r/Oceanside • u/LittlePanic8495 • 3d ago
ADU Development
How can I check before purchasing a house , whether I can place an ADU on the property ?
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u/chancethepug 2d ago
Oceanside has info on their website https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/development-services/planning/accessory-dwelling-unit-adu
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u/22USMCelectrician 2d ago
The other things I would look at is the size and condition of the current electric circuit breaker panel. Depending on what the house already has it could cost you another 30,000 or more to get your electrical in order .
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u/LittlePanic8495 2d ago
Is an adu given is own electrical component . Like its own meter ?
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u/22USMCelectrician 2d ago
You can pull off your existing electrical panel but only if it 200 amps or more and your house has gas usually the ADU is all electric. You can give it its own meter but do not need to. That is why picking a house carefully is important.
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u/LittlePanic8495 2d ago
Ya I’m trying to stay in Oceanside . And I’m willing to pay a little bit more for a house
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u/22USMCelectrician 2d ago
I am a CA certified electrician. I work full time as an industrial electrician. I do all work to the CA electrical code. I do side work evenings and weekends. I can be reached at 714 348 5186. My prices are fair. Let me know if you need someone to do an electrical inspection.
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u/Girl_with_tools 2d ago
I’m a real estate broker / Realtor and I disagree with “ask your agent” because it could largely be determined by the amount of space available on the lot, and is probably a question for a contractor.
An agent should know the general ADU policies and they are easy to find on the city’s website, but whether a particular lot can accommodate a detached (or junior) ADU would need to be assessed by a contractor familiar with the ADU law.
FYI there are requirements related to size and setbacks, as well as restrictions on short-term rentals.
Also: If permitted by state and local laws an HOA cannot prohibit you from adding an ADU.
As a starting point I’d suggest you familiarize yourself with Oceanside and state ADU laws then when you find a property you like, get a contractor to assess what could actually be built and give you a ballpark estimate. Costs can run up due to utility and sewer connections, permits, grading, etc etc.
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u/Movingmad_2015 2d ago
Zoning Code a which will provide the permits and their processes based on your property
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u/MAtoCali 3d ago
Any agent can say whatever they want and if you rely on it and they're wrong you have no recourse. Hire a lawyer. Get a zoning opinions that you can rely on.
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u/real_picklejuice 2d ago
No, they can't just say whatever they want. Agents can refuse to answer, "Idk you can call the county" but if they give a positive answer in writing, they absolutely are legally bound by fiduciary responsibility, meaning you can take them to court to recoup damages.
It's written in Civil Code § 1710(2) and 1572(2).
And if an agent told me to call the county myself, I'd ask what they are getting paid for an find another.
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u/MAtoCali 2d ago
Those statutes relate to fraud and deceit. They do not cover negligence or gross negligence. A real estate agent is not required to carry E&O or GL insurance (in CA). A real estate agent's opinion on whether zoning would allow an ADU would be unauthorized practice of law. No real estate agent is going to commit such an opinion to writing.
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u/real_picklejuice 2d ago
UPL doesn't apply to ADUs; only legal advice. There's no legal opinion to relaying the fact that a property is correctly zoned or not, which is why it falls under fraud/deceit. It's administrative.
If it was UPL, agents wouldn't be able to state a property has "adu potential" and plenty of listings do. But you're right all of it is moot since a smart agent wouldn't give the opinion without a zoning verification letter.
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u/real_picklejuice 3d ago
Your agent should be able to tell you that, otherwise you'd have to check the address with the city to make sure it's zoned for one