An ADU Designed for the Life Ahead
This San Diego ADU over a garage creates rental income while preserving the homeowners’ backyard and privacy.
Finding Three Feet That Changed the Plan
The homeowners wanted to add a rental ADU without giving up their garage or the backyard they used for entertaining. Building a second-story ADU above the 100-year-old garage meant understanding exactly what could be preserved, what would need reinforcement, and how much room was available.
An early boundary survey revealed something important: the existing fence was not on the property line. About three feet of the homeowners’ property had effectively been lost behind it. Reclaiming that space gave the design additional room at a critical setback.
The garage also had to support a second story. Portions of the walls were rebuilt, the foundation reinforced, and new shear walls added so the existing structure could become part of the ADU rather than being demolished.
A private enclosed stairwell gives the second-story ADU its own entrance, allowing the homeowners and tenant to come and go independently.
Making a Small ADU Feel Spacious
The shed roof creates higher ceilings and makes room for clerestory windows that bring daylight into the open living space. The compact plan includes a kitchen, living and dining area, bedroom and bathroom. Large windows, high ceilings, and an open layout help the small footprint feel surprisingly spacious.
Designed to Generate Income
The homeowners had a renter committed to leasing the unit before construction was complete. The completed ADU now commands rent at the higher end of the range for comparable units in the area. The income helps support the homeowners’ transition toward retirement without sacrificing the garage or outdoor space they already had.
The lesson isn’t that every old garage can support an ADU. It’s that a property’s apparent constraints aren’t always real. Surveying the site and investigating the existing structure early revealed possibilities that weren’t obvious at the start.
