Custom Stacked 2 Bedroom ADU Rental in Oceanside
North Ditmar Street, Oceanside, CA 92054
Homeowner Story: Generate rental income
Special Circumstance: Multiple ADUs
This Oceanside ADU is intended as a well-planned addition designed to create comfortable, modern living space while supporting long-term rental use. The homeowner is exploring ways to add thoughtfully designed units that feel natural to the property and offer flexibility for different living needs. To support this vision, they partnered with SnapADU for guidance through feasibility, design, and permitting.
The design includes a two-story ADU totaling 1,411 sq ft, configured as stacked units with a combined two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The layout is planned to balance privacy and shared living space, with efficient use of the footprint and practical features. The overall configuration is intended to create comfortable, livable homes that also perform well as rental units.
Located outside the coastal zone and connected to sewer, the property is positioned for permitting within the City of Oceanside. Early planning focuses on site layout, building placement, and creating a design that integrates smoothly with the surrounding neighborhood.
Overall, this ADU is intended as a flexible housing solution that offers comfortable living spaces while supporting rental use and adding long-term value to the property.
Floor Plan:
Custom ADU Floor Plan
Community:
The Oceanside ADU Guide
With more than 15 ADU projects completed or in progress throughout Oceanside, we’ve seen firsthand how the city’s regulations and permitting process compare to other jurisdictions throughout San Diego County.
One of the more unique Oceanside requirements is the building verification survey, which is required as part of the ADU plan review process. This survey confirms that the proposed ADU location complies with setback requirements and is typically prepared alongside a boundary survey. Because this requirement is not common across all jurisdictions, it is important to account for it early when planning an Oceanside ADU project.
We’ve worked on a wide variety of Oceanside ADU projects, including two-story ADUs, carriage house ADUs over garages, rooftop deck ADUs, HOA properties, rental units, homes for aging parents, and flexible living spaces.
Also of note, Oceanside recently updated its ADU ordinance in June 2026 to align with state law.
Oceanside ADU Permitting
Most ADU permits in Oceanside are approved within approximately 3 to 4 months after submission. Properties located within the Coastal Zone generally experience similar permitting timelines, making Oceanside one of the more straightforward coastal jurisdictions for ADU development.
Permit costs typically range from approximately $9-$11 per square foot, which is on par with many neighboring jurisdictions. As with any project, site-specific conditions such as grading, utility upgrades, fire requirements, and survey requirements can influence permitting timelines and overall project costs.
Approximately 15% of our Oceanside projects have been located within the Coastal Zone. Like Encinitas and Carlsbad, Oceanside’s Local Coastal Program has been updated to accommodate California’s ADU laws, meaning most homeowners experience little to no additional time or cost associated with coastal permitting. Learn more about building an ADU in the Coastal Zone.
Oceanside Pre-Approved ADU Program
Per requirements from AB1332, Oceanside offers a pre-approved ADU program. Under this program, ADU plans can be reviewed and pre-approved by the City before being used on individual properties.
However, as of June 2026, Oceanside’s pre-approved ADU library does not yet contain any approved plans. As the program develops, homeowners will see plan options become available as designers submit their plans for pre-approval.
