I've reviewed the ADU rules on some of the different city's websites, now I realize how much variance there is just within the county...For example, Santee has a new owner occupancy requirement that will go into effect on any ADU's permitted after 2024 and a strict no STR policy, La Mesa on the other hand seems really ADU friendly.Does anyone here have recommendations on which cities in SD county to avoid and which to explore for ADU's?

I've decided to put the excess in a savings account just in case the city realizes the mistake and wants the money back.

Till you realize for what deductibles and have an actual need to file a claim. 

I'm definitely still in the exploration phase to see if I will end up going this route, but as I've furnished multiple units, I've realized I don't really enjoy that part of the process nor is design a strength of mine, so if I can hire it out to someone who will do a better job than me for a reasonable price, I will.

I didn’t realize that retirement assets are eligible towards reserves so this is great to hear. 

Realize you will probably be talking to someone who does not have English as their first language, so you need to explain things very simply. 

@Michael Norris I called the banks, took them over a week to realize what was going on and freeze the accounts.

Thanks @Jim Biggs this is very useful as I didn't even realize the cells could get their own EINs.

I didn’t even realize biggerpockets had all these tools, thank you so much!!  

When you realize that the barrier to entry to higher, you'll realize how many are in for a reckoning here shortly and how few people can now be an REI.