The San Diego City Council is gearing up for a significant vote on proposed changes to a landmark program designed to incentivize homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
This program has sparked the city’s most heated housing policy debate since Mayor Todd Gloria commenced his second term.
On May 15, the reforms passed through a City Council committee, and the full council is expected to discuss the proposals in June.
Originally established in 2019 under then-Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the ADU bonus program enabled property owners to build a minimum of four additional units on their properties, as long as they agreed to impose affordable rent restrictions on one unit.
Under California state law, homeowners can typically construct only two ADUs.
Additionally, for properties located near public transit, homeowners can potentially build more units based on factors such as lot size, height limits, and other zoning regulations.
However, this program has faced criticism from residents in neighborhoods such as Clairemont, Encanto, and Kensington. Many homeowners in these areas view the large ADU developments as a threat to the character and aesthetics of their communities.
In light of this community pushback, Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed several changes to the program.
These changes would roll back the ADU bonus program by introducing new fees, imposing additional parking requirements, and implementing restrictions in wildfire hazard zones.
Furthermore, Gloria suggests completely eliminating the ADU bonus program in neighborhoods that are zoned for very low density.
A recent analysis by KPBS of the mayor’s proposal indicates that these changes would reduce opportunities to build housing in some of San Diego’s most desirable neighborhoods—areas with the best schools, clean air, and ample access to economic opportunities.
This analysis aligns with the ongoing efforts to use California’s
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2025/05/22/glorias-adu-proposal-would-block-housing-in-san-diegos-whitest-wealthiest-neighborhoods
