Lieon Housing: ADU Construction in San Diego County
Lieon Housing is an ADU contractor serving San Diego, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Del Mar, Encinitas, Poway, and Rancho Bernardo. The company builds detached ADUs, junior ADUs (JADUs), and garage conversions, working within San Diego's evolving zoning framework — including the City's bonus density program, the County's Section 8.5 ordinance, and state measures like SB 9 and SB 10 that have opened up secondary dwelling options on lots that previously couldn't support them.
Projects typically begin with a feasibility walk covering lot size, setbacks, zoning overlay, utility laterals, and fire access. From there, the process moves into design — floor plans, elevations, material selection, and a fixed-fee construction proposal provided before permitting begins. Once drawings are approved by the relevant jurisdiction, Lieon Housing sets a build schedule and provides regular walk-throughs through to certificate of occupancy.
Types of ADU Projects
- Detached ADUs: Free-standing units, generally 600–1,200 square feet, with a separate entrance, kitchen, bath, and address. These tend to carry stronger rental and resale value in areas like La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas.
- Junior ADUs (JADUs): Up to 500 square feet built within the existing footprint of a primary residence, including an efficiency kitchen and private or shared bath. JADUs may qualify for streamlined review and lower impact fees compared to detached units.
- Garage Conversions: Single- and two-car garages converted into legal living space, including structural upgrades, electrical and plumbing work, egress requirements, insulation, and Title-24 compliance.
- Attached ADUs & Additions: New construction tied into an existing structure, suited to narrower lots in Pacific Beach, Mission Hills, and central San Diego where a detached unit isn't practical.
The build process is organized into stages: feasibility and zoning review, design and drawings (including architectural, structural, MEP, and Title-24 documentation), permits and plan check submission, site and foundation work engineered for San Diego's soil and seismic conditions, framing through finish work handled by an in-house crew, and final inspection leading to certificate of occupancy.
Service Area and Local Permitting
Lieon Housing works across multiple jurisdictions, each with its own plan-check process. In the City of San Diego, this includes neighborhoods such as Mission Hills, North Park, Hillcrest, and Point Loma, with familiarity in DSD's bonus density program. In La Jolla, projects account for the Coastal Permit Overlay and view-corridor compliance on steep lots. Pacific Beach work addresses coastal zoning and alley access conversions, while Del Mar projects navigate the Hillside Overlay and lot-coverage limits. In Encinitas, the company builds granny flats, garage conversions, and detached studios aligned with local HCD requirements. Poway and Rancho Bernardo projects often involve larger lots, septic coordination, or HOA design-review packages. Lieon Housing also serves Escondido, Bonita, and Fallbrook, where larger inland lots allow for more flexible detached ADU and casita designs.
Lieon Housing manages CSLB filings, permitting with the City of San Diego or San Diego County, structural engineering coordination, and HOA design review where applicable. In coastal zones such as La Jolla, Del Mar, and parts of Pacific Beach, projects typically require an additional Coastal Development Permit alongside standard plan check. The company provides fixed-fee proposals during the design phase and handles plan-check submission, corrections, and inspector coordination throughout construction.
