from coastal permits.
For your project
Confirm whether the property is in the coastal zone and which local coastal program applies before settling on a design.
Cabal Construction builds ADUs, multi-unit projects, additions, and remodels throughout San Diego County. Tell us what you have in mind so we can discuss the site, scope, and next steps.
Jurisdiction, lot layout, existing structures, coastal status, and utility access.
02
Your goals
Family living, a separate rental, more units, or a different use of the lot.
03
Your path forward
Design coordination, permit requirements, a realistic scope, and construction planning.
BEFORE YOU BUILD
A few useful answers.
Do these laws guarantee two ADUs on my San Diego property?
No. AB 956 creates an expanded approval pathway for qualifying properties. The proposed design must still satisfy applicable requirements, including site, building, and safety standards. A property-specific review is the starting point.
Does SB 1117 remove every ADU fee?
No. It changes covered impact-fee calculations for qualifying ADUs. Permit fees, school fees, utility charges, and other applicable costs need a separate review.
Is SB 1077 a new law taking effect in 2027?
No. The coastal ADU law discussed here is SB 1077 from the 2023–2024 session. The Coastal Commission issued its final guidance in July 2026. We include it because it is relevant to coastal ADU planning for 2027.
This guide summarizes the housing measures identified above as of October 21, 2026. Follow each official bill or agency link for its text, status, effective dates, and implementation details. Eligibility, local procedures, coastal review, and utility requirements depend on the property; this guide does not establish an approval, cost, or completion guarantee.
