There are very few people in this country who don't know what it is to "flip" a house. TV shows, Do-It-Yourself internet sites and design magazines have all helped to awaken that creative drive that lives inside all of us. Here in Southern California, residential construction is booming. According to the First Tuesday Journal, single family housing starts in 2015 were up 21% from 2014, and that trend is expected to continue. When construction activity increases, more folks wa

A "Companion Unit" is the legal term, in the City of San Diego, for a secondary dwelling unit on a residential property. The City passed legislation legalizing these units in 2011, after much resistance from local anti-density advocates. Very little has been written about the requirements for permitting these structures; Municipal Code Section §141.0302 addresses them. Here is a summary of the basic requirements if you are considering adding a dwelling unit to your property: