On Monday, June 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM, the San Diego City Council will vote on significant amendments to the city's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations, including changes to the ADU Home Density Bonus Program. These proposed changes aim to align local ordinances with state laws, address community concerns, and ensure responsible development in residential neighborhoods.
Key Proposed Amendments:
Limiting ADUs per Property: Implementing a cap on the number of ADUs allowed per property to prevent overdevelopment in single-family zones.
Height Restrictions: Capping ADU structures at two stories to maintain neighborhood character.
Fire Hazard Considerations: Restricting ADU construction in high and very high fire hazard severity zones to enhance public safety.
Parking Requirements: Restoring some on-site parking requirements to alleviate street congestion.
Ownership Opportunities: Allowing ADUs to be sold separately, similar to condominiums, providing more homeownership options.
Community Enhancement Fee: Introducing a fee structure to fund neighborhood improvements, with exemptions for ADUs designated for low-income households.
Why It Matters:
These amendments are designed to balance the need for increased housing with the preservation of neighborhood integrity and public safety. By setting clear guidelines, the city aims to promote sustainable growth and address the housing crisis responsibly.
How to Get Involved:
Attend the Meeting: Join the City Council meeting in person or virtually on June 16 at 2:00 PM to express your views.
Submit Public Comment: Email your comments to the City Council or speak during the public comment period to have your voice heard.
Stay Informed: Review the proposed amendments and meeting materials on the City's Land Development Code Updates page.
Your participation is crucial in shaping policies that affect our communities. Let the City Council know your stance on the proposed ADU regulations.
Here are 10 cohesive 1-minute public comments for the June 16 Council meeting, drawn from your themes and talking points. Each one stands alone and reinforces your broader call to repeal or reform the Bonus ADU Program.
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1. Pacifica Project = Policy Failure
Good afternoon,
The Pacifica project on Chalcedony is everything wrong with the Bonus ADU Program. 116 micro-units, 450 square feet each, jammed onto one lot with almost no parking, one way in, one way out. That’s not infill — it’s a loophole. It’s being used to sidestep planning, fire safety, and infrastructure rules that would apply to any normal apartment building. And the so-called “affordable” units? Most are moderate-income — barely below market rent. This isn’t helping the housing crisis. It’s making it worse. Repeal the Bonus ADU Program and restore real planning to San Diego.
Thank you.
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2. No Fire Evacuation Plan, No Bonus ADUs
Good afternoon,
Fire safety isn’t a suggestion — it’s a life-or-death requirement. Yet the Bonus ADU Program allows dense development in Very High Fire Hazard Zones and on cul-de-sacs with no secondary access. That’s reckless. During a wildfire, every second matters. If residents can’t evacuate or first responders can’t get in, lives are at risk. Reforms must prohibit Bonus ADUs in fire zones and on single-egress roads — period. Safety must come before developer profits.
Thank you.
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3. 55-Year Deeds or It’s Not Affordable
Good afternoon,
In San Diego, real affordable housing is required to stay affordable for 55 years. But Bonus ADUs only require affordability for 10 to 15 years — if at all. That’s not equity. That’s a bait-and-switch. We’re stuck with the density and neighborhood impacts long after the affordability expires. If developers want density bonuses, they should meet the same standards as other affordable projects. Close this loophole and make affordability real — or repeal the program.
Thank you.
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4. Stop the Double Standard on Apartments
Good afternoon,
If a property has 8 or 12 Bonus ADUs, it’s functionally an apartment complex. So why doesn’t it have to follow the same safety, fire code, or building standards? No sprinklers. No building separation. No oversight. Meanwhile, developers avoid fees and skip review. That’s not infill — it’s deregulation. If it walks like a multifamily project and quacks like a multifamily project, it should be regulated like one. End the Bonus ADU double standard.
Thank you.
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5. Let’s Be Honest About Parking
Good afternoon,
San Diego is not a transit-rich city. Most people still need a car to get to work, drop off kids, or buy groceries. But the Bonus ADU Program wipes out parking requirements even in neighborhoods with little or no transit access. That’s not progressive — it’s just irresponsible. If you want to keep neighborhoods livable and safe, especially outside Transit Priority Areas, require one off-street parking space per ADU. Common sense shouldn’t be controversial.
Thank you.
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6. Repeal the Program, Not Your Authority
Good afternoon,
We keep hearing that repealing the Bonus ADU Program might upset the state. But let’s be clear: this program is not required by state law. It was created by the City. You can repeal it — as long as you meet housing goals another way. And you should, because this program isn’t delivering on affordability, equity, or livability. Don’t govern out of fear. Repeal this broken program and lead with real planning solutions.
Thank you.
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7. Put a Hold on New Applications
Good afternoon,
You’ve acknowledged this program has problems. So why are we letting more Bonus ADU projects move forward under outdated rules? Look at what’s happening on Almayo, on Chalcedony — traffic nightmares, overbuilt lots, no parking. Every day you wait, more damage is done. We need a temporary hold on new Bonus ADU applications while reforms are finalized. Press pause. It’s the responsible thing to do.
Thank you.
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8. Four Units Max — No More Games
Good afternoon,
The state allows one house, one JADU, and one ADU — that’s three units. The City added the Bonus ADU to make it four. Fine. But now developers are gaming the system to build six, eight, even twelve units on single-family lots. That’s not reasonable growth. That’s regulatory capture. Cap it at four units per parcel, max. No games. No loopholes. And let’s sunset this program in 2029 with a review based on real data.
Thank you.
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9. One City, One Standard
Good afternoon,
Why are some neighborhoods protected from Bonus ADUs while others are overrun? RS-1-1 lots were carved out, but RS-1-7 — the most common zoning in San Diego — remains exposed. Chollas Valley lost all of its RS-1-2 zoning due to Footnote 7. That’s not equity. That’s exclusion by zoning. We need one fair standard across all neighborhoods. Repeal the Bonus ADU Program and build a planning process that treats every community with respect.
Thank you.
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10. Build Housing That Works for Families
Good afternoon,
San Diego families aren’t leaving because they want to, they’re leaving because they can’t afford to stay. The Bonus ADU Program has made things worse. It hasn’t created housing for families, it’s created tiny, high-rent studios that drive up land prices and crowd our streets. This isn’t the solution working families asked for. Repeal the Bonus ADU Program and focus on building homes families can afford, in neighborhoods they can thrive in.