ADU Construction in San Marino, Reviewed on Its Own Terms
San Marino ADUs reviewed on their own terms: older conditions of the main house left as they are, and the new unit checked for separation and height.
When the main house on a San Marino lot falls short of today's zoning rules, the city's plan reviewer can still approve a qualifying ADU without asking that those conditions be fixed, because state ADU law takes that demand off the table. What the reviewer does examine is the new unit: its distance from the house and the lot lines, its height above grade and how its walls handle fire separation.
Old conditions, new unit
A house built before current setback or coverage rules is legal nonconforming, and that standing carries over untouched when an ADU goes up behind it. The unit itself has to meet the standards in force now, as limited by state law. Building hazards are a separate matter, since an inspector can still act on unsafe wiring or a failing structure. We note anything of that kind on the first visit, so it is known before the set goes in for review.
Separation and height
For two buildings on one lot, the building code treats the space between them as if a property line ran down the middle. Set close together, each may need protected construction on its facing wall, with smaller openings there. Height is dimensioned from grade at every wall, so the drawing shows the reviewer exactly how the city's method applies on that lot. Each comment that comes back is answered on the revised sheet itself, which lets the second review confirm it quickly.
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ADU Construction in San Marino: questions
A spot that leaves real distance between the unit and the house spares both from protected facing walls, and it still has to clear the setbacks and bear a footing without deep work. If a San Marino yard climbs toward the rear, ground nearer the house can avoid cutting into it.
San Marino units that qualify, keep to one story and enclose 500 square feet or less are covered by the package. For this city, the site plan dimensions the gap to the house and to each lot line, and the building section shows height above grade on every side. The build and any grade engineering are quoted apart after we visit.
Protected walls facing a close house add rated layers and can shrink the windows on that side. Where the yard falls away, the low wall sits on deeper footings or drilled piers. A long walk back to the unit may call for path lighting and a few steps.
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