ADU Builder in San Diego

“The right ADU starts with the right question: what can your property actually support?”

If you are planning to haveADU Builder in San Diego, the first step is not choosing a floor plan. It is checking your lot.

Your property, existing structure, zoning, setbacks and local requirements all affect what you can build. Fortune Design & Permits helps homeowners plan, permit and build ADUs across San Diego County, with feasibility, design, permits and construction handled by one team.

Which ADU Fits Your Property?

There are three main options: Junior ADU, Attached ADU and Detached ADU.

They are not interchangeable. Each one works differently with your existing home and property.

Junior ADU

“Sometimes the extra unit is already inside your house.”

A Junior ADU is created within the existing single-family home. It can be up to 500 sq. ft. and stays within the existing walls of the house.

It can work when you have unused interior space that can be converted into a separate living area. Fortune has floor plans ranging from 208 sq. ft. and offers several layouts for Junior ADUs.

Attached ADU

“A tight lot does not always mean you need a separate building.”

An Attached ADU shares at least one wall with the main home. It can be a good option when your property does not have enough room for a completely separate structure.

The unit has its own full kitchen and bathroom, while the design is connected to the main house. Which layout works depends on your actual lot.

Detached ADU

“Want the ADU to feel like its own home? Start with the space in your yard.”

A Detached ADU is a separate building on the property. It can offer more separation from the main house and works well when there is enough yard space.

Fortune has detached ADU plans across its size range, from compact layouts to larger two-storey options. The final choice depends on the property and the rules that apply to its location.

How Do You Know Which One You Can Build?

This is where the property matters.

“A floor plan is only a starting point. Your lot decides what actually fits.”

Fortune checks the property before detailed drawing work begins. The feasibility stage looks at the lot, zoning and setbacks, along with other conditions that can affect the project.

Local requirements can vary by jurisdiction. Fortune confirms the rules against the actual property before design starts.

So instead of asking only, “Which ADU do I like?”, the better question is:

“Which ADU works for my property?”

From Feasibility to Construction

An ADU project has several stages. Fortune keeps them under one team.

01 — Feasibility

The lot, zoning and setbacks are checked before drawing work begins.

02 — Design

Plans are prepared around the property and the requirements that apply to it.

03 — Permit

Fortune handles the submittal, plan-check corrections and city communication.

04 — Build

Once the project is ready for construction, Fortune manages the build through final inspection.

Feasibility → Design → Permit → Build

“You should not have to become the middleman between your designer, permit team and builder.”

That is the reason Fortune keeps these stages together.

What Can an ADU Be Used For?

An ADU can serve different needs depending on the homeowner.

Fortune’s ADU service is presented for situations such as having unused yard or garage space, creating a separate unit for family, or adding space to the property.

The right layout depends on what you want from the unit and what your property can support.

You may be looking for:

A separate space for family
A rental unit
A compact unit within the existing home
A unit connected to the main house
A standalone structure in the yard

The important part is matching the idea with the property before construction begins.

How Much Space Do You Need?

Fortune currently lists 18 ADU floor plans ranging from 208 to 1,200 sq. ft. The plans include one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts.

The plans are grouped into three broad size ranges:

Compact: 200–500 sq. ft.
Good for smaller spaces, with studio and 1 bedroom floor plans.

Standard: 500–800 sq. ft.
Includes one- and two-bedroom layouts with a full kitchen and living space.

Large: 800–1,200 sq. ft.
Includes larger two- and three-bedroom layouts, with some two-storey options.

One example is a 208 sq. ft. plan with one bedroom and one bathroom, including a kitchen and living room.

But the biggest plan is not automatically the right plan.

“Choose the size after you understand the property, not before.”

What About ADU Costs?

ADU cost depends on the project.

Fortune lists its design fee separately from city permit fees and construction. The design fee starts from $5,750, while permit fees are set by the relevant city.

Construction costs can change based on finish level, site conditions and access. The figures shown on the website are planning estimates, not final quotes.

That is why Fortune starts with feasibility.

Once the property is checked, the numbers can be looked at in relation to the actual project instead of relying only on a general estimate.

What About Garage Conversions?

A garage can follow different paths.

“Before converting a garage, decide what you are actually trying to create.”

According to Fortune, a garage can become a Junior ADU, a full ADU or habitable living space without a separate kitchen and entrance.

Each option has different rules.

A Junior ADU uses an efficiency kitchen and stays within the existing footprint. A full ADU has a full kitchen and independent access. If there is no separate kitchen or entrance, it may instead be treated as habitable space under remodel rules.

The property and the proposed use need to be checked before choosing the path.

Why Work With an ADU Builder in San Diego?

“The hard part is not only building the ADU. It is getting the project through the steps before construction.”

Fortune handles the parts that come before and during the build:

Property check
Understand what the lot allows.

Design
Prepare plans for the actual property.

Permit
Submit plans and handle corrections.

Construction
Manage the build through final inspection.

This keeps the project with one accountable team instead of making the homeowner coordinate separate companies.

Serving San Diego County

Fortune Design & Permits serves homeowners, investors and ADU Builder in San Diego

Service areas include:

San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Oceanside, El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, Santee, San Marcos, Coronado, Del Mar, National City, Lemon Grove, Imperial Beach, Solana Beach and Vista.

The rules can change from one jurisdiction to another, so Fortune checks the requirements against the property address before design begins.

Start With Your Property

You do not need to have every detail decided before talking about your ADU.

You can start with the property and the basic idea.

“Tell us what you have. We will start with what the lot allows.”

Fortune offers a free consultation where you can discuss the property, understand what may fit and get a ballpark for the project.

If you are looking for an ADU builder in San Diego, start by finding out which option works for your property.

Fortune Design & Permits
Design. Permit. Build.

FAQs

1. What functions does an ADU builder in San Diego perform?

Fortune will look after feasibility, design, permits, construction, and final inspection for your ADU project.

2. How will I tell which ADU type would be the most appropriate for my property?

Fortune will analyze your property lot, zoning, setbacks, and the existing structure before recommending any specific option.

3. Can Fortune build detached and attached ADUs?

Yes, Fortune will provide design, permits, and construction services for both types of ADUs.

4. Will Fortune take care of all permitting?

Yes, Fortune will take care of the submission of plans and its alterations and will follow with the city about the progress of the approval.

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