ADU permit cost and fee breakdown in Bakersfield, California
An early-budgeting estimate of the permit-related fees an accessory dwelling unit is likely to incur in Bakersfield. These are not official figures.
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ADU size
California generally exempts ADUs under 750 sq ft from development impact fees, so the 749 / 750 / 751 steps are worth comparing.
Estimated total
Estimated total permit fees at 750 sq ft
$4,550 – $30,550
Assumed construction valuation
$270,000
Used only to compute valuation-based fees. It is not a construction quote.
Where the money goes
- Building permit$1,000 – $3,500
The core permit issued by the city building department.
- Plan check$1,500 – $3,300
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
- Impact fees$0 – $8,000
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
- School district fees$0 – $6,000
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
- Utility connection$1,500 – $8,000
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
- Inspection$500 – $1,500
Field inspections during construction.
- Technology & surcharges$50 – $250
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
The darker segment is the low end of the range; the full bar is the high end.
Read before you budget
- Most fee lines are working estimates rather than verified published city rates. Confirm every line with the city before budgeting.
- Some fee items appear more than once, so category totals may double count.
- Totals do not vary by ADU size for this city, so the size selector will not change the estimate.
Fee items
Building permit
The core permit issued by the city building department.
Building permit fee
$1,000 – $3,500
Estimated range
City of Bakersfield Proposed Master Fee Schedule for 2024-25
Plan check
Review of your drawings for code compliance.
ADU application fee
$500
Flat fee
City of Bakersfield Proposed Master Fee Schedule for 2024-25Plan check fee
$600 – $2,000
Estimated range
City of Bakersfield Proposed Master Fee Schedule for 2024-25ADU Application Fee (Estimated)
$400 – $800
Estimated range
Impact fees
Development impact fees. Often waived for ADUs under 750 sq ft.
California ADU impact-fee baseline
$0 – $8,000
Estimated range
California Government Code ADU provisions / city-adopted rules referenced in Bakersfield ADU guidance
School district fees
Developer fees charged by the local school district.
School fee exemption under 750 sq ft
Verify directly with the city
Verify with city
Bakersfield ADU guidance summarySchool district fee
$0 – $6,000
Estimated range
Bakersfield ADU guidance summary
Utility connection
Water, sewer, and electrical connection or capacity charges.
Utility connection fee
$1,500 – $8,000
Estimated range
City of Bakersfield ADU page
Inspection
Field inspections during construction.
Inspection fee
$500 – $1,500
Estimated range
City of Bakersfield Proposed Master Fee Schedule for 2024-25
Technology & surcharges
Records, technology, and general plan surcharges.
Technology fee
$50 – $250
Estimated range
City of Bakersfield Proposed Master Fee Schedule for 2024-25
These are estimates, not official fees
Use these figures for early budgeting only. They are not a quote, not a government fee determination, and not legal advice. Actual fees depend on your parcel, your plans, your construction valuation, your utility provider, and the fee schedule in force on the day your permit is issued. Confirm every number with Bakersfield before you commit money.
City reference pages for verification