ADUs above a garage in Solana Beach

Building over a garage keeps the garden free and the parking intact. In Solana Beach, it also interacts with floor area in an interesting way: a garage with two qualifying spaces keeps its exemption of up to 400 sq ft, while the ADU above uses the 800 sq ft ADU exemption (Solana Beach ADU Submittal Process and Basic Plan Requirements (June 2025)).

Height

For an ADU attached to the house, state law requires allowing up to 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower (Gov. Code §66321). For a detached garage with an ADU above, 16 ft is the state floor, so a two-story detached structure depends on Solana Beach's zoning height for the lot. We confirm it with Planning.

Stairs, decks and entrance

• Decks and stairs are accessory structures and can't project into required side or rear setbacks or sit on the roof
• The primary entrance can't be visible from the street adjacent to the front yard setback
• Projections up to 2 ft are allowed, not into required yards

Drawings

The city asks for at least two cross sections showing height above existing and finished grade, a dashed line for the maximum height, and MSL elevations below the tallest point. Getting the grade right matters on sloped lots.

What to check first

• FAR: does the new floor push the total past the 60% threshold?
• Height on two cross sections, with MSL elevation at the tallest point
• Stairs and decks out of side and rear setbacks and off the roof
• Entrance not visible from the street
• Matching style, materials and colors

Alternatives

If FAR or height rules it out, a garage conversion or an 800 sq ft single-story detached ADU (the PADU size) are the usual fallbacks.

Also checked Oct 14, 2026: Solana Beach ADU Submittal Process and Basic Plan Requirements (June 2025).

Sources, checked Oct 14, 2026: Solana Beach ADU Submittal Process and Basic Plan Requirements (June 2025) · Gov. Code §66321.